Tuesday, August 25, 2015

TEMPTED

He was tempted.....

....to eat when He was hungry thus gratifying His flesh.

....to establish a kingdom of His own glorifying Himself rather than the Father.

....to test the Almighty in His will and His ways challenging authority and holy providence.

Then Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan. 
He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,  
 where He was being tempted by the Devil for forty days. 
During that time He ate nothing at all, 
and when they were over He became hungry. 
Luke 4:1-2




The more time we spend with our Lord, the better we know Him, the more we pray, the more we seek Him, the more we follow His ways and His will, the more we fast.....  The greater the intensity of the spiritual warfare we will experience. We WILL be tempted in the areas of:

Flesh

 The Devil told Him, “Since you are the Son of God, 
tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 
Luke 4:3

Self Glorification

The Devil also took Him to a high place 
and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. 
 He told Jesus, “I will give you all this authority, along with their glory, 
because it has been given to me, and I give it to anyone I please.  
So if you will worship me, 
all this will be yours.” 
Luke 4:7

His Will and His Word

The Devil also took Him into Jerusalem and had Him stand on the highest point of the Temple. 
He told Jesus,“Since you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,   
because it is written,
‘God will put His angels in charge of you
    to watch over you carefully. With their hands they will hold you up,
    so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.’
Luke 4:9-11

Satan tempted the soon-to-be Messiah. The Son of Perdition tempted Jesus in His weakest moment. Appealing to His divine power, His connection with His Father and to His human flesh. 




 For everything that is in the world—the desire for fleshly gratification, 
the desire for possessions, and worldly arrogance—is not from the Father 
but is from the world.
1 John 2:16


Jesus answered with Truth. He rebuked the lies with the Word of God.

Jesus answered him, “It is written,
‘One must not live on bread alone, but on every word of God.’"
Luke 4:4

 But Jesus answered him, “It is written,
‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’
Luke 4:8 

Jesus answered him, 
“It has been said, ‘You must not tempt the Lord your God.’"
Luke 4:12

Jesus answered lies with the Truth. And, relied on the sustenance and trusted the perfect will of His Father.



So, you say you've heard this story many times.  Me, too.  Yet how often do you recognize these temptations in your own life?  The need for power, prominence and recognition. The overwhelming pull to be perfect, to be right, to be better than others. The impulse to satisfy your deep longings, unmet needs, and hurts by reaching for food, drink, drugs and other addictive behavior. To take control of things that were never under your control to begin with. Ruin relationships over trivial issues. To take action without seeking God's will for your life or following His instructions.


We need to stop ourselves in our weakest hour, in our moments of temptation, and ask ourselves whose voice it is that we are listening to at that moment. Remember, the devil is a liar! Rebuke those lies with His Truth!

Here are six things that the Lord hates—
    seven, in fact, are detestable to Him: 
 Arrogant eyes,
    a lying tongue,
        and hands shedding innocent blood;
a heart crafting evil plans,
    feet running swiftly to wickedness,
a false witness snorting lies,
    and someone sowing quarrels between brothers.
Proverbs 6 :16-19 

If you are a follower of Christ, you will be tempted much more so than one who is not a believer.   Your spiritual battle will be much more intense and often more subtle. And, unless you rebuke the author of lies, put off the flesh and walk in the Spirit, you will fall victim to temptations of the worst kind.  You have the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit and Christ living in you to empower you to overcome the flesh. Tap into that power daily!

If you are not a believer, you are much easier prey for the Evil One. Your life will be filled with struggles, temptations and deception. You need the power of God's Spirit, a free gift from the Lord when you believe in Christ as your Deliverer and Redeemer. Through Him is the gift of eternal life and the ability to tap into His power to overcome the flesh and all forms of temptation!

"Be clear-minded and alert. 
Your opponent, the Devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, 
looking for someone to devour."
1 Peter 5:8


It is unseen, this warfare, but it is real.  Not fiction. Not fantasy. Not fairy tale. Jesus was not immune even though He had a unique calling and divine purpose.  For now, this world is the kingdom of the Evil One. Recognize it for what it is. We are being tested and tried. 

 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, 
behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, 
that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, 
strengthen thy brethren. 
Luke 22:31:32


Be convicted. Be committed. Put your spiritual armor on and be ready to do battle. Moment by moment. On your knees.  In your worship. In your daily living.  For His kingdom and for His glory.  You are one of His and He has great things in store for you! Don't let the devil sift you like wheat! Stand strong on the mighty Word of God and in the power of His Holy Spirit! Resist the devil and he will flee....

 
 After the Devil had finished tempting Jesus in every possible way, he left Him until another time. Luke 4:13