In  Luke 4: 1-13 it is written about the temptations that JESUS endured before beginning HIS ministry on the earth, and before becoming the sacrificial Lamb of GOD to take away the sins of the world. I am going to put those scriptures here, but I want to point out some details for you to note in the scripture first. First note that THE SPIRIT of GOD set up this situation. And then notice that  the devil wasted no time in getting to JESUS to try to divert HIS attention from HIS purpose on the earth. And notice the first word of the devil : IF--trying to make JESUS doubt THE FATHER GOD's plan.  Then note the first temptation was food when JESUS was very hungry --forty days without food is a long time. And the second temptation was 'power' and a 'kingdom' and it was offered to JESUS while HE was sitting on the pinnacle of The Temple! And also note who he says and that JESUS does not contradict it is that owns the kingdoms of the world.  And the third temptation was an opportunity for pride in HIS own accomplishments and/or relationship to THE FATHER GOD. Also note that the devil knows Scripture but that he puts a spin, a twist on it, to distort it and trick you. Then note at the end of the passage what happened when JESUS resisted the devil.

  It is written, "And JESUS being full of The Holy Ghost returned  from Jordan and was led by THE Spirit into the wilderness. Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days HE did eat nothing, and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto HIM  "IF thou be The Son of GOD, command this stone that it be made bread. And JESUS answered him, saying, 'it is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of GOD.' And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world, in a moment of time. And the devil said unto HIM, "all this power will I give thee and the glory of them; for that is delivered unto me, and to whomsoever I will, I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me all shall be thine. And JESUS answered and said unto him, 'get thee behind me satan; for it is written, thou shalt worship THE LORD thy GOD and HIM only shalt thou serve. " 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; for it is written 'HE shall give HIS angels charge over thee, to keep thee; and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.' And JESUS answering said unto him, 'it is said, thou shalt not tempt THE LORD thy GOD.' And when the devil had ended all the tempation he departed from him, for a season.  And JESUS returned in the Power of THE SPIRIT into Galilee, and there went out a fame of HIM through the region roundabout." Luke 4: 1-14

These Scriptures are some of the most powerful instructions in how-to avoid the devil that exist in the Bible. These same tempations are still the only methods the devil has. Remember how he used them also on Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden?  The United States and really every person in every nation is being confronted with these same tempations of JESUS even as I write this. The temptation to get food, power, and show-off is very great for all humans. This passage of Scriptures teaches that we believers must resist the devil and he will flee from us. Also note that he fled for a season to return later to try again. As long as you live on this earth, there will be these same temptations in one form or another. The first also includes sins of the flesh that are only for human gratification, and they are numerous. The second set is tempations to take shortcuts  to get power and kingdoms. Remember JESUS does have THE KINGDOM Of HEAVEN but HE did not get it by following the devil. And the third set of tempations is to use the power of GOD to your own advantage--to show off, to take the glory that rightfully belongs to GOD ALMIGHTY for your life.

Also, I want you to know that I have had a week-long effort of trying to get control of my computer again when forces that I believe to be from the U S government tried to fry my computer to prevent me from being able to write anything on it. This entry is my testimony that they did not win and I did not quit!

/s/ Gloria Poole, @ Denver Colorado 80203 @ 2:35 PM, 23-Aug-2009