Self Preservation

Matthew 4:1-3 (AMP) Then Jesus was led (guided) by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil.2 And He went without food for forty days and forty nights, and later He was hungry.3 And the tempter came and said to Him, If You are God’s Son, command these stones to be made [[a]loaves of] bread.

It is God who leads us to our wilderness to be tested and tried. He wants to test our hearts. He wants to teach us to trust HIM and not ourselves. It is in our moments of weakness when the enemy comes to tempt us. When Jesus was hungry, the tempter came and said, If You are God’s Son, command these stones to be made [[a]loaves of] bread.

This hunger is when we are in our weak moments. Our flesh is screaming for food. Our flesh is screaming to be saved. Our flesh is screaming for self preservation. Our flesh wants to live.

This hunger can represent when we are in our moments of hurt. It can be our moments of rejection. It can be our moments of danger. It can be our moments of anger. It can be our moments of helplessness. It can be our moments of confusion. It can be our moments of abandonment. This hunger is a moment in which a choice must be made, life or death.

Then the devil comes and says, If You are God’s Son, command these stones to be made [[a]loaves of] bread.

The devil did not bring Jesus bread. The devil has no power until we listen to him. He was asking Jesus to command the stones to be turned into bread. It was a trick. The devil was telling Jesus to create His own plan or a way to save HIMSELF.

The devil comes to us in our weak moments and tells us to plan our own strategy or exit plan to save ourselves rather than waiting and relying on God. Many Christians attempt to save themselves by making their own choices in their moments of hunger. Many Christians have created their own works to save themselves in their finances, family, and personal ambitions and future. The flesh is seeking self preservation. But God is trying to have us crucify and kill our flesh. In our hunger, the flesh must die so the spirit may live.

You must trust God even if you have to die. Even if HE slays us, we must trust HIM. You must allow HIM to finish the process with you. We must finish our process on our own cross.

Job 13:15 (AMP) [I do it because, though He slay me, yet will I wait for and trust Him and] behold, He will slay me; I have no hope—nevertheless, I will maintain and argue my ways before Him and even to His face.

We must die to ourselves. It is a requirement to enter heaven. Anger cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Unforgiveness cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Your bitterness cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Drinking and smoking cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Promiscuity cannot enter the Kingdom of God. NO sin cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Repent and turn from your wicked ways. Cry out to HIM for help to overcome!

In your moments of hunger, do not let the flesh come alive but die to yourself so that you may LIVE!! As Jesus said, NOT MY WILL BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE! May our Will be HIS WILL.

Psalm 23:4 (AMP) Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

Fire of God International Church
Pastor Steve Yong Kim