Satan’s Top 3 Weapons   
In Luke’s version of the wilderness temptations of Jesus (Luke 4:1-13), Satan tempted our Lord in three ways. But don’t let the small number fool you. Virtually every conceivable temptation has its roots in those three enticements. John summarizes them as follows, “...the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16).
  
Below is a breakdown of the three temptations Jesus faced, followed by a correlation to our temptations.
  
1. The Lust of the Flesh 

• After fasting 40 days in the wilderness Jesus was on the verge of starvation. Satan challenged Him to demonstrate His divinity by turning stones to bread and satisfying His hunger. But Jesus refused, citing a greater need for His Father's word (Luke 4:3-4). 

• Satan is keenly familiar with our fleshly appetites, and would have us seek to satisfy them first and foremost. Although certain physical needs should be met, none compares to our need for God’s word.
    
  
  2. The Lust of the Eyes 
• In a moment of time, Satan showed Jesus all the world’s kingdoms and offered Him full control in exchange for worshipping the tempter. It must have been genuinely tempting, for Jesus could have literally ruled the world! But worshipping Satan was out of the question!
  
  
• Although our eyes are crucial for safely navigating this world, Satan temps us to look at things that hinder spiritual growth or pollute our souls. But we must control what we see, regardless of Satan's allurements and enticing promises.
    
  
  3. The Pride of Life 
• Satan dared Jesus to jump from the pinnacle of the temple to prove His identity and substantiate God’s promise to protect Him. Pride could have prompted Jesus to jump, but He refused. Testing God’s promises would violate His Father's will - Deut. 6:16.
  
  
• Pride has caused countless problems for people, including Christians. Sometimes we are tempted to believe that we are a “bit better than others”. Such feelings, however, inevitably lead to haughtiness, a judgmental spirit, anger, bitter words and grudges. Remember - “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).
    
  
   Jesus forever proved that temptations can be overcome by using God's word. In fact, He was "in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). It all began when He resisted the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life.
    
  May God help us to follow in His steps – 1 Pet. 2:21.
    
  A Recommitted Me in 2023! 
  
    Dennis

God's Enduring Word! 
  
Things that endure and stand the test of time are impressive. Examples include life-long marriages or friendships, well-constructed houses or furniture, long-lasting vehicles, appliances, tools or clothing. 
  
As impressive as these might be, nothing compares with the enduring words of God as recorded in the Bible. Written over a period 1600 years and completed some 2,000 years ago, it continues to flourish despite countless attempts to discredit it. Some of the world’s brightest (so-called) intellectuals claimed that the Bible would obsolete by the end of the 19th century. Yet in the 21st century it continues to be the world's #1 bestseller.  
  
Moreover, the Bible itself repeatedly affirms that God’s word will endure forever. 

• “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever" (Isa.  40:8).
•  “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven” (Psa. 119:89). 
• "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away"   (Matt. 24:35, Mark 13:31).
• “...the Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35). 
• “…the word of God which lives and abides forever... (1 Pet. 1:23). 
• “The grass withers, And its flower falls away,  But the word of the LORD endures forever" (1 Peter 1:24-25).
  
     
  Hammer and the Anvil (Author unknown) 
• Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door and heard the anvil ring the vesper chime:
• Then looking in, I saw upon the floor old hammers, worn with beating years of time.
• "How many anvils have you had," said I, "To wear and batter all these hammers so?"
• "Just one," said he, and then, with twinkling eye, "The anvil wears the hammers out, you know." 
• And so, thought I, the anvil of God's word, for ages skeptic blows have beat upon;
• Yet though the noise of falling blows was heard, the anvil is unharmed; the hammers gone. 

  Praise God for His enduring word!

 A Recommitted Me in 2023! 
  
Dennis

Twas the Night Before Jesus Came(Author uncertain)
‘Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.
The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.
When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!


When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be The Day!
The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! Returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.
In the Book of Life which He held in His Hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said "It's not here" My head hung in shame!
The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.
I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.
In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after ALL!
Jesus FIRST!
Dennis

​Lord, Won’t You Buy Me a.....

In January 1971 the late Janis Joplin released a song with the following lyrics,


Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends
So Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz.

Although popular with her fans, the song is a sad parody of prayer, not surprising from a singer involved in drugs, alcohol and promiscuity. When she died of a heroin overdose at the age of 27, she was found clutching a pack of cigarettes and a wad of money.

Even more tragic is the tendency of many people (including some Christians) to think of God as a genie, ready to grant virtually any request. But the God of the Bible discourages such thinking. James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” Asking God to bless us with a luxury home, expensive car, or a bigger bank account is a symptom of love for the world - NOT good (1 John 2:15-17). A desire for possessions can lead us away from God and down the path of spiritual destruction.

So how can we handle desires for the “good things” in life?
 We should remember that Jesus was poor and homeless, yet without complaint (Matt. 8:20).
 We can pray that God will help us transform our thinking (Rom. 12:1-2).
 We can pray that God will help us develop self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).
 We can pray that God will help us learn that contentment with godliness is great gain (1 Tim. 6:6).
 We must remember that we will carry nothing to the grave (1 Tim. 6:7).
 We can be more generous in giving to God (2 Cor. 9:6-9).
 We must remember that what we give (or do) to help others will result in treasures in heaven (Matt. 19:21-22).

Jesus FIRST!

Dennis