Know Your Enemy: The Three Major Areas Satan Tempts Man

Beloved, we’re continuing our discussion on Satan’s temptation of man in the garden of Eden that caused man to sin, and today we’re going to focus on the three major areas Satan tempts man, because Satan has not changed, he is very predictable, he still operates in the same manner. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 2:11 that, as believers, we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (or schemes). Satan, in his temptations of man always appeals to man's sensibilities regarding three major things:
1. The lust of the flesh
2. The lust of the eyes
3. The pride of life

The Bible sums up ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD into these three things mentioned above (see 1 John 2:16), and then admonishes us that these things are NOT of the Father but are of the world, and so we are not to love them, we are not to love the world or the things of the world (see 1 John 2:15-16). When Satan tempted Eve in the garden of Eden, he appealed to her sensibilities regarding these three things which are not of the Father but are of the world. And the Bible says that “when the woman SAW that the tree was GOOD FOR FOOD (that is, the lust of the flesh), that it was PLEASANT TO THE EYES (that is, the lust of the eyes), and a tree DESIRABLE TO MAKE ONE WISE (that is, the pride of life), she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6 NKJV, brackets and emphasis mine). Thus, man fell to the temptations of Satan in the garden of Eden because MAN LOVED THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD. Man succumbed to Satan’s temptation because man was drawn away by his own DESIRES and enticed by the things of the world (see James 1:14-15); man was enticed by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; man loved and desired the things of this world more than the things of God.

Beloved, Satan’s goal in every temptation is always to draw man’s love and man’s desire away from the things of God to the world or the things in the world, and unfortunately, Satan often succeeds, but he only succeeds when man gives place to him or submits to him. Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, mentioned that Demas had forsaken him, having loved this present world and had departed for Thessalonica (see 2 Timothy 4:10). It is my hope that you will not love this present world, because this present world and all its lusts is passing away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever (see 1 John 2:17). I pray that Satan will not succeed with you in any temptation, and I hope you are reading this message because you don’t want to give place to Satan, and you don’t want Satan to successfully tempt you. Yes, Satan will tempt you, but he must not succeed. The Bible says that no man is immune to temptation, nor is there any temptation that is beyond man’s ability to resist. (see 1 Corinthians 10:12-13). If it is your goal to resist every temptation Satan throws at you, then be assured that God shares that goal and He will help you. The Bible says that “God is faithful, who WILL NOT ALLOW YOU to be tempted beyond what you are able (to resist), but with the temptation will also MAKE THE WAY OF ESCAPE, that YOU MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT.” (see 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV, brackets and emphasis mine). God has ordained that you are able to bear every temptation that comes your way; indeed God will always make the way of escape for you when you are tempted, but it is ultimately your responsibility to take the way of escape or walk through the way of escape that God makes for you. Beloved, the guaranteed way of escape in every temptation is always the WORD (RHEMA) of God. You will always resist the devil and his temptations if you will simply submit to the truth of God’s Word, if you will simply lay hold on the Word of God for the moment (that is, the now Word regarding the area of temptation). What is God’s Word regarding your current circumstance? For instance, what is God’s word for this moment when you’re being tempted to steal or covet or fornicate or commit adultery? What is God’s Word regarding this moment when you’re feeling sick in your body or feeling oppressed by the enemy? What is God’s Word regarding lack, suffering or hardship? Regardless of the temptation Satan brings, if you will only stand steadfast in the faith, trusting God and submitting or holding on to the truth of the Word of God, the temptation will not succeed, for Satan will flee from you as you resist him (see James 4:7); the Bible says that Satan does not stand in the truth (see John 8:44). Imagine what would’ve happened in the garden of Eden if Eve had responded to Satan’s temptation by submitting to the Word of God and confessing the truth of God’s Word, if she had responded with the simple words “It is said,” “It is written,” or “Thus says the Lord.” She would’ve resisted Satan and Satan would’ve fled, just as Jesus resisted him in the temptations in the wilderness and he fled (see Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus showed us THE WAY OF ESCAPE the Bible promises that God will make for us with every temptation. And Jesus also showed us how to take the way of escape and successfully resist every temptation. The Way of Escape, my dear friends, is submission to the truth of the Word of God and confession of the Word of God, the Rhema of God.

