Jesus was tempted, too.

Luke 4:1-13 (GNB)
(1) Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert,
(2) where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over.
(3) The Devil said to him, "If you are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread."
(4) But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Human beings cannot live on bread alone.' "
(5) Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world.
(6) "I will give you all this power and all this wealth," the Devil told him. "It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose.
(7) All this will be yours, then, if you worship me."
(8) Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!' "
(9) Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest point of the Temple, and said to him, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here.
(10) For the scripture says, 'God will order his angels to take good care of you.'
(11) It also says, 'They will hold you up with their hands so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.' "
(12) But Jesus answered, "The scripture says, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
(13) When the Devil finished tempting Jesus in every way, he left him for a while.

What an awesome showing of obedience to our God from His one and only Son! We can take from these scriptures the fact that Jesus, though pure, was tempted by the sinful nature of this world. He shows us that if and when we lean on the Word of God, we can overcome any obstacles.

Because He was obedient to His Father's will, we were blessed by His pure blood that was shed for us on the cross. We can look upon the cross for forgiveness when we falter in our walk and find hope for our path to repentance, knowing that Jesus was tempted and did not falter.

Old Testament Faith

In Hebrews chapter 11, the Lord gives us many examples of the faith that those of the Old Testament had. We can learn a lot by their faith, in that we have an extra bonus for our faith, the promise of eternal life! The men and women of the Old Testament didn't have this promise, yet their belief and faith in God was strong. If we could just wrap our minds around this type of faith, how fruitful and enjoying our lives on earth could be. To not worry about the daily events of our worldly life, almost unimaginable. But if we just dip into this "Old Testament Faith" we could have a glance of the awesome things God can and will do for us!!

Hebrews 11:1-40 (GNB)
(1) To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, the evidence of things not seen.
(2) It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God's approval.
(3) It is by faith that we understand that the universe was created by God's word, so that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.
(4) It was faith that made Abel offer to God a better sacrifice than Cain's. Through his faith he won God's approval as a righteous man, because God himself approved of his gifts. By means of his faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
(5) It was faith that kept Enoch from dying. Instead, he was taken up to God, and nobody could find him, because God had taken him up. The scripture says that before Enoch was taken up, he had pleased God.
(6) No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him.
(7) It was faith that made Noah hear God's warnings about things in the future that he could not see. He obeyed God and built a boat in which he and his family were saved. As a result, the world was condemned, and Noah received from God the righteousness that comes by faith.
(8) It was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him to go out to a country which God had promised to give him. He left his own country without knowing where he was going.
(9) By faith he lived as a foreigner in the country that God had promised him. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who received the same promise from God.
(10) For Abraham was waiting for the city which God has designed and built, the city with permanent foundations.
(11) It was faith that made Abraham able to become a father, even though he was too old and Sarah herself could not have children. He trusted God to keep his promise.
(12) Though Abraham was practically dead, from this one man came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky, as many as the numberless grains of sand on the seashore.
(13) It was in faith that all these persons died. They did not receive the things God had promised, but from a long way off they saw them and welcomed them, and admitted openly that they were foreigners and refugees on earth.
(14) Those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own.
(15) They did not keep thinking about the country they had left; if they had, they would have had the chance to return.
(16) Instead, it was a better country they longed for, the heavenly country. And so God is not ashamed for them to call him their God, because he has prepared a city for them.
(17) It was faith that made Abraham offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice when God put Abraham to the test. Abraham was the one to whom God had made the promise, yet he was ready to offer his only son as a sacrifice.
(18) God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that you will have the descendants I promised."
(19) Abraham reckoned that God was able to raise Isaac from death---and, so to speak, Abraham did receive Isaac back from death.
(20) It was faith that made Isaac promise blessings for the future to Jacob and Esau.
(21) It was faith that made Jacob bless each of the sons of Joseph just before he died. He leaned on the top of his walking stick and worshiped God.
(22) It was faith that made Joseph, when he was about to die, speak of the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, and leave instructions about what should be done with his body.
(23) It was faith that made the parents of Moses hide him for three months after he was born. They saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's order.
(24) It was faith that made Moses, when he had grown up, refuse to be called the son of the king's daughter.
(25) He preferred to suffer with God's people rather than to enjoy sin for a little while.
(26) He reckoned that to suffer scorn for the Messiah was worth far more than all the treasures of Egypt, for he kept his eyes on the future reward.
(27) It was faith that made Moses leave Egypt without being afraid of the king's anger. As though he saw the invisible God, he refused to turn back.
(28) It was faith that made him establish the Passover and order the blood to be sprinkled on the doors, so that the Angel of Death would not kill the first-born sons of the Israelites.
(29) It was faith that made the Israelites able to cross the Red Sea as if on dry land; when the Egyptians tried to do it, the water swallowed them up.
(30) It was faith that made the walls of Jericho fall down after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days.
(31) It was faith that kept the prostitute Rahab from being killed with those who disobeyed God, for she gave the Israelite spies a friendly welcome.
(32) Should I go on? There isn't enough time for me to speak of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets.
(33) Through faith they fought whole countries and won. They did what was right and received what God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions,
(34) put out fierce fires, escaped being killed by the sword. They were weak, but became strong; they were mighty in battle and defeated the armies of foreigners.
(35) Through faith women received their dead relatives raised back to life. Others, refusing to accept freedom, died under torture in order to be raised to a better life.
(36) Some were mocked and whipped, and others were put in chains and taken off to prison.
(37) They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were killed by the sword. They went around clothed in skins of sheep or goats---poor, persecuted, and mistreated.
(38) The world was not good enough for them! They wandered like refugees in the deserts and hills, living in caves and holes in the ground.
(39) What a record all of these have won by their faith! Yet they did not receive what God had promised,
(40) because God had decided on an even better plan for us. His purpose was that only in company with us would they be made perfect.

