TEMPTATIONS AND PLOYS OF THE DEVIL: BELIEVER'S COUNTER-ATTACK
CASE IN POINT: TEMPTATIONS OF JESUS
(Luke 4:1-13) (I)
Blessed is the man who endures (or resists) temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted with evil, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted with evil and neither tempt he any man. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then lust was conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren........... wherefore set aside all filthiness and superfluity (unneeded, unnecessary, unwarranted) of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:12-16,21)
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion; walks about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith .......... the God of all grace, who has called us to eternal glory by Christ Jesus, .........make you perfect, strengthen, settle you." (I Peter 5:8-10)
All the temptations of the devil are meant to achieve evil goals - evil goals that are meant to jeopardize Jehovah God's plans, will and purposes. Being tempted is not a sin; but yielding to temptation of any nature could amount to sin. All sorts of questions tend to race through one's mind when it comes to temptation. As a child of God, how can Satan tempt me? In what ways? What strategies does he employ when tempting? Am I completely helpless in the face of temptation? What practical scriptural solutions have I got at my disposal to quench the fiery darts of evil temptations? Other questions readily come to mind.
You just 'listen' to this conversation based on the content of Luke 4:1-13. They provide answers and insights into issues pertaining to the temptations and ploys of the devil as well as the believer's counter - attack using the temptation of the LORD JESUS as a case in point
BIBLE TEXT: Luke 4:1-13
CHARACTERS (Biblical): SON OF GOD (or Believer - child of God) hereinafter referred to as CHRIST; HOLY GHOST (or Holy Spirit / Holy Folk) hereinafter referred to as SPIRIT; SATAN the DEVIL.
(Enters SATAN soliloquizing - thinking aloud and talking to himself.........)
SATAN: ..............the Living Son of the Living God who I'd refer to as the Righteous One because panic and defeat is sure for me any time His name - which is above all names is mentioned and directed at me - is my next target (Philippians 2:9). I know the role He is going to play in the life of many will determine how and where lots of people will spend their eternity in the dispensation of the Kingdom. That is one dispensation that will never come to an end and which will see me being cast into that abominable inferno. Oh, how I hate to think of it. The Righteous One knows about it all. The Father who happens to be my Master, and whom I rebelled against has sent Him to conquer me, cause havoc to the powers of darkness, and cause irreparable damage to my kingdom of darkness through His various exploits. But before He even tries anything that will ruin me, I will try ruining Him and the plan of God built around Him first. The odds are against Him, or so it seems. He's gone a-fasting this past 40 days and nights. He's got to be really hungry. He's most likely going to be weak physically. And, of course, He is in human flesh. That's another factor that makes Him even more vulnerable to my temptations. In the process of tempting Him, I might make Him burn His bridge - the Holy Ghost - that not only serves as the link between God the Father and God the Son, but also serves as the source of power and all it takes to achieve God's purpose. Once the channel of supply is blown up - hopefully -, down the drain goes the Son and the plan ....... Oh, there He is. Time I launch my first attack. I'll begin with flattery. Here goes...........
(Enters CHRIST full of the HOLY GHOST and led by the SPIRIT into the wilderness ........ (Luke 4:1). SATAN speaks ..................).
SATAN: You are truly a man of courage and determination. Righteous One. You'll win the star prize for endurance any day. I say, You're great, pal..........
SPIRIT: Don't loose your head, Son. Watch out and be on your guard. You can discern the voice of the crafty old devil - the liar and deceiver (John 8:44, 2 Corinthians 11:3, 1 Timothy 2:14, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 20:3), the opposer of God and His will, the enemy of mankind and accuser of the brethren - the body of Christ (Revelation 12:10). He often manifest himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), yet he is full of darkness and his works and motives are dark and evil. Don't be fooled by his seemingly 'friendly' voice, moves and approaches. Mankind fell for it in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:4-5), and look at the world today - full of woes. Watch and pray that you might not fall for his temptations (Matthew 26:41). Whatever you do, don't quench or resist me for you will need me to resist and subdue the evil one, and be an overcomer (1 Thessalonians 5:19).
