9 replies to this topic

[Julie Daube]

The following devotional was written by Joseph Prince:

"And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, 'You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.'”
Luke 3:22

Immediately after Jesus was baptized, He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. The devil came to Jesus and said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (Matthew 4:3). Now, don’t forget that Jesus had just heard the voice of His Father affirming Him with the words “You are My beloved Son.” Years ago, as I was studying Jesus’ temptations by the devil, the Lord asked me, “Did you notice that the devil dropped one word when he came to tempt My Son?”

I had never heard anyone preach this before or read this in any book, but God opened my eyes to see that the devil had omitted the word “beloved”! God had just told Jesus, “You are My beloved Son.” But shortly after that, the devil came to Jesus, saying, “If You are the Son of God…” The word “beloved” is missing! The serpent had cunningly left it out!

The Lord then showed me that for the devil’s temptations to work, he cannot remind you that you are God’s beloved. The moment you are reminded of your identity as God’s beloved in Christ, he will not be able to succeed! It’s no wonder that the devil wants to rob believers of their sense of being God’s beloved. So don’t fall for the devil’s trick. Remind yourself today and every day that you are God’s beloved!

[Charles Miles]

Great, great information. The most important thing missing in the christian`s worship of God these days is the fact that so many do not know who they are! There are several reasons to read and study the Bible, but One of the most important reasons is to try to see how many ways God tells us that He loves us, and how much He loves us. From Genesis to Revelations, God shows again and again that His love for us is so vast as to be over whelming to us as men.

Thank you for the paragraph. It made my afternoon.

Charlie

[Julie Daube]

I am so glad it blessed you, Charlie! It really ministered to me as well.

I am convinced that one of the biggest problems in the Church today is that God's people do not know who they are as His children and as coheirs with Christ. Our identity in Christ is one of the most (if not THE most) important things we need to learn as believers. Yet from my experience, it is something that is often not emphasized or even taught at all in many churches.

I didn't start learning about this vital topic until after I had been a Christian for at least a decade, when I attended a Bible study led by a teacher who understood the impact that our identity in Christ has on the believer's life. Had I understood this better in the past, I would not have struggled with self-loathing, crippling fear, and other strongholds for much of my Christian life. But thankfully, it is never too late to learn the truth -- and the truth shall set us free!

[Charles Miles]

Oh, so true!  Once a great scholar was asked what he deemed the most amazing writing was that he had ever seen....he answered, "Jesus loves me this I know, because the Bible tells me so".  We are all in such need of teachings about God`s love for us, preachers who teach us about God`s unfathomable love for His children, what our acceptance of this love will do for us, and what it means to be one of the Father`s family. 

 

Like you, I went for a very long time without even a glimmer of understanding about who I was and why I was who I was. I finally was shown the truth about God`s love.  Then I wanted to know more about who God is, why He would do all that He has done for me, what would love of that dimension demand from me, and could there actually be a correct response to such love.  Worship, praise, the word Holy, surrender, and yes, our obedience.....only One is worthy.  So, so worthy is the Lamb that was slain.

 

When one learns about being God`s child and His love for us, there is simply nothing to fear, nothing to worry about, and a warmth wraps around us.  Life still isn`t easy, but all the tough parts become better tolerated and a calmness settles into our souls.  The big thing is this...once you develop a personal relationship with a loving God, all the big, hard questions become only small, interesting things to watch as we understand just who holds us in His arms.....for eternity.

 

Thanks again for the reminding paragraph.  I have had a wonderful day with the Lord as I pondered that with Him.

 

Your brother in Christ,

 

Charlie

[Tony Davison]

I have noticed alot of times that the word "If" in a passage has lost its true meaning and this is one of those spots, I believe. "If" was the word in the King James Bible to them meant since. So the passage "If You are the Son of God..." in our modern english should read "SinceYou are the Son of God.." imagine Satan saying that, you would think he would try and delete that word too. But he can not because he is a defeated person and has to admit who Jesus is. To bad christians do not relize this more that satan is defeated.

[Charles Miles]

Satan knew who Jesus was in the desert and Jesus knew who satan was. Satan knew he was a defeated foe and Jesus knew it also.  When we are confronted by satan, demons, or evil, we need to know who we are and whose we are.  Satan remains a powerful being and no where are we told to go seek him out and confront him, but on occasion, he will confront us(or at least send something to confront us), so we do need to have an understanding of our identity in Christ Jesus.  Remember the man who was following Paul and was casting out a demon....the demon did come out, but it confronted the man and said.."I know Jesus and I know Paul, but just WHO ARE YOU?".  Now there is a question to which one must have an answer, and it had better be the correct answer.  This man did not have the correct answer and he ran into much difficulty. 

 

If confronted by satan or demons, maybe the answer to the question of just who we are might be.......I am a born again son of the Living God, posesser of God`s own rightiousness through Christ, and co-heir to the eternal riches of God`s kingdom. To confront and attack me, you will be attacking God`s own household and one of His children.  You can attack me and do me harm, but we both know this battle has already been fought and you lost.  You can`t win.  In the name of my Father and in the name of my Brother Jesus Christ, I tell you to leave.       He WILL leave because he has no choice.  All of Satan`s actions now are a bluff and those who know that can tell him to get lost....using the Word of God as authority.

 

Praise God for a relationship given to us at no cost to us,

 

Charlie

[Julie Daube]

Amen, Charlie! Well said!

[noah22x]

Rev 20:10 I heard a teacher give this verse and say "Anytime Satan reminds you of your past, read this aloud and remind him of his future." 

 

This thread has been helpful. Thank you.

Noah

[Candice]

Julie,

I heard Joseph Prince preach this recently too!  I found it to be very much one of those hidden things that just gives you chill bumps!  Thanks for sharing this. It's important!  The devil's always trying to tweek the Father's own words.  Doesn't work.

 

Noah,

I heard that Rev. 20:10 story too.  I love it!

 

Candice

[Julie Daube]

Glad it blessed you, Candice! I read Joseph Prince's devotionals just about every day, and there is almost always some hidden truth from God's Word that gives me chills.

Today I read one about the need to be Christ-occupied instead of self-occupied. What really hit me was the fact that when we focus on our failures, weaknesses, flaws, etc. we are focusing on ourselves instead of on Christ. There was a quote that was especially hard-hitting that I can't quite remember right now; maybe I will post it at a later time.