My young brothers and sisters in Christ I have come to validate your feelings... . At a time in your life when it seems as if the world is against you and temptations are: present on every hand. I have come to let you know that I understand where you are... but most of all, to bring a message of hope... There hath no temptation taken you but such as in common to man: I am here to let you know now that God is faithful and he will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, but, will, with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it ( l Corinthians 10:13).

There is a persuasion from the dark side that is silently and methodically covering our land and it is designed especially for you the young at heart and the innocent. It is time for you to know that you can not sweep demonic forces under a rug nor can you pretend that they do not exist in hopes that they will go away. Temptations must be faced and dealt with by means of acceptance or rejection. Your only protective shield is the word of God, through Jesus Christ. As it is written. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). (in this particular incident ... I am refering to being saved from your temptation and the l 3 verse lets us know that ... that name is Jesus.

LET'S GIVE REVERENCE TO JESUS BY CALLING ... ON HIS NAME Let us say:Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Now let us say it like we mean it: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

When you are confronted with adversity from the darkside you can say BOLDLY get behind me satan for I have decided to follow Jesus (Always, keep in mind that your temptation may not flee .when you ask it to leave). It may re-surface. Sometimes, temptation surfaces many times. Yet, you must continue to ...BOLDLY ... Make your position known But my God will supply all of my needs according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:19).

THE TEMPTED CHRIST

I want to share with you how Jesus handled crisis situations in His OWN EARLY LIFE. We can find today in Jesus' responses some healthy clues for handling life when we feel torn asunder. The Christian message is good news, especially for us persons who recognize when they are pinned against the crushing experience of life. The Christian is also one who has experienced the freedom which comes with recognizing God as the liberator made visible in Jesus Christ.

THE REALITY OF TEMPTATION Scripture reference (Luke 4: 1-13)

As men and women of the late 90's ... we sometimes pretend ... that we live in a temptation ... less world. Many in our ... society feel that our world is rid of sin. The morrays of society allows an individuals to be his own boss ... as long as no one ... get caught ... And if he is caught ... it has become socially accepted to lie because most individuals do not...believe they do... anything wrong... instead they believe.. situations. . . . are Just minor inconveniences...

They believe for every situation that is viewed as being wrong another person will come along and view the same situations as being right. so to that individual, there is no right or wrong its just who you know and what you know.

APATHY

To the New Age feeling remorseful or guilty are "middle age, middle-class hang-ups" that grow bothersome and get in the way. Temptation is viewed as ... something that is created by old people with out-dated imaginations". The question should be asked: Has mankind reached the high level of actually being liberated from all temptation and guilt?... Or are we being straitjacket by the subtle enticements which insists.. that temptations no longer really exist?

THE TEST OF JESUS

Jesus had scarcely started his life's work before he was forced to undergo a severe trial. It was and enthusiastic young man who rose .. up out of Jordan's baptismal waters. The scriptures ... pictured him as "full of the Holy Spirit." But a decisive change took place at.. this point in Jesus' life. During the forty reflective. days in the wilderness, the exchanged the heroic courage of youth for the haggardness of maturity.This growth came through a testing which wearied.his body and tried His spirit.

By observing how Jesus handled this most trying time of his youthful career, we may increase our appreciation of what testing really is Luke- reports that Jesus was FIRST put to the test at the point of a personal need. He was hungry.

Then in the SECOND demonic test, Jesus was tempted by an offer of power which would allow him to do everything he so wanted to do. The THIRD temptation was an attempt to get Jesus, himself, to question whether or not God really intended to anoint him as his world ambassador.

Jesus' ordeal may be compared to Israel's time of fasting in the wilderness. Following their exodus from Egypt, the people wandered for forty years in the barren places For forty days, Jesus' enthusiasm and endurance were placed to the test. These experiences not only mark his future but also measure his capacity to undergo overwhelming physical temptation. The question at hand was is this truly God's anointed one? Or must the world wait for another?