CHRIST: (To SATAN ..........) I am not great, only God is the greatest. Anyway, no matter how sensational my accomplishment for the Most High God appears to be, it is not by My power nor by My might but the Spirit of the LORD, the He might be glorified (Zechariah 4:6).
SATAN: What nonsense! Hey, wait a minute. Come to think of how the devil and his cohorts will jubilate if God the Son upon whom much is committed suddenly drop dead due to hunger and acute dehydration. The Son of God must always prove His worth and live up to expectation. You have the power over all things, or was everything not created by you, for you and through you (John 1:3, Romans 11:36, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 2:10)? Common, man, if you are the Son of God, command this stone that it be turn to bread (Luke 4:3), and do that quick...........
SPIRIT: NOT! That surely is not My voice. Son, that may sound like a 'concern' - of course, Satan doesn't care a hoot about you - in fact, it is an attempt to use the pleasure, lust, desire and vanities of this world to lure you away bit by bit from the will of God (Galatians 5:16, 1 John 2:16). Don't you get it?
CHRIST: (To SATAN ..........) I shall not die but live to declare the wondrous works of the Lord (Psalm 118:17). My shoes shall be iron and brass, and as My days are so shall My strength be (Deuteronomy 33:25). Satan, have you not heard that God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God (Psalm 62:11). The devil and his cohorts can not rejoice over My fall for the Lord will not suffer His Holy One to see corruption (Psalm 16:10). It is true everything is created by Me, for Me and through Me, yet I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father has taught Me and He that sent Me is with Me; the Father has not left Me alone and will surely not leave Me alone for I do always those things which pleases Him at any given time, else that may amount to Me grieving and quenching the Spirit without whom the work and will of the Father on earth can not be done (John 8:28-29, 1 Thessalonians 5:19). Anyway, why should the love of God and His word become a lesser priority? Food along, with all the necessities of this world may be something but surely not everything. Don't you know that it is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by everything that goes out of the mouth of Jehovah does man live (Deuteronomy 8:3)?
SPIRIT: YES! Way to go, Son, you are on course. I've got the sword of the Spirit - the word of God - well sharpened (Ephesians 6:7). I'll keep bringing them to your remembrance (John 14:26), and You keep striking at the foe until You've got him a-fleeing for dear life. Don't rest on your laurels though, for here he comes again. At alert.
SATAN: (Talking to himself.........) Aargh! That was sharp, and it hurts too. All the same, I must not fail to acknowledge His good swordsmanship of the word of God, couple with the Holy Folk operating behind the scene and backing Him up. I should have realized that it is written in the scriptures, Let the weak say, I am strong (Joel 3:10), hence His refusal to admit and confess negative is not much of a surprise. But I am not finished yet, and I know just how how to trap Him ...........
S C E N E 2
(Enters CHRIST. High up on the mountain ............. Enters SATAN).
SATAN: (Talking to CHRIST ..........) Hi, fancy seeing you here! It's nice you are up here on this high mountain which offers a wide area of view of all the kingdoms and riches of the world. In a moment time, I say, not only will you comprehend the extent of the splendour of this world, you also will appreciate the magnificence and grandeur of the glory of the world. In my capacity as the prince of this world (John 12:31, John 14:30, John 16:11, Ephesians 2:2), all this power will I give you and the glory of them: for they are at my disposal; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If you therefore will worship me, all shall be yours.
SPIRIT: Beware! I say, beware! Satan has no free gift. All he offers you may have the consent of your desires but they are meant to ruin you in life and diminish your stand before God. If you accept his offer, you bound to fall into the snare of the evil one. Don't loose your grip of the sword of the Spirit. Launch a counter-attack and aim another deadly blow with it. And be quick about it too.
CHRIST: (To SATAN .........) Why you crafty old liar from the beginning! Who told you I am interested in what the world has got to offer? I do not love the world to such a covetous extent, neither do I cherish the things that are in the world, for the love of the Father is in Me already. All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of My Father but is of the world (1 John 2:16). This world will pass away and the lust thereof, but the will of My Father which is engrafted in His word abides forever (1 John 2:17, 1 Peter 1:24-25). It is His will I am in this world to do, not yours (John 5:19). Fancy a fallen angel of your calibre seeking cheap obeisance from Me (Luke 10:18). Common, get thee behind Me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the LORD your God, and Him only shalt you serve (Deuteronomy 6:13, Luke 4:8).
