Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare

Matthew 4:1-11

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. ³ The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” ⁴ But he answered, “It is written,

‘One does not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

⁵ Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,

so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; ⁹ and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,

and serve only him.’ ”

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

THE ENEMY

We have an enemy, the devil, whose primary purposes are to rob, kill, destroy, devour and deceive.  He and his demonic forces are seeking people whom they can molesta and oppress.  It is a fact in the Christian life and as believers we are admonished to be aware of his schemes.

The devil is no respecter of persons.  He had the audacity to tempt Jesus and he will also attack and tempt each one of us.  As we look at the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness we can see some of the tactics and strategies he used to try to cause Jesus to sin and he will use them to tempt us as well. One aspect of the temptation of Jesus is that it was much more intense than what we will probably ever experience.  Jesus was tempted just as we are because he walked on the earth as a man yet did not sin.  He understands what we face when we are tempted.

Heb 4:15  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.

FASTING AND PRAYER

In preparation for the temptation of the devil, Jesus spent 40 days in prayer and fasting.  During this time we really do not know what Jesus was doing but we do know that when we fast with right motives we are expressing a greater hunger for God and he meets with us in a special way. Fasting when coupled with prayer is a powerful form of spiritual warfare. I want to talk on fasting before we look at the temptations of Jesus.

Fasting was and still is a spiritual discipline.  There are many examples of when a fast was practiced by individuals or corporately.

EXAMPLES OF FASTING

Nehemiah fasted after hearing the report of the condition of Jerusalem and sought God’s guidance regarding what he should do. Neh. 1.4

He called the people to fast to lead them into repentance and confession of sin. Neh. 91-3

Daniel fasted and prayed to seek God and confessed the sins of Israel. Dan. 9.3,20

The King of Nineveh called the nation to fast and repent.  Jonah 3.8

Anna fasted a prayed for 44 years while serving in the temple. Luke 2.37

The church in Antioch fasted and prayed and God spoke to them about sending Paul and Barnabas out on the missionary journey.  Acts 13.2

BENEFITS OF FASTING

Fasting when combined with prayer and the word is an act of spiritual warfare.  During this time we can set our hearts on seeking God and receiving instructions from him.  

Isaiah 58 gives specific benefits of fasting.

If we fast like this the darkness in our life will become light:  vs 8,10

If we follow this fasting there will be physical strengthening. Vs 8, 11

If we follow this fasting God will be in front of us and behind us and in the midst of us with righteousness and glory.  Vs 8, 9

 If we follow this fasting, God promises to guide us continually. Vs 11

 If we follow this fasting, He will satisfy your soul. Vs 11

 If we follow this fasting, God will make you a watered garden with springs that do not fail.

 Finally, if we follow this fasting, that is, if we give ourselves to the poor, God will restore the ruins of his city—and his people.  Vs 12

Fasting should be a regular discipline in the life of a believer. It can take on different forms but the idea is to seek the Lord and have a greater desire to draw near to him than our desire to meet physical needs.  People with medical conditions need to seek advice from their doctor before they fast from food.

STAGES OF FASTING

There are 5 stages of fasting that most people experience depending on the length of the fast. (Curezone.org)

Stage 1 (Day 1-2)  The heart slows and blood pressure is reduced. Glycogen is pulled from the muscle causing some weakness. The first wave of cleansing is usually the worst.

Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath, glazed eyes and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period.

Stage 2 (Day 3-7) The desire to eat will disappear. Lack of hunger may last 40-60 days.

The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing organs and the lungs are in the process of being repaired. Periodically, the lymphatic system expels mucoid matter through the nose or throat. The volume excreted of this yellow-colored mucus can be shocking. The sinuses go through periods of being clogged, then will totally clear. The breath is still foul and the tongue coated. Within the intestine, the colon is being repaired and impacted feces on the intestinal wall start to loosen.

Stage 3 (Day 8-15) On the latter part of an extended fast, you can experience enhanced energy, clear-mindedness and feel better than you have felt since childhood, On the downside, old injuries may become irritated and painful. This is a result of the body’s increased ability to heal during fasting. During fasting, the body’s healing process is at optimum efficiency. The muscles may become tight and sore due to toxin irritation. The legs can be the worst affected as toxins accumulate in the legs. Cankers are common in this stage due to the excessive bacteria in the mouth.

Stage 4 (Day 16-30) The body is completely adapted to the fasting process. There is more energy and clarity of mind. Cleansing periods can be short with many days of feeling good in between. There are days when the tongue is pink and the breath is fresh. After day 20, the mind is affected with heightened clarity and emotional balance. Memory and concentration improve.

Stage 5 (Day 30-?)

