Satan – The Tempter

I've been reading out of the book of Mathew lately. A chapter that caught my eye and tugged at my spirit was chapter 4, when Satan tempts Jesus.

The enemy comes to Jesus three times and finally flees after Jesus rebukes him. Then angels come to minister to Jesus; after this is when Jesus starts his ministry (verses 1-11).

The chapter begins with: "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit (ESV verse 1)." From my understanding, when Jesus came to earth he was still one with the Trinity, he was still God. But because he was human, he had flesh thus being tempted by sin; he had to listen to the Spirit to lead him. He had to use the discernment of the Spirit to know where to go.

Even Jesus, the Son of God, had to listen to the Spirit to know his father’s will. If Jesus had to listen carefully and follow; what makes us think that we don’t have to?

In verse 3, when Satan first comes to tempt Jesus, the verse calls Satan "the tempter." The verse reads that Satan, the tempter, came to Jesus and spoke to him.

In verse 5, it reads "the devil took him (Jesus)." The context of the verse is that Satan took/lead Jesus to the holy city.

In verse 8, the last time we hear of Satan tempting Jesus; again the verse calls Satan the devil and says that he took/lead Jesus.

Then in verse 10 it reads that Jesus rebuked the devil by saying: "Be gone Satan!"

In verse 3 you notice that the author addresses Satan as "the tempter." How true is that? When the enemy is first starting to get us to stumble, to sin, he comes to us and tempts us. He whispers to our heart that we desire, want or deserve something. He comes to us; he walks right up and speaks to us.

In verses 5 and 8 you notice that the author calls Satan the devil and writes that he lead Jesus to locations. Again, how true is that? I know with me, after I'm tempted to sin I am then somehow magically in a place where I'm face to face with that sin. Sometimes we allow ourselves to be lead. We give Satan the foot hold to direct our path.

In verse 10 you notice that this is the first time the author addresses Satan as Satan. First Satan was the tempter, then the devil and then he is called out by name - to show who he is. I find this very significant.

It's almost as if the author is slowly identifying the enemy. Giving substance to the name. Satan is not just an evil spirit, a demon or a follower; he is the one in charge of the darkness. But, you also see with just three simple words from Jesus Satan had to flee, he had to leave. Even with all of Satan's authority he had no rule over Jesus - the King of Kings.

Now, look at how Satan was tempting Jesus.
1) Satan wanted Jesus to show that he was hungry (unhappy) and to provide for himself.
2) Satan wanted Jesus to prove himself. To show who Jesus was. To show his authority. To test his power. I find it ironic that Satan told Jesus to jump from the temple. The enemy tried to get Jesus to jeopardize his life. Satan reminded Jesus that the angels wouldn't allow him to strike his foot. And Jesus responded with: "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." (verse 7)
3) Satan wanted Jesus to make Satan his god. Satan used lies and false fantasies to tempt Jesus. However, Jesus knew the truth and didn’t fall into the trap of Satan’s lies.

And then, all it took was three little words for Satan to flee Jesus: "Be gone Satan!" Nothing less and nothing more. No pleading. No compromise. No tricks. No trades. Just strong faith in knowing that Satan was powerless against Jesus.

In ending this story, verse 11 reads: "Then the devil left him, and behold, angles came and were ministering to him."

After the battle is over, and the enemy gone, angels came to Jesus to minister to him. This got me thinking, if we as believers have the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and the same Spirit that lead Jesus through this trial and stayed with him through the attacks of Satan. And if we have the same authority to rebuke Satan and command him to back off, then why wouldn't angels also come to minister to us after a battle?

Have you ever noticed when you win over a battle, even after a mini battle, with the enemy you have a spiritual high; sometimes an emotional high. You feel stronger, bolder, and more confident in your faith. Because you know that you, with the Spirits help, overcame temptation from the tempter, the devil, from Satan. I don't know what you call that, but I call that being ministered to.

I’ve read this story many times. I’ve heard this story preached many times. And I’ve heard the familiar saying: “Jesus was tempted just like you.” But I never understood it. I could never get past the point of: “Jesus wasn’t tempted the same way I am.”