Now, as we analyze Satan’s temptation of Jesus Christ in the wilderness further, we will notice that, just like he did with Eve in the garden of Eden, Satan, in his temptation of Jesus in the wilderness appealed to Jesus’ sensibilities regarding three major things: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

1. THE LUST OF THE FLESH: (Satan basically said to Jesus, “Look, You are hungry, and God has not provided, so IF You are the Son of God, why don’t You exploit the power of God to satisfy this hunger, to satisfy this lust of your flesh by commanding that these stones become bread?” (a paraphrase of Matthew 4:1-3). We can also perceive (even from the response Jesus gave to Satan) that Jesus, after His long period of fasting, was in the Spirit, loving and desiring the things of God. Hence, Satan’s goal here was to try to cause Jesus to be drawn away from His love or desire for the things of God or things of the Spirit, and drawn toward the love or desire for the things of this world, and in this context the lust of the flesh. Now, this was a bonafide temptation, because Jesus was truly hungry, and He being the Son of God had power which He could’ve exploited to satisfy the lust of His flesh if He desired to. But Jesus didn’t desire to do that. God had made the Way of Escape for Jesus, and Jesus took that way of escape. Jesus confessed the Word of God (suitable) for that moment. He answered Satan and said, “IT IS WRITTEN, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (see Matthew 4:4). And thus with this, Jesus resisted that first temptation regarding the lust of the flesh. Jesus obviously had set His mind on things above, not on things on the earth, which is what the Bible commands us also to do (see Colossians 3:2). Jesus valued spiritual food (the Word of God) above natural food that can only satisfy the lust of the flesh. And the Bible says that Jesus has left us an example, that we should follow His steps.

2. THE LUST OF THE EYES: (“Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, SHOWED Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and THEIR GLORY; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” (Luke 4:5-7 NKJV). Here, Satan was obviously appealing to the lust of the eyes by SHOWING Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Satan was basically saying, “See how beautiful and pleasant to the eyes these kingdoms of the world are; they are mine, and I will give all these kingdoms to you, together with their glory if you will fall down and worship me.”) Oh, how many men have fallen for the lust of the eyes! But not Jesus. Jesus took the way of escape God made with this temptation for Him; He answered Satan and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” (Luke 4:8 NKJV). Again, the way of escape for Jesus was submission to the Word of God and confession of it. The Psalmist says, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” (Psalms 119:11 NKJV).

3. THE PRIDE OF LIFE: (“Then he (Satan) brought Him (Jesus) to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 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 you dash your foot against a stone.’” (Luke 4:9-11 NKJV). Here, Satan was obviously appealing to the pride of life by arousing Jesus’ ego to try to cause Him to prove Himself the Son of God, or show what He is capable of doing with the power and authority He has as the Son of God, and to do it not for the glory of God but for His own glory or to boost His own ego. Also notice the cunningness of Satan, he had the nerve to quote Scripture (the Psalms) to back what he was asking Jesus to do. You see, beloved, Satan can quote Scripture but because he has no revelation or understanding of it, he often quotes out of context. We as believers have understanding, we have revelation of the fullness of the gospel, so we should not allow just anyone (including Satan himself) to quote Scriptures they don’t understand to try to convince us to do stupid things. We don’t need to prove to anyone that we are the sons of God or that we believe the Word of God, we just have to be secure in our identity as sons of God, confident of the inner witness that the Spirit of God who is in us bears with our spirit that we are the sons of God. Even when we have to perform miracles, the motive behind it must be pure and just. We shouldn’t perform miracles out of pride, or to tempt God, or to boost our own ego or prestige in the eyes of men. We are only to perform miracles where there is a genuine need, and we are to do it out of faith, out of love, and for the glory of God. We should not try to do anything from a position of doubt or to tempt God to see if He will really do what His Word says He will do. Indeed, we cannot just pick a passage from Scripture and try to tempt God with it to see if it is true or not, for instance by drinking something deadly just to see if it is true that it will by no means harm us, as Jesus promised in Mark 16:18. Whenever we are challenged or tempted along these lines, we should learn from what Jesus did. Jesus answered and said to Satan, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.” (Luke 4:12-13 NKJV).

Beloved, just as the Lord Jesus Christ resisted each one of Satan’s temptations, we can also resist all of Satan’s temptations today because Christ is in us, and God is always making the way of escape for us with every temptation we face. May you take the way of escape in every temptation by submitting to the Word of God and resisting the devil till he flees from you. Remain blessed. #UnveilingMysteries #SpiritLife #shareTheWord #FollowThisBlog

Know Your Enemy: Satan is a Liar and the Father of It

During His earth ministry, Jesus spoke a profound truth about Satan, our enemy. Jesus said that Satan “was a MURDERER from the beginning, and DOES NOT STAND IN THE TRUTH, because there is no truth in him. When HE SPEAKS A LIE, he speaks from his own resources, for HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF IT.” (see John 8:44 NKJV). Every believer needs to know and be always CONSCIOUS of this truth about Satan: he is a MURDERER and a LIAR. In fact, the WEAPON Satan used to commit his notorious murder of mankind in the garden of Eden was LIES or DECEPTION. Satan’s LIES led Adam and Eve to DEATH, by causing them to disobey God and to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God had commanded them (under penalty of death) not to eat (see Genesis 3:1-7). The Bible says that Satan (the serpent) is cunning, crafty, or subtle (see Genesis 3:1; 2 Corinthians 11:3), which also means that Satan’s lies are often subtle (that is, they’re not so obvious). So, let us analyze the lies Satan told Eve in the garden of Eden.

