They Must be Giants - P8 - What would David Do?

WELCOME

INTRODUCTION

Most of us are all familiar with the story of David & Goliath.

1 Samuel 17

We are completing our series entitled “They Must be Giants!”

We have spoken on;

† David & Goliath

† Unforgiveness

† Fear

† Anger

† Hate

† Flesh vs. Spirit

† Self-Esteem

The battle between the Israelites and the Palestinians this day was a spiritual one.

The devil had brought his people up against the children of the Living God.

Just as we are reminded in Ephesians 6, the battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces, principalities and powers.

Goliath was Satan’s champion this day.

And David was God’s.

And fear had enslaved the Israelites.

Fear caused them to act irrational, and they were helpless.

They forgot who they were.

Over the past few weeks we’ve talked about how these spiritual battles rage on today in our lives.

Orchestrated by the devil to enslave us as well, to cause us to fall, and fear, and forget who we are, so that we cannot effectively serve our God.

We are held captive by the giant named Unforgiveness.

We are forced into making irrational decisions by our giant named fear.

Our fear, if unresolved will grow into anger as it did with Cain.

And that anger will grow into hate.

We lose the battle with our flesh because of fear.

We have low self esteem because the devil’s giant is at our heels.

But if David could defeat Goliath because of the Lord, we too can be victorious in our spiritual battles!

We too can defeat WHATEVER the devil throws at us!

Greater is He that is IN us, then he that is in the world!

Today we ask the question, What Would David Do in our situation?

We are going to look at the life of David up to the point of Goliath and see what made it possible for him to defeat the giant that the devil had thrown at the Israelites.

1. David’s life as a shepherd

2. David’s anointing of the Holy Spirit

3. David’s purpose made known by God to David

4. David recognized the situation

5. David trusted in the Lord for victory

DAVID’S LIFE AS A SHEPHERD

At this time in history Saul was King.

When Saul became King he was given a warning from the Prophet Samuel.

The warning was to nation and King not to forget God.

Saul made three mistakes that led to him being replaced.

1^st – Saul was humble in the beginning, but his success quickly went to his head. His humility turned into pride.

He offered sacrifices, which was instructed by God to be done by the priests.

This was the first sign of Saul’s growing sense of self importance.

2^nd – His ridiculous order for the army to abstain from food, and his senseless death sentence for Jonathan, showed the people what a fool they had for a King.

3^rd – Saul deliberately disobeyed God. For this, Samuel spoke the words, “Because you have rejected God, God has rejected you from being King.”

Saul's incapacity to be king is rooted in his inability to hear God's word and act on it. He substitutes human calculation for divine leading.

While all this was taking place, David was the shepherd over his father’s flock.

Spending time with God in the country, he had built a relationship with the Lord.

Songs and prayer became a way of life to David.

Many times in the fields he had to rely on God’s protection and strength in watching over the flocks.

With God’s help, David had defeated wild animals, such as a lion, from attacking his sheep.

David knew God intimately and knew God’s protection.

David had a relationship with God.

This relationship is the foundation of God’s working in David’s life.

DAVID’S ANNOINTING

David was anointed to be king.

This anointing came from God through Samuel.

But it was done in secret.

Because Saul would have killed David had he found out David was God’s replacement for him.

The reason David was anointed at the age of 15 as we see in Chapter 13, was to give David a chance to train himself for the office.

When we read of David we read the following, David was short in stature, of fair complexion, and handsome, of immense physical strength and great personal attractiveness, a man of war, prudent in speech, very brave, musical and religious.

His fame as a musician brought him to the notice of King Saul, who did not at the time know that David had been anointed to be his successor.

David became Saul’s armor bearer.

This brought David into close association with the king and his counselors, so that unknowingly Saul helped train David for his future responsibilities as King.

Samuel anointed David as God instructed.

And David received the Holy Spirit, and all that comes with Him.

DAVID’S PURPOSE MADE KNOWN TO HIM BY GOD

David knew what God had called him to do.

When we know who we are in the Lord, we become determined.

We gain strength.

We have a right self-image.

We obtain our self esteem from the right source.

The Lord!

And nothing, nor anyone can remove that self esteem when it comes from the right source.

