A Journey through the Red Letters Matthew 4:5-7

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' "

When we are going through temptations it is important that we quote the word of God. Just as Jesus did.

How do we get to quote His word, we must study the word of God. We can hear the word of God via the computer, cassette tapes or Cd's. Reading the Bible and listening to teaching tapes. Bible study groups helps to reinforce the Word of God. Reading devotionals and being involved with the body of believers.

Each day take some time to take in the word of God. When the times comes you will be able to say It is written.

A Journey through the Red Letters Matthew 4:1-4

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" (Matthew 4:1-4 NASB)

When I read what Jesus said to the tempter I thought about Esau. Esau had a twin brother named Jacob. One day Esau came home hungry after hunting. Jacob was cooking a stew and Esau wanted Jacob to feed him.

When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents. Now Isaac loved Esau, because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; and Esau said to Jacob, "Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished." Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright." Esau said, "Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?" And Jacob said, "First swear to me"; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:27-34 NASB

Esau gave up his rightful place as first born son for food. He did not have self control. The word of God was not important to him.

Jesus shows us He had self control. He did not give in to eating. The word of God was the most important to Him. Jesus did not give up His birthright and He is the firstborn of many brethren. He is the firstborn from the dead.

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; (Romans 8:29 NASB)

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, (Colossians 1:18-19 NASB)

I am a born again believer because Jesus made the way for me. One day I will also rise from the dead because He did.

If you can not say that you are a born again believer I have good news for you. Jesus made the way. Ask Him to come into your heart repent of your sins.

This is just the beginning of your Christian walk. I encourage you to begin your Bible study in the New Testament. Pray and ask Jesus to direct you to a Bible Study group or a church.

Please send me an email if you made that decision or if you have questions.

A Journey Through the Red Letters

This past summer we had a guest speaker. He shared when he became a Born Again Believer he had never read the Bible. When he opened the Bible He began reading the red letters. The letters in red are Jesus words. Since he was going to be a follower of Jesus Christ he wanted to do what Jesus did.

I thought Wow, that is a good place to begin your spiritual walk.

As I thought about the above testimony, I decided to write about the words of Jesus. Of course I will not do it all in one posting, it shall be an on going process.

My prayer is that you and I will grow in our spiritual walk as we take this journey together.

Scripture Matthew 3:13-17 New American Standard Bible
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The Gospel According to Matthew is the first book in the New Testament. In the first chapter we are given the genealogy of Jesus Christ. The second chapter speaks about His birth. In chapter three Jesus Christ is an Adult and gets water baptized.

John announced that he baptized with water unto repentance, but Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

We learned from the scriptures Jesus got water baptized and He is going to baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.