The Lure of Power
By David Chadwick
The enemy’s last temptation of Jesus was his most powerful one. He has used the same temptation throughout human history. Why? Because it works.
What is it?
The lure of power.
Satan took Jesus to a high mountain and supernaturally showed him all the kingdoms that had ever existed. From Babylon to Persia to Greece to Rome, all the powerful kingdoms of history were revealed.
Astoundingly, the devil then promised Jesus that all these earthly kingdoms would be his if he would just bow down and worship him (Matthew 4:9). The lure of power was tantalizingly placed before him.
Jesus recognized what Satan was doing. He commanded him to leave, quoting that God and God alone should be worshiped (Deuteronomy 6:13). Satan immediately departed.
The enemy uses this same strategy with you. You love to control your world, don’t you? There’s an insidious feeling within that you are special and important when people adulate you and do what you want. You feel superior.
But God’s call is not to use people for your purposes, but to serve people for their purposes. People are not put on this planet to be controlled, but loved.
Jesus said that the greatest people in the world are humble (Luke 14:11). They acknowledge that only God is great and worthy of praise. The universe is ruled by him alone. Therefore, God should be the sole focus of worship.
When God is the center of your life, you don’t yearn to control others, but love them.
That’s how Jesus responded to the enemy’s lure of power. Defeated, the devil left him alone.
When the enemy tempts you in this way, commit anew to worship God alone.
And the enemy will depart from you as well.
Stand strong in the attack
God’s equipped you with exactly what you need to defend yourself from the devil when he comes creeping into your life.
David Chadwick’s CD set, The Enemy, shows you how to use the tools God has given you to resist Satan’s advances.
In it, you’ll learn how to:
- Use God’s Word, the ultimate defense, to deflect evil
- Resist the Devil’s advances
- Pray to fight temptation
- Submit to God and let Him work it out for your good
The Enemy is our gift to thank you for your donation to give more reason for hope in Jesus. So request it below when you give.
We pray it helps you stand strong against your enemy!
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