But looking at this again; I realize that sin, temptation or situations don’t matter. It doesn’t matter if we’re not tempted to turn stones into food or to command angels to come to our rescue. And it doesn’t matter that Jesus wasn’t, stated in the Bible, tempted by: drugs, alcohol, sex, stealing, cursing, etc.

What ‘matters’ and what’s the ‘point,’ is that Satan has a way of tempting and causing one to stumble. He wants you to A) think you can do it by yourself, B) place your life on the line and C) make him your god. He puts all of us to these tests, even Jesus. But Jesus was able to resists the temptations and jump the hurdles. I might not be able to do it. But knowing that Jesus was placed to the same tests as I am makes Jesus more personable and makes Jesus more real to me.

Oh Marty... Video Edition

This video is part of my "Oh Marty" Blog series. Stories, adventures and trials that come along with owning a car.

Knowledge

"I don't know what the Lord is doing in your life. But let him do it."

A lady from the DFW New Beginnings church spoke this to me while I was visiting the church with Linzie.

It was sweet to see that someone outside my “inner-circle” or close “realm” of friends/mentors could see the change(s) that the Lord is making in my life.

When you hear things from the same people on a daily basis it loses its power and awe, but when someone new says the same things – it gives it new life, new meaning.

Fish-Hook

We all have those days where you are so tired, drained, and exhausted that you don’t want to deal with anyone. If one person talks to you, you want to bite their head off and tell them to leave you alone. I remember a day, very clearly, where I felt this exact way.

I was sitting in my room watching TV, unwinding from the day when my step brother entered my door-way and said that his mom wanted me. Groaning slightly I stood and walked hesitantly to the living room. Walking towards the couch I say: ‘Yes Mama?’ She looks at me, gives me a wryly smile and holds my puppy up for me to see saying. “Look at Andy’s paw.” I look at my six-month old puppy and from his left paw there is an inch and a half fish hook sticking out of it. Quickly my agitation, tiredness and exhaustion escape me; I wrap Andy in my arms, hold him lovingly, covering him with kisses and coo telling him it will be okay.

I franticly ask her what happened. Apparently my rambunctious puppy was wondering around the garage and somehow found a fish hock and stepped on it. I held Andy in my arms and tried to look at his paw; of course he didn’t like this and tried to squirm away from me. After realizing we couldn’t get it out we called around to see if we could take him somewhere, nothing was open. We wrapped his paw in gauze and tapped it so he couldn’t lick or naw on it.

He allowed me to hold him for a few minutes and then started to squirm again. I grabbed his pillow and placed him on it. He sat there for a while and then got up and started walking around limping. He would sit down for a second after a few steps, whimper and then continued to walk around. I continued to place him back on the pillow but he just wouldn’t sit still. I tried to hold him in my arms but he kept crawling out of them. I finally just placed him on the floor and let him roam around free. Finally he lay down in a dark cold corner.
After watching him for a while I thought, “What a dumb thing to do.” Here I am holding him, giving him a pillow to sleep on and watching over him. Then he walks away from me and lies down in a depressing place. Thinking, I felt convicted.

Have you ever gotten into trouble, cried about it, asked for help and then turned your back on the person trying to help you? I know I have done this, a LOT, to one person – God.

Have you realized when things start going ‘wrong’ or not your way, you cry and whine to God. You ask Him, “Why me? Why now? What did I do?” You whine and complain, making it very well know that you are not happy and want something done. Then after your whining and complaining is done you wait and wait trying to see if something will happen or change. Slowly things seem to be looking up and you go on with your daily life, completely forgetting about God. While you’re on your way you hit speed-bumps because the thing you were complaining about weren’t completely fixed. You continue to whine and sometimes end yourself up in a place that you do not want to be.

This is what my puppy did, but unlike me – giving up on the puppy and letting him do whatever he wanted and stopped trying to help him; God never gives up on you. No matter how many times you cry and complain to God, He still wraps you up in His arms and holds you tight. No matter how many times you crawl out of His arms or push Him away, God still tries to help you and picks you back up.

And if you give up on yourself and decide to wallow in your pain, guilt, shame and depression; God walks right in there with you, wipes you off, picks you up and carries you out.

God hates to see His children suffer, He hates to see us hurting and struggling; all He wants to do is wrap you in His arms and protect us. But sadly there is only so much we allow God to do. We think we can take care of ourselves, we believe that we can do anything. We believe, “If I don’t look out for myself then who will?”