If I get my self esteem from my friends, then what happens?

I will do whatever it takes to keep their approval.

I have just set myself up for peer pressure.

Where did King Saul get his self-esteem? The scriptures tell us, from the people.

He failed God because we wanted to please the people instead of God.

If I get my self esteem from how much I have, what happens?

I have just set myself up to be materialistic.

If I get my self esteem from money, what happens?

I end up doing whatever to get more.

Jesus told the rich ruler in Luke 18:18 when asked “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

They key to this verse is not to sell all you own or you cannot have eternal life, the key is the word “I”.

The rich ruler asked Jesus specifically about his own life and path for eternal life. Jesus knowing the man was a lover of his riches, told him that he must sell everything if he was to follow Christ.

The rich ruler got his self-esteem from his wealth. Therefore it stood between him and a relationship with God.

We set ourselves up for sin whenever we get our self esteem from any source other than the Lord.

When my self-esteem comes from the Lord, then it doesn’t matter what my friends say, I do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.

I don’t care what they think.

I don’t become a lover of money because all that matters to me is what the Lord wants, because that’s where my self esteem comes from.

Who I am in the Lord.

All I have, or will ever have, comes only from the hand of God.

Therefore, how can I get my self-esteem from something that can be given and taken away by God?

I rather get my self-esteem from the one who gives and takes away.

David knew who he was in the Lord.

He knew the plans the Lord had for him.

DAVID RECOGNIZED THE BATTLE FOR WHAT IS WAS

The Israelites did not see the battle for what it was.

It was spiritual.

Saul did not see the battle for what it was because he had lost the favor of God because of his disobedience and pride, and even when the Lord was speaking to Saul, he didn’t listen.

But David, a man who had a relationship with God, and was anointed with the Holy Spirit of God, and KNEW who he was in the Lord, saw the battle for what it was.

He knew the battle was spiritual, and that it wasn’t the Palestinians against the Israelites, but the Palestinians against God!

He recognized the battle as we are told to do in Ephesians 6.

David had no fear because he knew the Lord was with him!

DAVID TRUSTED THE LORD FOR VICTORY

The battle was the Lord’s.

David’s offer to take on Goliath with only a spear and a sling was unheard of bravery and amazing trust in God.

I watched a documentary the other night on the battle of David and Goliath, and although there were a few discrepancies with the scripture, there were some interesting scientific facts.

Such as the fact that a ballistics expert showed that a rock from a sling has the velocity between 80 and 90 miles per hour.

Which is about 117 – 132 Feet Per Second.

I would not want to get hit with a rock in the forehead going that fast!

So we look at David facing Goliath and being victorious, and we look at the Giants in our lives and we ask, how can we be victorious?

How was David victorious, and how do we accomplish this?

It does not matter what the Giant is in your life, they are all defeated in the same manner!

Just as David, we need a relationship with God. Not when the giant comes, BEFORE!

† Do you belong to the Lord?

† Have you confessed your sin and asked for forgiveness?

† Have you repented of the sin?

† Do you read His word and pray to Him?

† You must have a relationship with God.

Just as David, we need to have the Holy Spirit.

† The Holy Spirit comes when invited.

† You cannot take hold of the Spirit, it’s like wind or water.

† You must continually be filled.

Just as David, we need to know who we are.

† Where do you get your self esteem?

† Have you asked God to reveal His plan for you?

† Do you know what gifts He has given you?

† Are you working towards your calling?

Just as David, we need to recognize the battle is His.

† The battle is Spiritual.

† The Giant you face is not facing you, but the Lord.

† All things are possible through Christ Jesus who strengthens us!

The Lord can defeat whatever is coming against you in your life.

Unforgiveness, anger, fear, hate, lust, adultery, fornication, whatever sin or unrighteous behavior, or temptation arises against you, remember this is a spiritual matter to cause you to live in unrighteousness, to live in sin, and thus cut you off from relationship with the Lord!

Come forward for prayer!

They Must be Giants - P7 - Self-Esteem

WELCOME

INTRODUCTION

Most of us are all familiar with the story of David & Goliath.

1 Samuel 17

We are continuing our series entitled “They Must be Giants!”

