The other night for team time I got to teach on the temptations of Jesus in Luke 4:1-13.
Before I left the country in September, the father spoke to me, revealing to me 2 major things he wants me to bring to this team of men. He wants me to point them back to him, and he wants me to show them who they are in Christ, as sons of the most high, as fearless warriors for the kingdom, and as men who are after their fathers heart.
I’m absolutely in love with Jesus and his character, especially in this season. He is reminding me of his sweetness, and when I think about his love for me I honestly can’t help but be at a loss of words.
On this night we got to discuss Jesus’s character, especially regarding the way he responds to temptations from the enemy.
Satan tempts Jesus 3 times while Jesus walks through the desert, and each time Jesus responds very similar to the last.
His responses are short and timely. He refuses to have a conversation with Satan, Jesus clearly knows talking to the enemy is a waste of our time.
Jesus quotes scripture. He speaks truth when Satan manipulates and twists our fathers word (Luke 4:9-12).
It was in that moment that the Lord led me to speak on identity. It’s so clear in this passage that Satan is just constantly throwing us lies to get us to doubt our identity. I remember Kevin Applegate saying “If Satan can get you to doubt your identity, he has already won.”
Look back to the garden. In Genesis 3, more famously known as the fall of man, Satan says to Eve “Did God actually say “You shall not eat any tree in the garden?”” (Genesis 3:1) and later says to her if she eats from the tree she “will not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). Eve forgot who she was! A daughter of the king obeys and listens and believes the words of her father. Adam forgot who God had called him to be, how he was supposed to lead Eve.
Lets get one thing clear. The only power that Satan has over us is the lies we believe.
So for team time we got to share struggles and lies we have been hearing. I asked what lies they heard when they were contemplating signing up for the race and what lies they are hearing while they’re on the field. Then I asked them to replace those lies with truth. To find scripture that contradicted what the enemy might be feeding them. As they spoke scripture over the lies they heard/ might of even believed, the atmosphere in the room shifted. I feel like something clicked in their heads. That same “click” or realization I got while I was on the field last year. Like a “this isn’t so bad” kinda feeling. A newfound confidence. It was just as new and fresh for me even as I got to share something I had already learned. That’s whats unique about a relationship with Christ. It’s always fresh and new. I’m reminded of John Piper, a 72 year old pastor. The way he talks about his relationship with the father makes it clear that even at 72, you can still be a son with a childlike faith and curiosity.
We left that conversation feeling ready to take on the world. I read to them about the armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-20 and reminded them that they are warriors. But if they want to fight this battle, they have to be ready. They have to put on the whole armor of God, every day.
This is how men and women of the kingdom fight their battles:
They fasten the belt of truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, put on their shoes with readiness given by the gospel of peace, and take up their shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit.
This battle is worth fighting for.