First, Satan told Eve that she and her husband “will not surely die” if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God had commanded them not to eat (see Genesis 3:4). This was a lie because Adam and Eve were surely going to die if they ate of the (forbidden) tree of the knowledge of good and evil, just as God had warned them (see Genesis 2:17). On that same day that they ate of the (forbidden) tree, they died (spiritually); they were separated or alienated from the life of God; they were driven out of the garden of Eden and banished from the presence of God. (see Genesis 3:23-24; with Ephesians 4:18, Ephesians 2:1, Colossians 1:21). Today Satan is telling many people that they will not surely perish or be condemned if they do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. But that is a lie, my dear friends. The Bible says that whoever does not believe in Jesus Christ “is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (see John 3:18).  Truly, “he who does not believe will be condemned.” (see Mark 16:16).

Second, Satan subtly told Eve that God is a liar and an evil person. By saying that Adam and Eve “will not surely die,” Satan was opposing God’s word and painting God, not only as a liar, but as an evil person who was withholding something good from Adam and Eve. Satan said “God knows that in the day you eat of it YOUR EYES WILL BE OPENED, and YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, knowing good and evil.” Here, Satan was basically saying that knowing good and evil will be beneficial to man, and God doesn’t want man to have something this beneficial. This was a lie. God didn’t want man to have a knowledge or consciousness of (good and) EVIL, because it wasn’t going to be good for us, as I explained in my previous post. And so God is neither a liar nor an evil person (as we can see from even this story and how it ended); it is Satan who is obviously the liar and the evil one.

Third, Satan said that Adam and Eve will be like God, knowing good and evil, if they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God had commanded them not to eat. This was a half-truth, which is essentially a lie. Yes, man was going to be like God alright (in the sense or context of) knowing good and evil (see Genesis 3:22), but in another sense, a rather tragic sense, man was going to be like Satan himself if he disobeyed God (and thus sinned) by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which God had commanded man not to eat. Man was going to become evil or a sinner by committing that act of evil, and worse of all, man’s knowledge of good and evil was going to condemn him and cause him to feel naked (that is, exposed, ashamed, guilty) and afraid in the presence of the Holy and Righteous God, because of man’s sin. (see Genesis 3:7-10).

Fourth, Satan told Eve that if she and her husband ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, their eyes will be opened. In other words, they would see the light. This was a lie because, disobeying or rebelling against God by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was a sin that was only going to open man’s eyes to his own sin and nakedness (or shame, condemnation and guilt) and cause man to be afraid of the presence of God (see Genesis 3:7-10). It was a sin that was going to rather cause man’s way to be like darkness (see Proverbs 4:19); it was going to cause man’s eyes to be blinded, so that though seeing, he may not see (see Ezekiel 12:2; Isaiah 44:18; Matthew 13:13; John 9:39-41). It was a sin that was going to blind the minds of men, who do not believe God, lest the light of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God should shine on them. (see 2 Corinthians 4:4). Today, Satan is pointing men to all kinds of vain religions that he claims will open their eyes and give them light, but the Bible says that Jesus alone gives light and opens the eyes of the blind, because He is the Light of the world, and anyone who follows Him shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life (see Luke 4:18; with John 9:39, John 8:12).