·         The Breath, which during all or most of the fast has been offensive, becomes sweet and clean.

·         The Tongue becomes clean. The thick coating which remained on it throughout most of the fast vanishes.

·         The Temperature, which may have been sub-normal or above normal, returns to exactly normal, where it remains.

·         The Pulse becomes normal in time and rhythm.

·         The Skin reactions and other reactions become normal.

·         The Bad Taste in the mouth ceases.

·         Salivary Secretion becomes normal.

·         The Eyes become bright and eye sight improves.

·         The Excreta loses its odor. The Urine becomes light.

The primary indication that the fast is to be broken is the return of hunger; all the other indications are secondary

After 40 days of fasting Jesus was at the point of hunger returning and the fast needed to be broken. 

Brother Hun recounted in his book, “Heavenly Man” while in prison fasted for over 75 days which was a miracle, most people would be dead by this time.

ENDING A FAST

A final note regarding breaking a fast is that it must be done slowly with small amounts of food, preferably fruits and juices. If you gorge yourself immediately you will experience stomach pains.

THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS

The scriptures state that at the end of 40 days of fasting the devil came to tempt Jesus. This was an opportune time for the devil to tempt him.  He seems to know when we are at our weakest point or when we leave an opening for him to attack.  Peter recognized this strategy when he advised the believers to be sober and alert to the work of the devil.

The first temptation Jesus faced was an appeal to his physical hunger for the purpose of tempting him to use his position as the Son of God for his own needs and act independent of his father.  Jesus did not have to prove anything to the devil, his identity was not based on what he could do or ask his father to do for him.  Meeting his own physical need for food, which was a legitimate need after 40 days of fasting had to be subjected to obedience to his father.  Jesus knew there was more to life than meeting physical needs.  His relationship with his father and his obedience to the will of his father was the most important thing for him.  He later stated to his disciples

Joh 4:34  Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

Jesus always sought to do the will of his father.  He did what his father revealed to him to do.  Converting stones into bread was not on the agenda of his father so he quickly rebuked the devil by quoting the scripture verse.  “Man shall not live by bread alone.”  The devil tries to use fleshly, physical needs to draw us away from obedience to God.

It is easy for us to want to meet our own needs in our own way without consulting or depending upon God.  We often act of our own initiative and do what we think is best without consulting the Lord. The flesh is impulsive, it wants what it wants now.  Walking in the Spirit allows us to wait upon the Lord and seek Him before we make the mistake of responding in the flesh and giving in to the suggestions of the devil.

 I have been reading a book given to me called, “God Guides.”  It contains short stories of Mary Geegh a missionary to India and her experiences of waiting on God to speak to give answers and guidance for many different situations.  When people came to her with problems her standard answer was to pray and wait on God to give the answer.  When God gave the answer the response was immediate obedience to his directive.  She has many fascinating stories of non-Christians receiving answers from God as they learned to wait in silence before him and expect him to speak.

Story of Raj and Bee

Raj and Bee were distant cousins and their parents arranged their marriage, one that Raj did not want as he wanted to marry his closer cousin, Kae.  Their marriage was very unhappy and finally Bee left to go live with her mother.  One day Raj came to see Mary and told of his miserable life.  He wanted to leave his job and move to another area.  Mary asked him if this was God’s plan and his reply was, “I don’t know but it is my plan.”  Mary gave her standard response which was to ask God, write down what he said and then do it.  Raj spent Christmas Day in silence and at the end of the day he received the thought of bringing his wife back home.  The next day he took the train to go to get his wife. Meanwhile his wife Bee had received a letter from Kae asking for forgiveness for her hatred toward her.  On Christmas Day Bee was in prayer seeking God’s guidance and was instructed to “Go home to your husband at once.”  She obeyed and left the next day on the train.  When she got to the junction to change trains, she found she would have to wait a few hours.  As she was waiting, there came her husband into the waiting room!  He approached her and asked where she was going to which she replied, “I’m coming home, where are you going?”  He replied, “I’m coming to get you.”  Their marriage was restored and the plans of the devil were defeated. 

The devil is a destroyer and if he can get us to act on our own will and not listen to the instruction of our Father he can defeat us.  Jesus knew he could not act on his own, he needed to be obedient to his father above all physical needs or needs to prove his true identity.  He was secure in who he was, he did not need to do something to convince anyone of who he was.  The key is to hear what God has to say and then be obedient to what he tells us to do.

The second temptation involved presumption and misuse of the scriptures. 

Definition of Presumption:

1.  An act or instance of taking something to be true or adopting a particular attitude toward something, esp. at the start of a chain of argument or action. An attitude adopted in law or as a matter of policy toward an action or proposal in the absence of acceptable reasons to the contrary.

