If you hear it twice.....

My Sunday school teacher told us that if you hear something twice, then it's a confirmation from the Lord. Twice lately, I've heard, or read, messages from the same scripture. My Bible study that I'm doing right now is "Onward Christian Soldiers", and it is soooooooo good!!! It's about putting on the whole armor of God, and it goes thru each piece of the armor and describes what it means. Last week, one of the lessons was about Jesus being tempted....let's say, Satan's attempt....to temp Jesus. Then, Brother Brandon brought his message from the same scripture. I would have used to just think, "WOW", now that's an "It's not odd, it's God" thing.....and it is....but, I'm learning that if I hear something in scripture more than once in a short period of time....God is definitely trying to get my attention. He's wanting me to study that scripture more closely and He's got a message that He's wanting me to hear....and heed!! I went back and re-read the scripture and I want to share a few things with you all that spoke to my heart.
The account is found in Matthew 4:1-11.

Jesus had been fasting for forty days and forty nights. Now...I do well to fast for 24 hours, let alone 40 days and nights. Satan knew that Jesus was weak, which is how he tries to tempt us too, at our weakest point. Do you know....that Satan knows....our weaknesses better than we do? That's the area that he's going to try to hit us the hardest. I'm reminded of this verse of scripture:

1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

If you read and study Matthew 4:1-11, you'll see that Jesus was tempted in 3 different ways. And, just so that you'll know....so you won't think this was copied....this didn't come from my Bible study, or from the message that I heard...this is just my interpretation of this scripture (only with God's help):

1. Physically
Jesus was hungry and He was tired, therefore He was weak. Satan knew this. I've always read this story and seen humor in it, just wondering who in the world Satan thought he was that he could tempt Jesus....our precious Savior!!! But, he knew the areas where Jesus was the weakest, and that's where he tried to tempt him the most, just like he does us today. "Go ahead, Jesus, you know how hungry you are, so just turn these rocks into a loaf of bread." (paraphrased by me, of course) But, Jesus didn't give in. Can we say the same? Can we admit that sometimes we're tired and hungry and weak and we just don't have the faith that it takes to fight off temptations?

James 1:12 (NLT)
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.
Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

2. Emotionally
Jesus was at a very low point emotionally. He knew where His life was leading Him...to the most cruel way to die during His time....crucifixion. Can you even imagine how He must have been feeling, the thoughts going thru His mind? Jesus was every bit as much human as we are, so He had emotions and hurts and feelings, just like we do today. Satan told Jesus to throw Himself off the pinnacle of the temple and the angels would catch Him and not let anything happen to Him.
The thought just came to me how some people get so low that they become suicidal. When I hear of someone committing suicide, I often wonder what kind of lies Satan has told them and been able to convince them of.
Do you know what Jesus told Satan???Matthew 4:7 - 'You must not test the Lord your God.'
Now...when I did my Bible study and it came to this part, it really gave me something to think about. I've never thought that I tested God...but I realize that I do. If I do something knowing that it's wrong, then I'm presuming that God is going to forgive me.
How wrong is that of me?
It gave me a lot to think and pray about and ask forgiveness of.

3. Spiritually
When Satan told Jesus that he would give Him all the kingdoms if He would just bow down and worship him....that's the part that is just almost funny to me. Who does Satan think he is???? He expected Jesus to trade His relationship with His Heavenly Father for anything that Satan might have to offer??? Plus...it wasn't his to give anyway, it already belonged to God!!!
How crazy is that to even imagine?
But.....don't we do the very same thing?
What about when we give into a temptation....maybe to gossip....overeat....tell a little white lie....don't listen to the Holy Spirit prompting?
We belong to God, so why would we let Satan tempt us with anything less than what God has to offer us?

So....when you hear scripture repeated several times in a short period of time....take the time to study it and see if it isn't God speaking to you about something you really need to hear and apply to your own life.
I know that I really needed to re-read this scripture and see what God had to say directly to me!!!

And, remember........

Hebrews 4:15 (NLT)
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.

In His Love...and with mine!!!