The Temptations Of Christ Part 3

                                     The Temptations Of Christ           

                                      Part 3

 Read Matthew 4:8-11

The culmination of a three part teaching.  We are looking at the temptations of Christ: coming in three forms; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16).  Essentially Jesus was tempted supernaturally (to turn stones into bread).  Jesus was tempted spectacularly (to jump from the pinnacle of the temple and be saved by angels).  Finally, to tempted spiritually (to challenge Christ's allegiance to God His Father and His Kingdom - a loyalty test).  This final temptation came to shortcut His divine mission on the earth to regain the kingdoms of this world and subjugate them to God's authority (1 Cor 15:24).   The kingdom of God must come and His will must be done on earth as it is heaven (Luke 11:2).  This is part of the Lord's Prayer.  To establish the verse in Revelation 11:15 the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

Again all the temptations really appealed to pride we break them down into three categories the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.  However, each temptation is tempting Christ to act in pride.  Do miracles, do the spectacular and gain a large reward for ungodly allegiance.  The heart of the temptation is rooted in pride will Christ exalt Himself and draw attention to Himself sell out and follow another Master a wicked overlord or false god. 

When we consider the previous temptation to throw Himself off the top of the temple, defying the law of gravity expecting supernatural help.  We must consider the pinnacle, the high point, the top, the summit, the ultimate and what this represents.   When you reach the top of your career, your ministry your game your athletic prowess when you reach your prime and you hit the ceiling and you can go no higher what do you do? The devil comes to tempt you with pride can you take the plummet do something stupid drop all the way down from what you have achieved in life, and the system the structure the institution, the people beneath will save you. We spent all our lives trying to get to this point; the pinnacle, the peak then how will you come down?  Will it be with pride and crash or will you descend quietly confidently and purposefully not trying to blow out or go out in wonder.  The pinnacle represents all you have achieved to come to this point.  Are you now an untouchable, an immortal unbeatable or are you still humble even if you are on the pinnacle, in pole position the top spot, the premier etc.   It questions how do we handle success and achievements in our lives. 

When John the Baptist had to make way for Christ he was incarcerated then beheaded he was no longer baptising people and no longer preaching to multitudes in a wilderness.  He had to decrease get out of the lime light and the spot light, get off the centre of the stage and be phased out in ministry to allow Christ to be phased in.  He had to decrease that Christ would increase, that is a godly gain.  

Notice the rebuttal of Christ to Satan, it was the Rhema Sword of the Spirit that cut into the heart of Satan.  Jesus replied "it is written",  Jesus referred to a legitimate source of authority, the Word of God.  In the second temptation of Christ,  Satan also uses the scripture to combat Christ but a verse quoted out of context becomes a pretext and looses its power.  The Rhema Word of God is the Sword of Spirit (Eph 6:17).  The Word of God is alive and full of power.  Jesus made the "it is written" declarations.  When we say "it is written" to Satan we are referring him and his cohorts to the source of authority that binds the universe together in this case the Word of God. Jesus did not suggest to Satan, He knew the scriptures, He knew who He was and is, He knew His power and He knew His divine mandate and mission on the earth. Satan made satanic suggestions that seemed really plausible and practical in light of what Christ was going through, make bread you are hungry turn the stones into bread.  This would be a very practical way out, it seems reasonable, but Christ never took the easy way out neither did He abuse His power.  Godly integrity will not compromise and impeccable character will not shudder but will remain straight and true. Though it be tried and tested it remains true strong and firm on the solid rock of the Word of God (Matthew 7:24-25).  No matter how much Satan tries to dress something up and advertise it's appeal to you, godly character will not flinch or meander in maze of uncertainty. 

This was one of the reasons for Christ's success in the wilderness it is not how you go into a trial it about how you come out of it.  In Luke 4:14 Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee.  

The forty days and nights was a time of testing for Christ, forty is the number for testing, trial and suffering.  Forty days Goliath taunted Israel, forty years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, and four hundred years they were in bondage in slavery in Egypt.   Once the time and the test is passed, Christ could begin His ministry upon the earth.  It was the Heavenly Father's rite of passage for Christ, He had to pass this test in order to move on. 

In the final temptation of Christ, Jesus sends Satan packing "get thee hence Satan".  He sends him on his way.  The Bible says resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).  Satan must be resisted!!  Satan is not to be negotiated with, nor to be spoken kindly to in endearing dialogue trying to make a deal with him.  You cannot make a deal with a murderer, a killer, a liar and a thief!  The Bible talks about the depths of Satan (Rev 2:24).  Our adversary goes around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour and we are not to be ignorant of his devices.   It is an all out onslaught into  the kingdom of darkness you will not compromise Christ Jesus neither negotiate Him. 

When the kingdoms of this world were restored to God and Christ it had to come through the death of Christ on the cross there was no other way for the redemption of sinful man. A short cut is a satanic side show of distraction, follow and know God's plan for your life.  It took Christ three years for fulfilment to complete His heavenly mandate could it really be possible for you to do it sooner?  

Where are our passions, our desires rooted, are they into God and His Kingdom and the scriptures?  What drives us, motivates us, excites, energises, fuels or entices us?  Are our desires heaven sent and godly?  Or are they temporal passions and lusts of the flesh?  Can we be compromised, paid off or paid out or do we sell out for thirty pieces of silver and betray Christ or give away our spiritual birth right for some food?  

Therefore, we substitute the spiritual and the eternal for the fleshly and the temporal.  

We need to locate ourselves, know ourselves and examine ourselves and prove that we are in the faith.  What is the main driving force behind your life that ignites a passion?  

Would we bow down to Satan?  Would we sell our souls to the devil for a temporal earthly reward and so eternally damn ourselves in hell unless that covenant allegiance to Satan is permanently revoked or broken.  When Israel left the cruel Pharaoh in Egypt after the shedding of the blood of the lamb the price of blood was spilt and rescue was secured they were not to go back into bondage Christ had set them free.  Whom the Son has set free is free indeed!  Know the truth and the truth shall set you free.   

It's all about deliverance from a satanic kingdom, and allegiance to a godly one.  The details, depths of our service and devotion in Christ's kingdom and commissioning as soldiers, saints, servants and sons of God.  Find your place in Christ's Kingdom, get deployed and play your part in the Body of Christ.