2. Behavior perceived as arrogant, disrespectful, and transgressing the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.

Since Jesus used the scriptures in his first response, the devil tried to use them as well to coerce him into throwing himself down from the pinnacle of the temple to see if the promise of the scriptures would be true.  If he truly was the Son of God, he should expect the angels to protect him when he jumped off the temple.  The spectacle of jumping from the pinnacle and being rescued by the angels would surely convince the people that he was a very special person.  People would give immediate attention to him and he would be venerated among the people if he carried out this plan.  This was the thought of the devil, to get Jesus to presume that his father would save him from death and elevate him in the eyes of the people who witnessed this act or heard the report of it.  The temptation was presented as a short cut to fame and recognition among the people.

Jesus did not give in to the temptation.  The devil did not force him to act or push him off the pinnacle. The devil has limited power, he cannot make us do anything.   If Jesus would have followed the advice of the devil it would have been his choice.  Temptations will be presented in our lives but we are the ones who make the decision to give in to the temptation.  The sin of presumption is often the result of wrong interpretation of the scriptures.  We read a verse and take it out of context to make an application to our life based on presumptions and not on truth.  We presume that God will bail us out of a situation that we chose for ourselves.  It may be a bad financial decision, or relationship that is forbidden, speaking damaging and condemning words to others with the thought that they will forgive you, appointing yourself to a position of importance presuming that it is obvious that you are the most qualified and deserving,

Jesus knew that his action of throwing himself from the pinnacle would be testing God, putting God in a situation that he did not sanction but was expected to respond in Jesus’ favor.  We can make our own plans and then expect God to bless them.  If he was not part of the planning, it is presumptuous to think that he will bless the plan.  We may have what we think is a great idea but if it is not God’s idea we will not be successful.  Failed plans are often the result of presumption on our part. 

The third temptation Satan desired worship from Jesus in exchange for power and authority.  Did Satan even have the power over the kingdoms that he could give them to Jesus?  Some would say no because the earth is the Lord’s while others would state that in the fall of Adam and Eve, Satan gained control. 

1Jn 5:19  We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

The main issue involves violating the first of the ten commandments God gave Israel. 

Exo 20:3  "You shall have no other gods before me.

By giving Satan worship Jesus would be placing himself under Satan and the reality of ruling over the kingdoms would be a lie because Satan would rule over Jesus.  The temptation was an appeal to have power and control over others.  This is a temptation that is common in every era.  People like power, authority and control.  It feeds their pride and makes them feel superior to others. 

Satan is also known as Lucifer and his role before being cast out of heaven was leading the angels in worship of God.  It is no wonder that he desired to be worshipped.  What greater way to spite God than to have his Son worship Satan.  Worship is a form of spiritual warfare and it is hated by Satan.  Worship in the spirit and in truth drives the demonic forces away.  It changes the spiritual atmosphere and invites the presence of God.

Psa 149:6-9  Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones. Praise the LORD!

You become what you worship. Substituting anything but God for our worship diminishes who we are and what we will become.  Worship is not just praise and songs but it is a complete devotion of one’s life to God.

Jesus did not come to establish an earthly kingdom to have power and control over people.  He came to destroy the works of the evil one through his death and resurrection.

1Jn 3:8  Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

 Jesus knew his purpose, his allegiance to his Father and was obedience to him even unto his death on the cross.  This was the only way the Kingdom of God would be established among all of mankind.  There were no short cuts to gaining victory over Satan.

In our walk with God we will be faced with temptations that come from our own desires that draw us away from God.

Jas 1:14  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

We choose whom we will obey.

OVERCOMING THE ENEMY

Practice the spiritual discipline of fasting and prayer.  It will draw you near to God and produce many spiritual benefits that will prepare you in overcoming the devil’s attacks.

Be alert to the schemes of the devil and do not give him an opportunity.   Eph 4:27  and give no opportunity to the devil.

Be secure in your identity.  You belong to Christ, you are bought with a price.  Christ is in you.  You do not have to submit to the devil.

Be grounded in the Word of God and use it properly.  Don’t be presumptuous or proud and make bad decisions.

If you are not sure what to do, go to God in prayer and be instant in you obedience. Don’t act impulsively.

Worship with your whole heart.

The devil has been defeated and the greater One lives within us. 

1 John 4.4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

As Paul expressed, 2Co 2:14  But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

We may falter and fail but God will pick us up and put us back on the pathway if we are willing to confess and repent. God is more interested in restoring us and putting us back in the battle than having us wallow in our wounds and allow the enemy to constantly condemn us.