We have spoken on;

† David & Goliath

† Unforgiveness

† Fear

† Anger

† Hate

† Flesh vs. Spirit

SCRIPTURE READING
1 Peter 1:13-19

“13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT AND UNDERSTANDING

How does our world place value on people?

Physical beauty, Money, Accomplishment.

By comparing yourself with others.

That’s how many get the value of themselves.

However, if it does not line up with the word of God, it needs to be changed.

There is no biblical guarantee that you will automatically receive healthy feelings about yourself when you accept Jesus as Your Savior. Some people do, but many do not.

If fact some Christians mistakenly label good feelings about themselves as pride or conceit -traits that God hates Proverbs 21:4.

These people resist any feelings of healthy self-worth and zealously defend their feelings of worthlessness under the guise of being humble, spiritual and Biblical.

In the church I think we have mistakenly confused the human self with the carnal self when we talk about it being put to death.

The carnal self is the unredeemed part that has wrapped itself around the human self to control it. The carnal self can be destroyed, but not the human self. I see it as a tension between two verses - “I can do all things through Christ” and “Apart from me you can do nothing”

Joe Namath
Few of us look in the mirror and come to the conclusion of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath. During his heyday as a player, Namath wrote a book titled I Can’t Wait Until Tomorrow... ‘Cause I Get Better-Looking Every Day.

Our Daily Bread, March-May, 1996, p. for March 9

Or the old Mac Davis Song, “Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in every way... “

But how we view ourselves should be how God views us.

God has already established our value, we just need to acknowledge and recognize it.

I. Creation itself establishes your Value

Genesis 1:27

“27 So God created people in his own image;
God patterned them after himself;
male and female he created them”



You are the crown jewel of God’s creation.

Josh McDowell

“A healthy self-image is seeing yourself the way God sees you-no more no less.”

Building your self esteem.

Valuable Necklace
An American tourist in Paris, who purchased an inexpensive amber necklace in a trinket shop, was shocked when he had to pay quite a high duty on it to clear customs in New York. This aroused his curiosity, so he had it appraised. After looking at the object under a magnifying glass, the jeweler said, “I’ll give you $25,000 for it.” Greatly surprised, the man decided to have another expert examine it. When he did, he was offered $10,000 more. “What do you see that’s so valuable about this old necklace?” asked the astonished man. “Look through this glass,” replied the jeweler. There before his eyes was an inscription: ““From Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine.” The value of the necklace came from its identification with a famous person.


II The Price of Your Salvation Establishes your worth.

1 Corinthians 6:19, 20

“19 Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

1 Peter 1:18, 19

“18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver.19 He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”

III How Does God Feel About You?

God has gone on the record about how he thinks and feels about you in his Word.

1. See yourself as a person God loves very much.

Romans 5:6-8 But God commendeth his love toward us while we were yet sinners,

Romans 5:9-10 The cross says he loves us “Much more” If God loved us while we were enemies, how much more does he love us as children.

2. Realize you are very valuable to God. John 3:16

3. Think of yourself as a forgiven person. 1 John 1:9

4. See yourself as a changeable person. Regeneration makes recreation possible. A new creation, a new creature!

A. God’s Feelings are on record

Deuteronomy 26:18

"The LORD has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments;”

Zechariah 2:8

“For thus says the LORD of hosts, "After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye”

Isaiah 62:5

“…as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.”

Luke 10:21

“At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.”

John 16:26-28

“26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

Matthew 10:29-31

“29 Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.”

IV Your Self Image is

Your self esteem is a reflection of how you believe other people see you.

It consists of who you think other people think you are.

And that can be a real downer.

Dr Richard Dobbins says, “IT would be nice if everyone liked me, but it’s not necessary” For not even Jesus was liked by everyone. He had but twelve disciples, and one betrayed him and one denied him.

The more positively you see yourself the more optimistic your view of life will tend to be.

Worlds false values - Physical Beauty - Money - Power or Popularity -Competence

V YOUR Self Image is your key to happiness

Proverbs 23:7 As a man thinketh in his heart so is he

Matthew 6:26

“26 Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.”

