(2) – ‘I WANT TO BE RELEVANT, POPULAR AND POWERFUL’

Don’t let others mould you or intimidate you to be someone you never desired or intended to be. 
Stick with your message, don’t let others take it from you or cause you to change it. The journey is as important as the destination as we will see now…

“Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Matthew 4 v 5-7)

Not everyone who can quote the Bible or appeals to the loving side of God is someone to be trusted!

Of course Jesus knew Psalm 91 and he also knew that he could do this. Later in the gospel (26:53) Jesus says he can call on the angels to be at his disposal.

The temptation to be spectacular and to win the crowd is ever before us.

Can you imagine what the people would say if Jesus had given in? This would do it. This would prove who he was. What a start to him being the Messiah! Sometimes the short-cut is disobedience.

Jesus didn’t need to do that. He knew what the Voice from heaven had said. He knew the Father’s appreciation and acknowledgment of His Sonship. He didn’t need people to confirm this.

We don’t need the popular vote. Maybe today you feel you have lost it. Your reputation is damaged and you feel you have lots to prove. You want acceptance and to feel included again. Maybe you are the new kid on the block and you want to be known. If this is you then you are so close to this second temptation. Hurry! Go back a few steps. Return to when God spoke to you. When heaven opened and you felt His presence. Wasn’t that amazing?! Now don’t test that. Keep the faith. You know who you are and who you belong to. If you never get the popular vote you got HIS.

You are not here to gain support and be known as someone. You are here to do HIS will. Hold your nerve. Be who you are. Avoid the show.