Today I continue the new series entitled, “The Benefits of Prayer and Fasting,” under the banner of the overall series for the year: “Expectation.” We have been looking at the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness while He was fasting. Today we will learn more about satan’s tactics. Paul warned us about being ignorant of the devil’s methods (2 Cor 2:11). If we know how satan is going to attack us, then we can prepare ourselves in advance. We will learn today that fasting helps with that.
In Luke 4 and Mark 4 we see the account of Jesus being led of the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to fast. While Jesus was fasting He was tempted of satan. There are three temptations documented. In the first, satan tempted Jesus to turn a stone into bread. In the second, the devil took Jesus and in a moment of time showed him all the kingdoms of the world. The devil offered Jesus rulership over them all. Remember, for a temptation to be valid, the offer has to be a true offer. Prior to Jesus taking the keys to the Kingdom BACK, satan had the power to make this offer. Satan even said, “I will make you king over all these places. You will have power over them, and you will get all the glory. It has all been given to me. I can give it to anyone I want.” He then said, “I will give it all to you, if you will only worship me.” Jesus responded with the Word, just like He did the first time. In the third and final temptation, satan led Jesus to Jerusalem and put him on a high place at the edge of the Temple area. Satan said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! The Scriptures say, ‘God will command his angels to take care of you.’” Notice that satan knows the Word of God too! But Jesus responded with the Word again, and this was the end of the temptations for that particular season.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Satan uses the same three temptations over and over again.
a) The Apostle John said: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15-17). John summarized all the temptation of the world into three categories: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. What’s sad is that satan keeps using these same three temptations on us, over and over again, and many of us keep falling to them.
b) If we go back to the beginning, we see the “big three” (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life) John was talking about. In the Garden of Eden, satan tempted Eve with fruit from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Bible says, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food (this is the lust of the flesh), that it was pleasant to the eyes (this is the lust of the eyes), and a tree desirable to make one wise (this is the pride of life), she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Gen 3:6 parenthesis added).
c) In the wilderness, satan tempted Jesus three times. The first time it was about food (this is the lust of the flesh). The second time it was showing Jesus all the kingdoms of this world and how He could rule all that He could see (this is the lust of the eyes). In the third temptation, satan attempted to stroke Jesus’ ego. He took Him up to a high place and told him to jump, so he could prove that angels will come down and rescue Him from falling (this is the pride of life). Satan used the same three temptations on Jesus that He used on Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve fell. Jesus did not. Jesus was fasting, He was in sync with the Father, He was not ignorant of satan’s tactics, and He responded with the Word!
2. Fasting helps you resist the temptations of satan’s “Big Three.”
a) Satan has three primary temptations—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—and when we fast, we are in position to resist them all.
b) Fasting helps us train our soul to choose the leading of the Holy Spirit over the cravings of the flesh. In this way we are able to resist the lust of the flesh. Fasting helps us remain focused on God and his divine assignment for our lives. When we are laser-focused on God, we are not easily drawn away. In this way we are able to resist the lust of the eyes. Fasting helps us remain humble. When we are consciously saying “NO” to our flesh, over and over again, because we are committed a fast, it helps us remain humble in the presence of the Lord. In this way we are able to resist the pride of life. As you can see, fasting is beneficial in many ways!
Closing Confession:
Father, this is a season of expectation for me. In this season I believe You have ordained me to receive a harvest on every seed sown. And You have ordained the Body of Christ to to receive a tremendous harvest of souls. To prepare myself for the coming harvest, I fast and pray. I choose to live holy every day. I am led of Your Spirit in all things. Living this way, I am able to overcome every temptation of satan. I declare that the the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life have no power over me! I say “NO” to the flesh. I keep my eyes fixed and focused on You! And I humble myself, knowing that You will exalt me in due season. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