What Jesus fulfilled on the Cross

In the first few scriptures below we see how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament of His coming and The New Covenant.

Isaiah 53:1-12 (GNB)
(1) The people reply, "Who would have believed what we now report? Who could have seen the LORD's hand in this?
(2) It was the will of the LORD that his servant grow like a plant taking root in dry ground. He had no dignity or beauty to make us take notice of him. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing that would draw us to him.
(3) We despised him and rejected him; he endured suffering and pain. No one would even look at him--- we ignored him as if he were nothing.
(4) "But he endured the suffering that should have been ours, the pain that we should have borne. All the while we thought that his suffering was punishment sent by God.
(5) But because of our sins he was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did. We are healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he received.
(6) All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. But the LORD made the punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved.
(7) "He was treated harshly, but endured it humbly; he never said a word. Like a lamb about to be slaughtered, like a sheep about to be sheared, he never said a word.
(8) He was arrested and sentenced and led off to die, and no one cared about his fate. He was put to death for the sins of our people.
(9) He was placed in a grave with those who are evil, he was buried with the rich, even though he had never committed a crime or ever told a lie."
(10) The LORD says, "It was my will that he should suffer; his death was a sacrifice to bring forgiveness. And so he will see his descendants; he will live a long life, and through him my purpose will succeed.
(11) After a life of suffering, he will again have joy; he will know that he did not suffer in vain. My devoted servant, with whom I am pleased, will bear the punishment of many and for his sake I will forgive them.
(12) And so I will give him a place of honor, a place among the great and powerful. He willingly gave his life and shared the fate of evil men. He took the place of many sinners and prayed that they might be forgiven."

Psalms 40:6-8 (ESV)
(6) In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.
(7) Then I said, "Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
(8) I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

Pro 8:35-36 (GNB)
(35) Those who find me find life, and the LORD will be pleased with them.
(36) Those who do not find me hurt themselves; anyone who hates me loves death."

Malachi 4:5-6 (GNB)
(5) "But before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes, I will send you the prophet Elijah.
(6) He will bring fathers and children together again; otherwise I would have to come and destroy your country."

Here in these scriptures below from the New Testament we see how Jesus has saved us by His Blood, and how He has given us hope, mercy, favor, and God's love by taking on the burden of our sins. For through Jesus' death and resurrection He has given us a paved highway to the Most High in Heaven!! AMEN!!

Rom 5:8-12 (GNB)
(8) But God has shown us how much he loves us---it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!
(9) By his blood we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God's anger!
(10) We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ's life!
(11) But that is not all; we rejoice because of what God has done through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has now made us God's friends.
(12) Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned.

