03/07/2020
Glory, honor, fame, fortune, power, these are all temptations valued highly by man’s carnal self, and their control over us can be spiritually devastating, and even bleed over into our physical wellbeing as well. How far would any of us be willing to go for them, or to resist them? Would we abandon our faith for them? Would we drop down on our knees to someone who could give them to us as if they were a god? How do we face such temptation?
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me."”
Matthew 4:8-9 ESV
This was the final temptation that Jesus faced when He came out of the wilderness to begin His ministry. This is what Satan really wanted in the previous two temptations, he not only wanted God’s Son to see him as a god, and worship him, but by this act the work that he had started in the Garden of Eden when he tempted Eve, and she and Adam fell, would be finalized... the one person who could redeem the world of sin and death would be made imperfect, and no longer suitable to fulfill God’s will. Listen as Jesus refuses...
“Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”
Matthew 4:10-11 ESV
So Satan failed in his attempts to deny God his perfect sacrifice, but we know that he wasn’t through yet because we are told us so in the book of Luke..
“And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.”
Luke 4:13 ESV
Taking this into consideration, has the opportune time for Satan come in our own lives? He most certainly continues to tempt us today, but how well do we resist him? Through the blood of Jesus, we can rebuff the temptations and sin no more, but do we?
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15 ESV
What if the owner of the company where you work called you into his office one day and told you that he was prepared to give you an amazing salary, and make you a partner if only you would compromise a few of your principles? Did I hear you say that you would never do that? Are you sure? What if you had a deathly sick child that needed a very expensive operation and this offer would mean that you could save his life, how about then? Maybe it depends on how much is offered... how high the mountain is, and how much Satan shows you from there. Are we strong enough in faith to sin no more? How is our prayer life?
“And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."”
Luke 22:39-40 ESV
Satan is selfish, and he doesn’t start off offering us the world; he offers just enough to trip us up, but if that doesn’t work then he raises his offer.... just as he did with Jesus. So we pray, and we ask God to “Lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil”, and in this way we begin garnering strength against the efforts of the Dark one. In this way we begin to pray harder as the stakes grow until at last we are sweating blood as Jesus did... so that we can resist all temptation as our Lord did.
“And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow,”
Luke 22:43-45 ESV
Today let’s pray that we be protected against temptation, and that if we are tempted that we will be provided angels to strengthen us, and the Word of God to deliver us. Let’s pray in increasing fervor as Satan increases his offers, until at last we can say “Be gone Satan!”
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for your Son Jesus who by his perfection was made to be our perfect and sinless sacrifice. Father we thank you for His belief, and strength of faith, that allowed Him to resist all temptation while He suffered, died, and was resurrected to save us. We also thank you for hearing our prayers against temptation, even as you heard His. Strengthen us in our times of trial Father, even to the point of sending angels to lift us up. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is the One True God, and the object of our worship. Greater are you than all of your creation, and beyond. Praised be your name for protecting us against the snares of temptation, and hearing our every prayer. All glory is yours Father, and by your grace we have hope... even as we pray your forgiveness. We lift you up in song and worship, and stand only on your mountain where we can see all eternity laid out before us. We have no other God... not now, nor forevermore, and we say... Be gone, Satan!
“For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.”
Psalms 135:5-6 ESV
Rich Forbes