The Real Battleground - Part Six
by Darryl Robbins
Then was Jesus led up of the
Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (Matt. 4: 1) And
when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a
season. (Mk. 4: 1)
Here we remind you, that Satan's
efforts to destroy Jesus at His birth were unsuccessful. The intensity
of behind the scenes spiritual activity was no small matter.
Not much is known about the early childhood of Jesus. This time period is often referred to as the silent years. Luke makes note of Jesus and the family coming back from Egypt and returning to their home city of Nazareth. He also tells us that the "child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of
God was upon Him" and that "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature,
and in favor with God and man." (Lk. 2: 40, 52)
We simply are not told of any attempts of the enemy during this period of time. We can only speculate.
After Jesus is baptized of John
in the Jordon and receives the anointing and infilling of the Holy Spirit
the warfare begins. Being led into the wilderness by the Spirit, at the
end of forty days of fasting, He is confronted by the enemy.
Being hungry, Jesus is tempted by
the devil to turn the stones into bread.
Here you will find a consistent,
simple principle that the devil employees. He always tempts you at your
weakest moments and in the weakest areas of you life. Be aware that he
is constantly looking for those areas and those times of weakness in your
life.
Satan then shows an open display
of all the kingdoms of the world and everything in them. He thens offers
it all to Jesus. In exchange, Jesus must worship him.
Many are those who have sold their
very life and soul to the enemy for money and positions of authority and
fame. The desire for fame, recognition and power is a common flaw and weakness
in the human race. You can be sure that Satan will exploit that weakness
at every opportunity.
Taking Jesus to the top of the temple,
Satan brought into question what God had said to Him after He was baptized.
Jesus knew He was the Son of God. Satan said, "If you are the Son of
God, cast thyself down from hence". Hoping to provoke Jesus' sense
of self worth and humiliate Him, Satan desired to tempt Him into jumping
to His death.
There's an interesting scripture
that will help us in our understanding here. Let's look at it.
Love not the world, neither
the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of
the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father,
but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2: 15-17)
The term 'world' is mentioned six
times in this particular scripture. The original Greek word for world is
kosmos,
which, by definition means, 'the order and arrangement of the world system,
its operation, and all of it's adornments'.
It does not refer to oceans, lands,
mountians, rivers, or the world as a planet. Rather, it refers to the system
that is in operation under mans control on the planet. It's the worlds'
system of operation that is in view here.
Look at verse sixteen again.
For all that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,
is not of the Father, but is of the world. (IJohn 2:16)
What's being said here? Simply this.
Everything in the present world system and its method of operation is made
up of three different things or principles.
1. The lust of the flesh (that
which pertains to the whims, appetites, needs and cravings of the physical
body).
2. The lust of the eyes (that
which causes us to have a perpetual, on-going wish list for more stuff
and junk that is newer, bigger, and more in style than the stuff and junk
we now have).
3. The pride of life (this is
the principle that causes us to walk two life styles-----the real me versus
the life style of pretense; it is what motivates us to lie or shift blame
on someone else in an attempt to cover our own mistakes, failures, and
shortcomings. Can't ever let them think that there's something wrong with
me or that I don't have it all together. No sir; not me!
What is amazing, is that the total
operation of the world system is strictly based on these three principles.
I cannot think of one single sin that does not fit into one of the three
categories----not one!
Jesus was tested in all three of
these areas; the lust of the flesh with the hunger and bread deal, the
lust of the eyes when he was shown all that was in the world, and the pride
of life when Satan attempted to humiliate him by questioning His sonship
and using His authority out of the will of God.
In these three areas, Jesus covered
all the bases of possible temptation. More importantly, by the power of
the Spirit and by means of the specific scriptures that God spoke to Him
(rhema Word) He overcame the temptations.
Satan had lost another battle. He
would, however, carry on the war.
The Real Battleground - Part Seven
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