VI How do you talk to yourself

Tattoo

Once I came upon a tattoo studio. On the wall were displayed samples of the tattoos available. On the chest or arms you could have tattooed an anchor or flag or mermaid or whatever. But what struck me with force was three words that could be tattooed on one’s flesh, Born to lose. I pointed to those words, asked the tattoo artist, “Does anyone really have that terrible phrase, Born to lose, tattooed on his body.” He replied, “Yes, sometimes.” “But,” I said, “I just can’t believe that anyone in his right mind would do that.” The Chinese man simply tapped his forehead and said in broken English, “Before tattoo on body, tattoo on mind.”

The way you talk to yourself both grow out of and contributes to your self image.

Our way of interpreting life’s circumstances is what needs to change.

Circumstances don’t determine your happiness.

-IT is the way you choose to view them and talk to yourself about them that becomes critical to your happiness.

Eleanor Roosevelt is credited with saying, "Nobody can make me feel inferior without my permission."

To paraphrase, "No one can make me feel anyway at all without my permission. Our feelings are our chosen reactions to life’s events.

The way you see it, is the way it is for you.

Everyone’s Sky has its dark clouds.

No one can change your feelings, only you.

John 1:12, 13

“12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.13 They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan--this rebirth comes from God.”

How you can go about changing your self Image?

1. See Yourself as a person God Loves very much.

2. Realize you are very valuable to God.

3. Think of yourself as a forgiven person.

4. See yourself as a changeable person.

Learn to accept praise from others & Give it

Avoid putting yourself down. -Mistakes are a part of being human

Think, speak and act positively (Replace “I can’t, I have to” with “I can and I will”

Replace negative self talk with positive self talk.

Conclusion: So let’s allow the Holy Spirit of God to change our self image through which we see life and judge others.

God wants to give us his view of life. He wants to enable us to love ourselves as he does, in order that we can love others the same way.

They Must be Giants - P6 - Our Flesh

WELCOME

INTRODUCTION

Most of us are all familiar with the story of David & Goliath.

1 Samuel 17

We are continuing our series entitled “They Must be Giants!”

We have spoken on;

† David & Goliath

† Unforgiveness

† Fear

† Anger

† Hate

Un-forgiveness can hold us captive to ourselves.

These Giants can literally make us a slave to it.

Fear can cause us to make irrational decisions, or even do nothing at all.

We have but two emotions. Love & fear, All of our behavior stems from one of those two emotions.

Hate comes from unresolved anger.

Anger comes from unresolved fear.

Remember, we only have two emotions, love and fear.

Everything else is a behavior.

We are told in the scriptures to do everything in Love for God is love.

And those who do not have God, do not have love.

Everything positive, including our behaviors, comes from love.

Such as the fruit of the spirit.

We are told that the fruit of the spirit comes from having the spirit of God, which is love.

All of our negative behaviors originate from our fear.

Such as with Cain and Abel.

Cain feared he would not be accepted by God as Abel was.

That fear could have been, should have been dealt with.

Cain could have voiced his fear to his brother or to God and received instruction.

But he didn’t.

And his fear of rejection grew into anger towards Abel.

Because God accepted Abel’s offering.

That anger should have been dealt with.

It was unrighteous anger; therefore Cain was living in a state of unrighteousness.

His anger then grew into hate.

And that hate led him to commit the first murder.

When battling against the giants in our lives, we do need to remember the lessons from the story of David and Goliath.

The battle between the Palestinians and the Israelites was a spiritual one.

† David had the Holy Spirit just as all of those who belong to God have access to.

† David recognized the battle was spiritual even though everyone around him could not. He was walking in the spirit, not by sight, but by faith.

† When David faced the giant, he knew the battle was not a man against a giant, but a giant against a man of God.

† The battle was the Lord’s!

We must remember these points in our lives as well when we face things.

1. It’s a spiritual battle
2. We have the Holy Spirit
3. The battle is the Lord’s

Today we are talking about our flesh.

More specifically the battle between our flesh and our spirit.

Like many a great books, one of the plots that intrigue us as human beings is man-against-self.

I took creative writing in school, and there were three major themes we saw repeated in novels.

Man-against-nature, Man-against-man, and man-against-self.