Make no mistake young people, the temptations for Jesus were very real indeed. He could not see as far as their outcome. There were before him some big and basic questions which had to be faced. For what kind of work had God set apart for him? The second question I will ask you now... is: "what kind of work has God set apart for you?

I am reminded of the first temptation that Jesus faced of personal need This even now, as you face your personal needs I recommend that you consider the path that Jesus took. That is, to go into a wilderness of sorts to sort out.. and set up your priorities. Before entering the wilderness, you may wish to have answers to the following questions... What does God really want me to do with the remaining years of my life?...How can I know when he is speaking to me?

What do I listen for as I pray?...How will He speak to me? How can I hear the great tones of God's voice? I will encourage you to develop a sound Christian relationship with an anointed saint. (PREFERABLY of the same sex). This allows for freedom in expressions and create a Christian bond of spiritual and emotional security.

THE NATURE OF MAN

We are living in a day and age where we claim nothing less than total satisfaction of all our human experiences. One is said to be old fashioned if a soft drink is bought just to satisfy a thirst. Today's soft drinks, restore youth. HA!, Come JOIN THE -X-GENERATION, You've got a lot of living to do. What was once a refreshing drink now is declared to be the fountain of eternal youth. In fact there is nothing better to demonstrate than how dreadfully...we have become..seduced by the fact that we take television.commercials and magazine advertisement seriously. For example, How many of you have an old dog around the house? The dog food ads will convince you that your dog can once again be a frisky pup.. just by switching to another brand of food.

If it is true about your dog, how about us? ...Can not we once again become youthful if we are old or can we become mature and successful if we are young and just starting out in life?...That is the miraculous thing about temptation. It suits what ever our particulars are. If you are old, we will make you young again If you are inexperienced and untutored, we will give you instant success. Everyone in America should drive our product. Drink our product The devil is still in business. He has just expanded his line of goods.

FOR EXAMPLE...MIXED DRINKS were used to bring on the sting of death as 39 individuals took a cosmic flight into their Celestial eternal home CHILDREN have BECOME legalized drug addicts as psychiatrists prescribe medication to make children sit still as checkers on a checker board only to start moving at the parents directives. TOO MUCH...television with demonic under-tones.

The Lottery; this demonic tool teaches children early how to become crafty at gambling. Learning ways to beat the system as they spend precious hours stargazing and waiting... for the BIG WIN FALL PROFIT to come their way. THINK ABOUT IT. What message is being conveyed here? What message are our young people receiving? Lyrics in some secular music...Devil worship (the current disputes in Richmond relating to Marilyn Manson concert at the Landmark). (In our very own community,

Off-Track Betting In Nevada, every year, during the summer a city is built to host a week-long visual of satin worship. Constructed by and attended by former Baptist, Catholic and angry persons who have fallen from grace with God and the church. This event is designed to let the world know... they blaspheme God and his mighty ways of Jesus and finally, beware of HIDDEN demonic MESSAGES in children and Christian literature. CONCLUSION

Jesus was able to recognize the danger of his demonic attacks. He remembered Scriptures.

When Israel had come to the holy mountain, Sinai, God had provided them with some personal instructions. Jesus recalled some of his own private hours of sole exploration. He recalled Deuteronomy: "You must remember all that road by which the Lord your God has led you there forty years in the wilderness to humble you, to test you and to discover whether or not it was in your heart to keep his commandments. He humbled you and made you hungry; then he fed you on manna which neither you or your fathers had known before, to teach you that man cannot live on bread alone but lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 8:2-3).

Young people, the words...expressed here and now are expressed in love from your sister in Christ. Being tempted by dark side forces is a part of our life existence. In all of your experiences, Just remember...God is looking at the heart: When you pray and If your heart...is right, God will hear you. LET'S START TONIGHT CALLING UPON THE NAME OF J-E-S-U-S (LET US STAND ON OUR FEET AND SAY)

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.