Rom 5:18-19 (GNB)
(18) So then, as the one sin condemned all people, in the same way the one righteous act sets all people free and gives them life.
(19) And just as all people were made sinners as the result of the disobedience of one man, in the same way they will all be put right with God as the result of the obedience of the One Man.

Hebrews 9:11-15 (GNB)
(11) But Christ has already come as the High Priest of the good things that are already here. The tent in which he serves is greater and more perfect; it is not a tent made by human hands, that is, it is not a part of this created world.
(12) When Christ went through the tent and entered once and for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained eternal salvation for us.
(13) The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a burnt calf are sprinkled on the people who are ritually unclean, and this purifies them by taking away their ritual impurity.
(14) Since this is true, how much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will purify our consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the living God.
(15) For this reason Christ is the one who arranges a new covenant, so that those who have been called by God may receive the eternal blessings that God has promised. This can be done because there has been a death which sets people free from the wrongs they did while the first covenant was in effect.

Pro 8:35-36 (GNB)
(35) Those who find me find life, and the LORD will be pleased with them.
(36) Those who do not find me hurt themselves; anyone who hates me loves death."

God's encouragement to pray

Below are several verses in which the Lord gives us encouragement to pray to Him. So, if you are discouraged about your pray life or the prays you have prayed just meditate on these scriptures and find everlasting comfort in them and in God's promises!

Psalms 50:14 (GNB)
(14) Let the giving of thanks be your sacrifice to God, and give the Almighty all that you promised.

Philippians 4:6-7 (GNB)
(6) Don't worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart.
(7) And God's peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.

James 5:13-18 (GNB)
(13) Are any among you in trouble? They should pray. Are any among you happy? They should sing praises.
(14) Are any among you sick? They should send for the church elders, who will pray for them and rub olive oil on them in the name of the Lord.
(15) This prayer made in faith will heal the sick; the Lord will restore them to health, and the sins they have committed will be forgiven.
(16) So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect.
(17) Elijah was the same kind of person as we are. He prayed earnestly that there would be no rain, and no rain fell on the land for three and a half years.
(18) Once again he prayed, and the sky poured out its rain and the earth produced its crops.

In these scriptures of Matthew & John, we are actually reading the exact words of Jesus Christ describing to us the promises of prayer.

Matthew 7:7-8 (GNB)
(7) "Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
(8) For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to those who knock.

John 14:13-14 (GNB)
(13) And I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father's glory will be shown through the Son.
(14) If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.

Prayer of the hopeless

This Psalm of King David reminds me of when people today start to fall into depression and hopelessness. King David is pleading to God for the darkness of his enemies to be lifted off of his soul. In today's world and times the darkness can be referred to as satan and the troubles he goes through to bring us down.

If you find yourself in this place and pray this as a prayer, you can adapt this Psalm to yourself because most of King David's pleadings are for the spiritual blessings of mercy, grace, and favor, which we all need at all times. You can also look at as a pleading to God for the loosening of the hold of satan's darkness on your soul. If you do need to recite this prayer keep your faith strong in the fact that Matthew 21:22 says, "And all things, whatever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive." (MKJV)


Psalms 143:1-12 (GNB)

(1) LORD, hear my prayer! In your righteousness listen to my plea; answer me in your faithfulness!
(2) Don't put me, your servant, on trial; no one is innocent in your sight.
(3) My enemies have hunted me down and completely defeated me. They have put me in a dark prison, and I am like those who died long ago.
(4) So I am ready to give up; I am in deep despair.
(5) I remember the days gone by; I think about all that you have done, I bring to mind all your deeds.
(6) I lift up my hands to you in prayer; like dry ground my soul is thirsty for you.
(7) Answer me now, LORD! I have lost all hope. Don't hide yourself from me, or I will be among those who go down to the world of the dead.
(8) Remind me each morning of your constant love, for I put my trust in you. My prayers go up to you; show me the way I should go.
(9) I go to you for protection, LORD; rescue me from my enemies.
(10) You are my God; teach me to do your will. Be good to me, and guide me on a safe path.
(11) Rescue me, LORD, as you have promised; in your goodness save me from my troubles!
(12) Because of your love for me, kill my enemies and destroy all my oppressors, for I am your servant.

The Light and the darkness.

Let us come and learn of the True Light and darkness of this world! Below are a few scriptures describing the Light and the darkness of this world that we know. I wanted to explain to you who don't know, and those of you who may have forgot, who is representative of the Light and the darkness.

