-By Mrs.Suni Roy

Our Church was in a week of fasting and prayer. What I had always understood is that after a few days of fasting I would be finally done with the devil. Contrary to my assumption I began to realize through the word of God, the real fact. Whether I like it or not, he is always around, trying to keep us busy and confused all the time. Well, that’s his job, isn’t it? So we need not have to worry about it.

The life of Jesus is a great example for us to learn and follow. Matthew 4:1-10 records about Jesus being tempted after fasting. Here are few points what God taught me from the scriptures.

1.       Message of Doubt

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”- Matthew 3:2-3

The devil is trying to give a message of doubt in Jesus by saying ‘‘if thou be the Son of God’. Why does he have to use the word ‘if’? No doubt, Jesus is the Son of God.  It’s only a few days ago, that, the heavens were opened for Jesus, and a voice from Heaven said ‘This is my beloved Son’(Matthew 3:17). Satan couldn’t find a better time than this, because Jesus was now physically weak and tired. We may not notice most of the time, but it is at the most stressful moment of our life that the tempter creates a word of doubt in our life. We would have heard a wonderful sermon about standing in faith only an hour ago, yet we might forget what we heard and struggle to take a decision that’s going to determine our future. In spite of every prayer, all what we would be seeing is the negative situations around us.

2.       Easier Option

Sometimes you are even lured into taking an easier option.

“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:”He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” – Matthew 4: 6 

Here the devil is clearly misinterpreting the word. Please know, if you jump the angels are not going to guard you, but if you happen to fall, He will send His angels to guard you. Jesus said unto him, “it is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God”. At times, Satan makes people use scripture, persuading them to do the wrong things. You might be meditating the word of God, but if not read carefully you can be easily misguided by the devil.

3.       Exciting Offers

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”- Matthew 4:8, 9

You see, this was what he was really getting at- to make Jesus worship him. Don’t be surprised at the exciting offers you are going to get, but if that is going to take you away from the presence of Jesus, it is best not to consider it. Don’t forget, Satan’s final and ultimate aim is to get you to kneel down to his desires, than to the will of God.The reason we fast and pray should be to fight the fiery darts of the devil. When we fast and pray, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit and with Lord Jesus on our side the victory is ours for sure. Jesus overcame the devil with the word of God saying, “It is written” (Matthew 4:10)

That’s right dear friend, “It is written”. Write the written word of God into your heart today. You might be physically weak, financially crushed, mentally disturbed, but so long as the Word of God is written in you, you will always overcome!