Proverbs 16:18 KJV “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
The devil wants to give us a gift this holiday season and all year round actually. It’s the costly gift of pride. At the beginning of all sin lies unbelief. Once the tempter gets us to doubt anything God says he’s got us. Our minds are an open door; an open city without walls, we have no protection. When we don’t believe God’s word and trust in our own understanding the enemy walks right in like an invading army unchecked, and plants in us any wicked desires he wants. Strongholds are built too. It is no wonder when Jesus was tempted by the devil he answered each temptation with God’s word saying, “It is written…”
JESUS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL
Matthew 4:1-11 NIV “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. [2] After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. [3] The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” [4] Jesus answered, “IT IS WRITTEN: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” [5] Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. [6] “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.’ ” [7] Jesus answered him, “IT IS ALSO WRITTEN: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” [8] Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. [9] “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” [10] Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For IT IS WRITTEN: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” [11] Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”
Jesus did not consider for a moment the devil’s three temptations. Jesus clung to the word of God! Hence the devil could do nothing to Him. The same is true with us. Satan will appeal to us intellectually and through our sensual desires just as he did to Jesus, just as he did to Adam and Eve. But as long as we firmly reject his antichrist ideas and CLING TO WHAT, “IS WRITTEN,” in God’s word like Jesus did he can do nothing to us. The devil won’t be able to give us the costly gift of pride.
Remember, satan will appeal to us intellectually and through our sensual desires. He will try to get us to trust in our own judgment not God’s word. He will tempt us to define and follow our own morality not God’s law. Reject this as the wickedness it is! Do not give an inch of ground to the evil ones tactics by paying attention to them. Such thinking brought sin and death to the whole world. Through one man’s pride (Adam) death spread to all mankind! Pride is costly indeed:
Romans 5:12 NIV “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.”
Satan bamboozled Eve then Adam joined in her rebellion. Hence they both received the costly gift of pride. But those who trust in the Lord and do not lean on their own understanding are eternally safe:
Proverbs 3:5-6 NET “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.”
Those who trust in the Lord and not themselves receive the free gift of eternal life!😊 Not the costly gift of pride that leads to destruction.
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