These scriptures depict to us gratefully what Jesus means by the Light and the darkness, as He is the Light. He also is showing us that if we believe in Him we have light but if we believe in this world we have darkness.

So, we all, as a whole, as God's children, and as the nations, we must put our trust and our faith in God! We must also keep our actions in this world, this lifetime, pleasing to God, so that we won't be left in the darkness of satan's wrath!!

And if the darkness is knocking on your door, in the words of my beautiful wife, "God, will you get the door for me?!"

Luke 11:33-36 GNB

(33) "No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a bowl; instead, it is put on the lampstand, so that people may see the light as they come in.
(34) Your eyes are like a lamp for the body. When your eyes are sound, your whole body is full of light; but when your eyes are no good, your whole body will be in darkness.
(35) Make certain, then, that the light in you is not darkness.
(36) If your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be bright all over, as when a lamp shines on you with its brightness."


John 12:44-50 GNB

(44) Jesus said in a loud voice, "Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in him who sent me.
(45) Whoever sees me sees also him who sent me.
(46) I have come into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness.
(47) If people hear my message and do not obey it, I will not judge them. I came, not to judge the world, but to save it.
(48) Those who reject me and do not accept my message have one who will judge them. The words I have spoken will be their judge on the last day!
(49) This is true, because I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has commanded me what I must say and speak.
(50) And I know that his command brings eternal life. What I say, then, is what the Father has told me to say."

John 8:12 GNB

(12) Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. "I am the light of the world," he said. "Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness."

Praise and Worship

The power of praise and worship is evident in the scriptures below as God shows us the obedience of the people of Judah and Jerusalem to have faith in the Him.

As the people go to the battle field they are continually praising and worshipping the Lord. As the Lord listens to this pleasing praise and worship, He turned the enemies of the people against each other, causing them to destroy each army before the Judean army reached the battle field.

So, no matter what obstacles lie in front of you continue to turn towards the Lord with praise and worship and you will continually find yourself in a better place! AMEN!!

2 Chronicles 20:13-24 GNB

(13) All the men of Judah, with their wives and children, were standing there at the Temple.
(14) The spirit of the LORD came upon a Levite who was present in the crowd. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah; he was a member of the clan of Asaph and was descended from Asaph through Mattaniah, Jeiel, and Benaiah.
(15) Jahaziel said, "Your Majesty and all you people of Judah and Jerusalem, the LORD says that you must not be discouraged or be afraid to face this large army. The battle depends on God, not on you.
(16) Attack them tomorrow as they come up the pass at Ziz. You will meet them at the end of the valley that leads to the wild country near Jeruel.
(17) You will not have to fight this battle. Just take up your positions and wait; you will see the LORD give you victory. People of Judah and Jerusalem, do not hesitate or be afraid. Go out to battle, and the LORD will be with you!"
(18) Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low, with his face touching the ground, and all the people bowed with him and worshiped the LORD.
(19) The members of the Levite clans of Kohath and Korah stood up and with a loud shout praised the LORD, the God of Israel.
(20) Early the next morning the people went out to the wild country near Tekoa. As they were starting out, Jehoshaphat addressed them with these words: "People of Judah and Jerusalem! Put your trust in the LORD your God, and you will stand your ground. Believe what his prophets tell you, and you will succeed."
(21) After consulting with the people, the king ordered some musicians to put on the robes they wore on sacred occasions and to march ahead of the army, singing: "Praise the LORD! His love is eternal!"
(22) When they began to sing, the LORD threw the invading armies into a panic.
(23) The Ammonites and the Moabites attacked the Edomite army and completely destroyed it, and then they turned on each other in savage fighting.
(24) When the Judean army reached a tower that was in the desert, they looked toward the enemy and saw that they were all lying on the ground dead. Not one had escaped.