We need to remember that God is there for us. When we are in that ‘dark corner’ He is there to lift us up and make us feel better. When He comes to help and we turn Him away - it hurts Him.

Psalm 23:4 says, He will walk with us and keep us safe through the valley of death - that’s proof that He is with us in that dark corner and He will keep us safe. But unlike what the puppy did, we need to go to Him and trust Him for comfort.


Psalms 23 (New International Version)
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

[PS - This is an old article from Corruption Magazine. It has been revamped.]

Truth

Are these words of truth?
Are these words reflections of your heart?
Or words to fluff your ego.
I love you Lord?
You are my king?
I worship you?

I don't know. You tell me.
I hear your cries. I love them and treasure them.
But, real, honest, true worship can move mountains and make demons flee.

----

I will provide.
I will make my promises come true.
I will not abandon you in your need.
I am always happy with you.

MINE.

Fight. Continue fighting. Continue fighting for me. Don't doubt. Don't doubt what I've placed in you. The gift that I placed/made in you to worship me.

Focus. Focus on me. I'm the mighty one in you. I'm the one that gives you breath. I'm the one that gives you sight. Sight in the present and sight in the not. I make you move. I allow you to lead. I allow you to flow. I allow you to stumble. But I never allow you to fail.

You have never failed in my eyes. You are my fighter. My fighter that never gives up. You will fight till the end, and even then you will not stop fighting for me.

I'm the attention you crave. I'm the love you seek. I'm the sweet kiss you long for. The arms you ache for. The body you dream about; to hold you. I'm the one for you.

You are my love.

I am your love. I am yours. I AM YOURS. Call me yours. Call me yours... My heart aches for you to call me yours. I cringe when you call others yours. My heartaches when you let others have you. You are mine and I am yours.

Don't doubt me. Do not doubt your first love.

----

Rest in me. You don't have to yell.
You don't have to scream.
You don’t have to jump, dance, leap, spin or speak.
Just sit. Sit in my presence and soak me in.
Soak in my love, my power, my strength.

Breathe me in and inhale.

Creation

You try too hard.
You try way too hard.
Just sit and wait.
Sit and listen to me.

I'm not quiet. I'm not whispering.
I'm not yelling either. Nor screaming.
But I am talking. I'm talking to you.
Cause I love you. And cause you're awesome.

You're amazing. Because I made you.
I made you. Science didn't make you. Man didn't make you.

I MADE YOU!

I LOVE

What a sweet fragrance. What an amazing joyful sound. You bring me joy. You make me glad. Your earnest wanting of me; my love, my heart, my voice - brings a smile to my lips.

I sing sweet blessings over you. I love to bless you. I love to protect you. I love your weakness. I love when you allow yourself to be vulnerable before me. And when you are fully exposed in your nakedness, I pick you up in my arms and wrap my endless love around you; filling you with my breath, my strength.

I fill every nook and cranny, I fill every dark place with light; I chase every demon away. They have no chance compared to me.

Remember I am stronger and mightier then the torturer.

Bondage.

I envy people who can express how they're feeling; people who openly verbalize what they're going through. They say what they’re thinking and hold nothing back. They tell you their emotional state and how it’s affecting them. They’re not ashamed to let others know.

Sometimes this can be too much information. Some people overuse this self confidence. But people who can find the happy medium - I envy.

I envy people who can put into words what’s bothering them.
I envy people who can freely speak.
I envy people’s boldness.
I envy people’s confidence.
I envy - their freedom…

Their freedom of not being trapped by words.
Their freedom of openness.
Their freedom of liberty.
Their freedom of wholeness…


I envy people who aren’t trapped in their own skin.

Sometimes I feel like I’m a captive in the enemies’ camp. I’m trapped and tied down. I’m in bondage and can’t wiggle. My mouth is wired shut and no matter how hard I try to cry for help - I don’t make a sound.

I can will myself until I make myself ill, and still, my lips won’t budge. My entire body shakes with wanting and desire to speak, but I cannot part my mouth. Puddles of frustration gather on my eye lids; and I can’t – I just CAN’T.


I’m trapped; trapped by my silence...


I’m tapped.
I’m alone.
And - I’m scared.