The Deception of Rejection!!!

I am reading Luke Chapter 4. And I want to make an obvious point before we delve deeper.

Jesus has so much love and respect for God the Father. It is evidenced in how He answered Satan as He was tempted in the wilderness.

On the flip side, it shows the pride, callousness, and lack of respect that Satan has for his Creator.

If you wonder why this world is in disarray, here are a few answers. The devil has authority over the earth. As it was given to him. “And the devil said to Him, ‘I will give You all this realm and its glory [its power, its renown]; because it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish'” (Luke 4: 6, AMP).

Forfeited by Adam and Eve through disobedience. Pay close attention to what the devil demanded of Jesus.

The Devil’s Baseness

1) “And the devil said unto Him, if thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread” (Luke 4: 3, KJV).

Jesus knows who He is in God. Giving Him the confidence and wisdom not to waste His glory on trivial matters. In His patience, He knows His Father has provided all things for Him.

Remember. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6: 33, KJV).

2) “And the devil said unto Him, All this power I will give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine” (Luke 4: 6-7, KJV).

Proving that he will give power to immature, reckless, and hostile individuals. Who will appease his ego. Showing his own need to prove his worth or lack thereof.

This Same Spirit is At Work in Those with Low Self-Worth and Esteem

Those with the same self-serving spirits and God-like complexes. That care nothing for man.

What I need for you to understand is that the enemy hates you. Even those who follow him. He proves that he could never be God. That his worldly kingdom will utterly fail. This is evidenced by all that he has been given. And look at what he has and is doing with it.

Having none of the qualities of a true and proven servant leader. Failure is ultimately imminent.

Now I want you to pay close attention. He understands that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. But in his evilness, he was propositioning the Lord to take His earthly life and decimate his mission.

Know Who You Are

3) “And he brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence” (Luke 4: 9, KJV).

What I want you to realize is that although the devil will fail. He is maniacal, cunning, and diabolical. So, what may seem petty, can destroy you.

You need to recognize that he is not to be messed with. And for those who say, I don’t want anyone quoting scriptures to me all day long. You better know the Word for yourself. Because as you can see, this is what it means to “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4: 7, KJV).

Now take heed, because after Jesus answered him, it is written, “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season” (Luke 4: 13, KJV). Now read that again and meditate on it.

Self-doubt is a Trick of The Enemy

There is another underlying theme that I want to point out. The devil was keenly focused on making Jesus doubt who He was. “If thou be the Son of God…”.

In this world today, we are rejected if we don’t have fancy houses, cars, designer clothes, and every temporal lust and pleasure. More lies and deception. This spirit is at work in many.

I feel the need to repeat this. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2: 16, KJV).

Jesus said, “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME (the Messiah), BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO ANNOUNCE RELEASE (pardon, forgiveness) TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy), TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD [the day when salvation and the favor of God abound greatly]” (Luke 4: 18-19, AMP).

The Devil Comes to Steal, Kill, and Destroy

This is how quickly the devil wants to enter in and rob you of God’s grace and salvation. Right after Jesus spoke these “gracious” words, they said “Is not this Joseph’s son? They would even ask Jesus to prove Himself.

Are you paying attention? Do you wonder why you are rejected by those closest to and around you?

“So He said to them, “You will no doubt quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal Yourself!’ Whatever [miracles] that we have heard were done [by You] in Capernaum, do here in Your hometown as well”(Luke 4: 23, AMP).

Know this, if Jesus would have taken the time to prove himself, every time he was asked to. He would not have fulfilled what was written of Him. While concomitantly offending, tempting, and questioning God. Negating His faith.

We Are a Peculiar People, Set Apart

Listen to how He answered, proving and affirming that you don’t owe any man an explanation when it is of God. “And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country” (Luke 4: 24, KJV).

Then He confirmed it twice so that you will make a choice on whom you will serve. Why everyone is not saved. And why everyone will not be healed.

“But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias (Elijah), when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

“And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus (Elisha) the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian” (Luke 4: 25-27, KJV).

Those Who Hear vs. Those Who Are Chosen

This is why faith is so important. Along with the willingness to do what you are called to do. People will go from one extreme to another. So, you must be resolute. The Word will be preached to all. But when you are chosen of God, the interaction will always be intimate. If you are truly repentant and obedient.

They went from, “And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong” (Luke 4: 28-29, KJV).

To, “And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. And the fame of Him went out into every place of the country round about” (Luke 4: 36-37, KJV).

The Revelation

People fluctuate in their loyalty all the time. Blown about by the wind. The only constant is GOD!!!

“Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit. Do not scorn or reject gifts of prophecy or prophecies [spoken revelations -words of instruction or exhortation or warning]. But test all things carefully [so you can recognize what is good]. Hold firmly to that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5: 19-21, AMP).

Always coming from a place of love and truth!!!

Originally written on July 18, 2023.