God's Joy-1

Acts 2:21-28 GNB

(21) And then, whoever calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.'
(22) "Listen to these words, fellow Israelites! Jesus of Nazareth was a man whose divine authority was clearly proven to you by all the miracles and wonders which God performed through him. You yourselves know this, for it happened here among you.
(23) In accordance with his own plan God had already decided that Jesus would be handed over to you; and you killed him by letting sinful men crucify him.
(24) But God raised him from death, setting him free from its power, because it was impossible that death should hold him prisoner.
(25) For David said about him, 'I saw the Lord before me at all times; he is near me, and I will not be troubled.
(26) And so I am filled with gladness, and my words are full of joy. And I, mortal though I am, will rest assured in hope,
(27) because you will not abandon me in the world of the dead; you will not allow your faithful servant to rot in the grave.
(28) You have shown me the paths that lead to life, and your presence will fill me with joy.'

Although King David died before the New Covenant and didn't receive eternal life, we see with these scriptures that he had a prophetic word about what was to come and what Believers today have to look forward to, the joy of knowing we will have eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!! AMEN!!

God's Favor-1

The Greek word for "grace" in the New Testament is "charis". The literal translation of the Greek word "charis", has many meanings, one of which is "grace", another of which is "favor".

(Strong's Concordance, G5485)

So, with using the scripture below, God is showing us how He blesses us with His favor by telling us about His grace.

Romans 5:12-21 GNB

(12) Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned.
(13) There was sin in the world before the Law was given; but where there is no law, no account is kept of sins.
(14) But from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, death ruled over all human beings, even over those who did not sin in the same way that Adam did when he disobeyed God's command. Adam was a figure of the one who was to come.
(15) But the two are not the same, because God's free gift is not like Adam's sin. It is true that many people died because of the sin of that one man. But God's grace is much greater, and so is his free gift to so many people through the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ.
(16) And there is a difference between God's gift and the sin of one man. After the one sin, came the judgment of "Guilty"; but after so many sins, comes the undeserved gift of "Not guilty!"
(17) It is true that through the sin of one man death began to rule because of that one man. But how much greater is the result of what was done by the one man, Jesus Christ! All who receive God's abundant grace and are freely put right with him will rule in life through Christ.
(18) So then, as the one sin condemned all people, in the same way the one righteous act sets all people free and gives them life.
(19) And just as all people were made sinners as the result of the disobedience of one man, in the same way they will all be put right with God as the result of the obedience of the one man.
(20) Law was introduced in order to increase wrongdoing; but where sin increased, God's grace increased much more.
(21) So then, just as sin ruled by means of death, so also God's grace rules by means of righteousness, leading us to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God's Love-1

Romans 5:1-11 GNB

(1) Now that we have been put right with God through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(2) He has brought us by faith into this experience of God's grace, in which we now live. And so we boast of the hope we have of sharing God's glory!
(3) We also boast of our troubles, because we know that trouble produces endurance,
(4) endurance brings God's approval, and his approval creates hope.
(5) This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to us.
(6) For when we were still helpless, Christ died for the wicked at the time that God chose.
(7) It is a difficult thing for someone to die for a righteous person. It may even be that someone might dare to die for a good person.
(8) But God has shown us how much he loves us---it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!
(9) By his blood we are now put right with God; how much more, then, will we be saved by him from God's anger!
(10) We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son. Now that we are God's friends, how much more will we be saved by Christ's life!
(11) But that is not all; we rejoice because of what God has done through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has now made us God's friends.

God's Mercy-1

Romans 11:25-36 GNB

(25) There is a secret truth, my friends, which I want you to know, for it will keep you from thinking how wise you are. It is that the stubbornness of the people of Israel is not permanent, but will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to God.
(26) And this is how all Israel will be saved. As the scripture says, "The Savior will come from Zion and remove all wickedness from the descendants of Jacob.
(27) I will make this covenant with them when I take away their sins."
(28) Because they reject the Good News, the Jews are God's enemies for the sake of you Gentiles. But because of God's choice, they are his friends because of their ancestors.
(29) For God does not change his mind about whom he chooses and blesses.
(30) As for you Gentiles, you disobeyed God in the past; but now you have received God's mercy because the Jews were disobedient.
(31) In the same way, because of the mercy that you have received, the Jews now disobey God, in order that they also may now receive God's mercy.
(32) For God has made all people prisoners of disobedience, so that he might show mercy to them all.
(33) How great are God's riches! How deep are his wisdom and knowledge! Who can explain his decisions? Who can understand his ways?
(34) As the scripture says, "Who knows the mind of the Lord? Who is able to give him advice?
(35) Who has ever given him anything, so that he had to pay it back?"
(36) For all things were created by him, and all things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Amen.