“Then Jesus was led (guided) by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil. And He went without food for forty days and forty nights, and later He was hungry. [Exod. 34:28; I Kings 19:8.]
And the tempter came and said to Him, If You are God’s Son, command these stones to be made [loaves of] bread. But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. [Deut. 8:3.]
Then the devil took Him into the holy city and placed Him on a turret (pinnacle, gable) of the temple sanctuary. [Neh. 11:1; Dan. 9:24.] And he said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, He will give His angels charge over you, and they will bear you up on their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone. [Ps. 91:11, 12.] Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written also, You shall not tempt, test thoroughly, or try exceedingly the Lord your God. [Deut. 6:16.]
Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory (the splendor, magnificence, preeminence, and excellence) of them. And he said to Him, These things, all taken together, I will give You, if You will prostrate Yourself before me and do homage and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, Begone, Satan! For it has been written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve. [Deut. 6:13.]
Then the devil departed from Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”
Matthew 4:1-11 AMPC
Do not be intimidated when those around you begin to embrace compromise and succumb to lust.
Make a resolute decision to stand firm against lust and ungodly pressures at all costs. Maintain your faith and integrity, regardless of the hardships or sacrifices it may entail.
Satan harbours a keen interest in the purity of your well-being, the integrity of your calling, and he is willing to go to great lengths to taint your hands. That’s why he is perpetually presenting offers.
Guard your heart against lust and avarice, and you will resist the temptation to turn your talents into bread, using your gifts to prioritise your own needs and satisfy lustful desires.
Be vigilant in your associations and relationships, as many individuals succumb to their own desires when they begin to associate with the wrong individuals.
Brothers, listen closely:
The call to serve God is a sacrificial one, and yes, you will risk your life, just as the apostles did, but He is faithful.
It may appear that you are experiencing a profound crisis in your life, but do not forget that God will only reward those who persevere.
Avoid ungodly pressures and distance yourself from individuals who attempt to influence you through lustful desires. Be resolute in your stance against anything that deviates from the perfect will of God.
Walk alone, if friendship entails compromise.
You may currently be in a state of solitude, but hold on to the belief that God has a history of guiding individuals out of darkness into a state of prosperity.
Do not succumb to ungodly pressures, do not yield to bending, do not conform, and do not succumb to temptation. Stand tall and maintain your unwavering faith.
Remember Christ!
Bishop Gobanga J.O. 
Leave a comment