Beloved, it is unfortunate that Adam and Eve fell for the lies of Satan. Many people often ask the question, “Where was Adam when Eve was being deceived? Maybe he could’ve stopped it; but where in the world did Adam go?” I’ve even heard many renowned preachers ask this question. But the Bible answers this question plainly. Adam didn’t go anywhere. Adam was with Eve the whole time Satan was talking to Eve. And so the Bible says that “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto HER HUSBAND WITH HER; and he did eat.” (Genesis 3:6 KJV). The NLT translation makes it even clearer: “The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS WITH HER, and he ate it, too.” (Genesis 3:6 NLT). And so when God came into the garden of Eden, He addressed all three of them (Adam, Eve, and Satan the serpent), because they were all still together (see Genesis 3:8-15). Thus, the Bible says that Eve being deceived, fell into transgression (see Genesis 3:13; 1 Timothy 2:14; 2 Corinthians 11:3), but Adam was not deceived. (see 1 Timothy 2:14). Whereas Eve only obeyed Satan because she was deceived to do so, Adam made a conscious choice to obey Satan over God. Hence both Adam and Eve sinned, and they both surely died. The Bible says that “through one man SIN entered the world, and DEATH through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (see Romans 5:12 NKJV). Also, “through one man’s offense JUDGMENT came to all men, resulting in CONDEMNATION” (see Romans 5:18 NKJV). This is why we preach Jesus Christ, persuading all men to believe in Jesus Christ and receive the GIFT of eternal life (see John 3:16; Romans 6:23). The Bible says, “And the GIFT is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in CONDEMNATION, but the FREE GIFT which came from many offenses resulted in JUSTIFICATION. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the GIFT of righteousness will reign in life THROUGH the One, JESUS CHRIST.) Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:16‭-‬19 NKJV). This one Man whose obedience, whose righteous act has made and will make many righteous is Jesus Christ. For God made Jesus “who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (II Corinthians 5:21 NKJV).

In the next post, we will discuss further Satan’s temptation of man in the garden of Eden that caused man to sin, and we will point out and explain the three major areas where Satan tempts man, because Satan has not changed, he is very predictable, he still operates in the same manner. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 2:11 that, as believers, we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (or schemes). May you never give place to Satan. Remain blessed.  #UnveilingMysteries #SpiritLife #shareTheWord #FollowThisBlog

Why God Didn't Want Man to Eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

In the garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve ate of the (forbidden) tree of the knowledge of good and evil (see Genesis 3:1-7), the Bible says that they became like God (in the sense or context of) KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL (see Genesis 3:22). This was bad for man, because it put a heavy burden on man to consistently choose or make a judgment between GOOD and EVIL -- a judgment only God can make justly or righteously. The knowledge of good and evil is indeed a heavy burden God did not intend for man to bear. God intended for man to have a knowledge of good only. The Bible says, "Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil." (see 1 Corinthians 14:20 NLT). And so God originally created Adam and Eve to know only good. Adam and Eve knew to do good, to eat freely of every tree in the garden of Eden, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (see Genesis 2:16-17). And the Bible says, "To him who knows to do good and DOES NOT DO IT, to him IT IS SIN." (see James 4:17 NKJV ).

Thus Adam and Eve had no knowledge or consciousness of SIN, they had no knowledge or consciousness of EVIL, until they rejected God's plan for them, chose to obey Satan and thus chose to NOT DO GOOD but to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which God had commanded them not to eat. The moment they ate of the (forbidden) tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve received knowledge or consciousness of (not just good, but) EVIL also; hence they immediately became CONSCIOUS that they had sinned or committed EVIL by disobeying God. They felt NAKED or exposed, they felt guilty. Having knowledge of good and evil implies that whenever you commit an act of evil, you will feel naked, exposed, or guilty and condemned before the Holy God and Creator of the universe. No wonder Jesus said that those who do not believe in Him are condemned already (see John 3:18). The natural man is condemned already. God asked Adam, “WHO TOLD YOU that you were naked? HAVE YOU EATEN from the tree of which I COMMANDED you that YOU SHOULD NOT EAT?” (Genesis 3:11 NKJV). God was basically saying to Adam that, "If you have eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which I commanded you not to eat, then it is YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL that is telling you that you're naked. You were not supposed to have this knowledge, Adam; it will ruin you. This is why I warned you that on the day that you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall surely die."

Beloved, the knowledge of good and evil Adam and Eve received from eating of the (forbidden) tree, and the resulting knowledge and consciousness that they had COMMITTED an act of EVIL by disobeying God was what caused Adam and Eve to feel naked and afraid and to hide themselves from the presence of God (see Genesis 3:8). Their knowledge or consciousness of sin made them feel guilty, condemned and afraid in the presence of the Holy and Righteous God. And thus their sin separated or alienated them from God. (see Genesis 3:22-24; with Isaiah 59:2 and Colossians 1:21).

The good news today, my dear friend, is that even though all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, if any man BELIEVES in Jesus Christ or comes into Christ, such a man is A NEW CREATION, a new species of man, a son of God, who is righteous and has NO MORE CONSCIOUSNESS OF SIN (see Romans 3:23-26; 2 Corinthians 5:17, with
Hebrews 10:1-3; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:1, 9). Hallelujah! This is why we persuade all men to believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and be saved, so that you can join us (believers) to come BOLDLY (without any sense of fear, guilt, condemnation or inferiority) to the throne of grace, TO THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD, to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (see Hebrews 4:16). We believers are truly the sons of God, and we are partakers of the divine (or God) nature. Glory to God! #UnveilingMysteries #SpiritLife #shareTheWord