We live “man-against-self” everyday as a Christian.

Romans 7:21 - 25

“21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.”

This is why we need to win the war within our minds.

As the scriptures say; to take every thought into captivity of Christ Jesus.

The battle is in our minds.

Not that it doesn’t exist, but that it not only exists, but begins there!

Here something very interesting.

When we accept Jesus Christ, our souls are redeemed.

BUT, our flesh is not!

Our flesh is not redeemed when we become Christians.

We are redeemed souls living in corrupt flesh.

Have you ever wondered why even though you accept Christ, you are still going to die and we are going to receive glorified bodies?

God will never contradict His Holy Word.

God warned Adam that if he ate of that tree he would surly die.

The scriptures say that it is appointed to man to die once.

Genesis 3:17 – 19

“17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife (instead of God’s Word) and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' (committing sin)
"Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life.

18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.

19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return."

Our flesh has been cursed because of sin.

When Adam sinned, when he chose unrighteousness over righteousness, when he behaved in fear instead of love, God’s spirit was severed from Him.

Fear of what?

Adam could have behaved in love for God and His Word.

Love for his wife, knowing that God warned not to eat of the tree.

But he behaved in fear, perhaps fear of rejection from his wife.

Relationship & communion with God was broke, and the spirit of God which sustained Adam and Eve was removed.

From this point on, food would sustain them, and only for a time.

Their flesh must be returned to the dust.

This is the curse.

When we make Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, we return to relationship with God the Father.

Our souls are redeemed through the Holy Spirit.

But our flesh must return to the dust as the Lord has said.

In case you missed it, until this point, Eve was called woman, for she was taken out of man.

But after the curse fell upon them, she was called Eve in Genesis 3:20, because she WOULD become the mother of all the living.

There are no other people living at this time.

There were no other races.

No other humans.

Because the scripture says, she would become the mother of all the living.

There was no pre-ademic race. This is a myth thought up to explain things we don’t understand but there is NO SCRIPTURAL PROOF.

So our flesh is cursed even after we accept the Lord.

This is why when we become Christians, we are not, and can not become perfect.

We cannot be perfect, because our flesh is sinful.

As the scripture says in Romans, it is a constant battle between what our redeemed soul led by the spirit WANTS to do, and what our flesh led by worldly desires wants to do.

This is why we are told to walk in the spirit, because although we have accepted Christ and are redeemed, we can still walk in the flesh.

Walking in the flesh is easy to do.

It’s easy to act in unrighteousness.

It’s easy to behave in unrighteousness.

King David is a perfect example.

He received the Holy Spirit at a young age, and yet gave into his flesh and sinned with Bathsheba.

Jeremiah 17:5

This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

We put our trust in people, in ourselves, in flesh.

We depend on people, on others, on ourselves for getting things done.

Flesh is not our strength, but our weakness.

For the flesh of man is not redeemed, but cursed.

Does this mean we cannot live righteously?

No, absolutely not.

But it is in my weakness He (the Lord) is my strength!

But it does mean that we cannot live righteously all the time.

Eventually, somewhere in your life you will slip.

This is told to us in the scripture.

We all sin and fall short of the Glory of God.

But we don’t stay in that sin.

We recognize our sin, confess to the Lord and repent so that we can have forgiveness.

If we continue to live in sin, or unrighteousness, we are choosing to separate ourselves from relationship with the Lord.

The scriptures say the Lord does not hear the prayers of the unrighteous.

This is a very important scripture to remember.

When we walk in the flesh instead of the spirit, we are living in unrighteousness, and God cannot hear us.

Save but one prayer, Lord forgive me.

Forgiveness only comes through confession to the Lord and repentance.

That’s it.

So we battle against our flesh.

Our flesh which is not, and cannot be redeemed.

So how do we walk in the spirit?

How do we live righteously?

How do we choose love over fear?

Believers have the Spirit of Christ, the hope of glory within them.

Colossians 1:27

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Those who walk in the Spirit will show forth daily, moment-by-moment holiness.

Not that we won’t slip and fall occasionally, but that when we do, we get back on our feet and continue righteously.

