Changi Chapel

Are temptations for life?

We read in Luke 4:13 a fascinating truth that “when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season”. Which means, the devil was back again after a certain season!

Though there is no record of those subsequent temptations that Jesus faced, the Bible says in Heb 4:15, that He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”. The temptations that Jesus faced were on-going during his lifetime – and so will it be for us too.

The idea that a believer will be spared temptations after he has matured in his faith is simply not true. As long as we are in our flesh, we need to “watch and pray, lest we enter into temptation” during our entire lifetime. (Matt 26:41).

Do you take pains to advertise yourself?

In Luke 4:14 we read, “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about”. Here we see a strong co-relation between being filled with the Spirit and being thrust into the limelight.

Jesus did not have to advertise himself. He did not have to take out a full page ad in the newspaper or hire an advertising agent to promote his ministry. When the Spirit of God fills us to accomplish His purposes, God Himself will ensure that we are brought into the limelight.

Are we taking great pains to promote ourselves or seek the limelight all the time? Do we lust for fame and popularity? Jesus’ example shows us there is no need to promote ourselves if we are indeed filled with His Spirit and seek to fulfill His kingdom purposes our lives.

Have you had a Rhema word from the Lord lately?

We see in Luke 4:17, that when Jesus opened the Torah scroll that was given to Him, immediately His eyes chanced upon a passage in Scripture that was specific to His life and ministry, at that point in time. He did not have to search for this passage – it jumped out at Him!

Whenever the Lord speaks to His children through Scripture, it is always a Rhema word that is appropriate and specific to the context or circumstances in a believers life.

Saint Augustine who lived a debaucherous life before his conversion, writes about how he was convicted when his eyes fell on the Scripture in Rom 13:13 “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy”. This is the passage which led to his salvation.

Is God speaking to you specifically as you read His Word? A Rhema word is a scripture which speaks to your heart pointedly and is specific to your situation.

Has any verse or passage in Scripture “jumped out” at you lately?

John B. Samuel