Trials

Matt 4v8: Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from me Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

The most the enemy can do to the people of God is to tempt them with all that the world has to offer, and the most powerful of those temptations; power and the splendour of the kingdoms that now reign. While the devil took Jesus to a mountain top to see all their was of those things, now he takes advantage of TV, where the kingdoms of this world and their splendour are on full display (not saying TV is evil, only that the enemy often tries to use it to tempt our hearts away from spiritual desires onto earthly desires). If we do not use such a thing wisely, the enemy will have a great advantage over us, because TV is usually a constant add for anything the world loves and holds dear, and not least because TV reveals just what society and the world considers to be true and upright. 

However, the enemy doesn't always say to the people of God, 'If you will bow down and worship I will give you these things,' no, sometimes he comes masquerading as an angel of light, and that is how sometimes we can be deceived. This happens because 'the splendour of this world' has no warning label attached to it, and because, like an angel of light, it always seems so good, pure and trustworthy. This is especially the case when we are in a desert for the flesh, that is, when we feel in great need, particularly when it comes to emotions, feelings and the desire that those things be fulfilled and satisfied. While the world says that those things should be satisfied at all times, the Lord says that those things should be satisfied only according to the context of spiritual truth, and often we'll need to deny ourselves of such satisfaction, take up our cross, and follow Him. 

The solution to this trial and temptation is straightforward, and summed up simply by the Lord: ...'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." (Matt 4v...10). So we see that the solution must be ACTIVE, in that we must be actively worshipping the Lord, and SERVING him. If we are living our daily lives in those two contexts; worshipping and serving, that will always be the best defence against what the enemy tempts us with in a time of great trial and testing.

In the coming time of trouble, both of persecution, terrorism and war (and other things), the people of God will be brought to a time when we are tested much more intensely than ever before. This will mean much hardship for the flesh, and it will mean that temptations that haven't been a trial for us before (because we've been satisfied in areas that didn't need filling), will suddenly become a trial for us. This 'unexpected journey' which the Lord sometimes takes his collective bride through (Israel in the wilderness and the persecuted Church in Acts), will be a journey where WORSHIP and SERVICE will be so important as a people to focus on. Those two things will be our 'saving grace' so to speak. Jesus said in John 4v34: "My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.' And this will be our food in the coming time to. If we seek to increase in these areas in the time we are living in now, we will be much better prepared for what is coming, and God's grace will be sufficient for us. Jesus didn't get freaked out before He was led into the wilderness, and because of His life and power, we have no reason to either. He didn't even freak out when the devil appeared to Him! And we'll have no reason to fear the enemy coming as either a roaring lion or an angel of light if we follow in the Lord's footsteps.