This is brought about by consciously choosing by faith to rely on the Holy Spirit to guide in thought, word, and deed.

Romans 6:11-14

“11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

John 3:3

“In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

Philippians 1:27

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

We can know that we are walking in the Spirit if our lives are showing forth the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23).

Being filled (walking), with the Spirit is the same as allowing the word of Christ (the Bible), to richly dwell in us.

Colossians 3:16

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

The result is thankfulness, singing, and joy.

Children of God will be led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14).

When Christians choose not to walk in the Spirit, thereby sinning and grieving Him, provision has been made for restoration through confession of the wrongdoing.

Ephesians 4:30

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

1 John 1:9

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

To “walk in the Spirit” is to follow the Spirit’s leading.

When the devil tempted Jesus, He tried to tempt His flesh, His human side, underestimating and not understanding that the righteous have the Holy Spirit.

And you can not tempt the Holy Spirit for He is God!

The devil tried to tempt Jesus’ flesh.

And after He had fasted 40 days and 40 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." - Matthew 4:2-3
The First Temptation
Satan tried to place doubt in the mind of Jesus with the words "If you are the Son of God."

The Trap
The danger of this temptation was not in making bread. Jesus was not under a prohibition from miraculously creating food. On two occasions Jesus used his power to create bread for a multitude of people (Mark 6:35-44, Mark 8:1-21).
The real peril lay in Satan's proposed reason for creating bread.

That reason being "If you are the Son of God."

Satan was challenging Christ's credentials.

Jesus quotes Moses
But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" - Matthew 4:4

Jesus immediately perceived the real danger, and responded with a passage from Deuteronomy 8:3. In that passage, Moses reminded the Israelites that God humbled them in the wilderness when He provided manna from heaven.

His humble attitude
This quote gives insight into Christ's mindset during this ordeal. His reliance on God's will is contrasted with reliance on temporal things, like food.
Jesus humbly relied on God. He rendered obedience by not doubting God's declaration, "This is my beloved Son."

Then the devil took Him into the holy city; and he had Him stand 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 will give His angels charge concerning you,' and, 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone." - Matthew 4:5-6

The Second Temptation
Satan took Jesus to Jerusalem to stand on the temple. There Satan challenged Jesus to throw himself down. Although the exact spot is not given, Josephus recorded that Herod's royal portico towered 450 feet over the Kedron Valley (Antiquities XV.412).

Satan quotes scripture
Having lost the first challenge, Satan appeals to scripture by quoting Psalm 91:11-12. When isolated from other passages, this proposal seems reasonable. If Jesus were God's Son, then scripture promised to save Him.

Jesus Responds
Deceptively, Satan tried inciting Jesus to test the scripture. Jesus addressed the real issue by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16.
Jesus said to him, "On the other hand it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" - Matthew 4:7

Testing God
To commit this act would have tested God, not scripture. Putting God to the test does not refer to an exam. Rather, the idea of "experimenting with God" is contained in this phrase.
Had He fallen to this temptation, Jesus would have substituted humble faith in God's guidance with a blatant challenge to the Father's lovingkindness. God protects His children, but also expects them to exercise sound judgement.

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. And he said to Him, "All these things will I give you if you fall down and worship me." - Matthew 4:8-9

The Third Temptation
Since no mountain stands high enough to view all the world's kingdoms, it's likely that Satan exercised some supernatural power to show Christ "all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time" (Luke 4:5).

Satan's authority
Jesus did not question Satan's authority to grant the world's kingdoms. Bear in mind, however, that Jesus did not directly address Satan's apparent deceptions in the first two temptations.
His suggestion violated the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3).

Jesus Responds
Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only. (Matthew 4:10)"
Again, Jesus quoted Moses; this time from Deuteronomy 6:13.

It is essentially to “walk with” the Spirit, allowing Him to guide your steps and conform your mind.

Just as we have received Christ by faith, by faith He asks us to walk in Him, until we are taken to heaven and will hear from the Master, "Well done!" (Colossians 2:5; Matthew 25:23).

If you are at war with your flesh, your mind, sin, unrighteousness, come forward today. Let us pray for you.

Walking in the spirit is possible, and living a fruit bearing life is possible through walking with the Lord.