SPIRIT: That's right!
SATAN: (Talking to himself with utmost displeasure ............) Bah, foiled again. The Righteous One (Acts 3:14, Acts 7:52, Acts 22:14) is not taking chances at all. High time I change my evil strategies. This time around I will have to be more ruthless and deceptive in my approach. I am ready to eliminate the Righteous One, and I will stop at nothing until I see the end of Him, and get rid of him completely. And I know just where and how to do just that. Common, let's move over to Jerusalem where the stage is set for a victor to be a victim - my victim. Ha, ha, ha. I ain't going to fail this time around.
S C E N E 3
(Enters CHRIST. At Jerusalem ........... Enters SATAN...............)
SATAN: (To CHRIST .........) One thing the Son of man can always be rest assured of is the sure mercy of the Father for He has said in His word: I will never leave you, nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:15). The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy (Psalm 103:8). For as the heaven is higher than the earth so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him (Psalm 103:11). Bless the LORD, you His angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word (Psalm 103:20). Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time is come (Psalm 102:13). You've got to realize that because you have set your love upon the Father, therefore will He deliver You His Son: He will set You on high, because You have known His Name (Psalm 91:14). You shall call upon Him and He will answer You: He will be with You in trouble; He will deliver You, and honour You. With long life will He satisfy You, and show You His salvation (Psalm 91:15-16). If You be the Son of God, cast Yourself down from thence: For it is written, He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep You: And in their hands they shall bear You up, lest at any time You dash Your foot against a stone (Psalm 91:11-12, Luke 4:9-11).
SPIRIT: Deceptive mimicry! That ain't My voice! Deceptive use of the Holy scriptures to accomplish an evil end.
CHRIST: Satan, you can never, never, never, I say, never, never conquer Me for I am the head and not the tail, above and not below (Deuteronomy 28:13). You want to eliminate Me by using the word of God in a deceptive way to hoodwink Me. You seem to forget that I am the Living Word of the Living God (John 1:1-3,14). Yet you tried to cajole Me into taking a plunge from the pinnacle of the temple and crash to the hard surface below. You attempted to trick the Son of man on whose shoulders the hope of salvation of humanity rests into committing suicide. Why you enemy of God and mankind! You are already a fallen angel, a failure from the beginning, and if you think you can bring about My downfall, you've got to be joking. In me you've meet more than your match. It is said, Thou shall not tempt the LORD your God (Luke 4:12, Deuteronomy 6:16).
SPIRIT: Thumbs up!
SATAN: A tough and rough customer He is. A good swordsman of the word of the word, too. I admit failure this one time but I am not going to accept defeat, for I will depart for a season. I will surely be back............
As mentioned earlier on, all temptations of the devil are meant to achieve evil goals. The goal of the devil at any giving point in time is to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He planned to achieve all three in a row when he went a-tempting the LORD JESUS. The first temptation was meant to get the LORD into quenching the Spirit, separate Him from the will of the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. The second temptation was geared at stealing the glory, honour and worship that rightfully belongs to our Most High God Jehovah. The third temptation was meant to kill the Messiah. Had the devil succeeded in achieving his goals, the LORD's ministry would have failed to come to fruition. That is exactly what Satan wants: to make every seed sown by Jehovah God to come to nothing and not to fruition; to stunt the growth of that which is planted by Jehovah God; ruin your anointing and testimonies; as well as create gap between Jehovah God and His children.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in faith......... the God of all grace who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, .......... make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (I Peter 5:8-10)
And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said to SATAN, the LORD rebuke you, O Satan; even the Lord that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you:......... (Zechariah 3:1-2)
In Jesus' name, O Lucifer, The LORD rebuke you! O Satan, resist and oppose no more. You are rebuked IN JESUS' NAME (Amen).
God bless.
Yours
Adekunle O. Majek'
H I A F E M
Of impact, quality and excellence
That's the Spirit!
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