ALL AUTHORITY
When reading the account of Jesus' temptation by the devil, the question arises, "How come the devil had authority to compel Jesus to go with him to the pinnacle of the temple or the mountain top for the challenges” listed in Luke 4:2-12?"
First we have to recognize that it was in the Father's plan that Jesus had to be subjected to the three areas of human vulnerability that lead to sin;
Hebrews 4:15 & 18 – For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. …. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
The three areas of human vulnerability are lust of the flesh; lust of the eye, and pride of life:
1 John 2:16 – For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
When any one of these three areas are solicited by the enemy the end result is SIN. A fulfilled lust is consequently the result of submitting to the enticements of the enemy:
James 1:14-15 – but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Jesus had to be subjected to the same temptations that all of mankind experiences, yet he had to remain sinless in order to offer himself as the perfect sacrifice and atonement for all the rest of us.
1 John 4:10 – Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (to appease) for our sins.
Second, the Son of God had to become a man in order to redeem mankind from his fallen state. Thus, as a man, he was subject to the influences and attempts of the devil to corrupt Him. Herein is our victory because Jesus overcame all of Satan’s temptations which qualified Him to be the spur and spotless sacrifice for all of our sins.
Third, we need to understand that the enemy used his trickery and deceit to acquire the authority (dominion) over the earth that was initially given to Adam:
Genesis 1:26 – And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
With the enemy's treachery in the garden, he managed to get the woman to submit to his will by employing the three enticements that she yielded to:
Genesis 3:6 – 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.
She saw that the forbidden fruit was good for food - lust of the flesh; that it was pleasant to the eye - lust of the eye; that it would give her wisdom and understanding that she was made to think that she did not already possess - pride of life.
The woman sinned because of her lust; she then gave the fruit to Adam and he ate, but not for the same reason as Eve:
1 Timothy 2:14 – And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Adam did not act out of lust, therefore he did not sin as did Eve based on what the above scriptures tell us. Adam did break the command of God which was a sin, but his sin was different from that of Eve. (Adam committed an act of love, not lust. We fail to consider what Adam was like before the fall. This is another teaching that is vital to understanding the true role of a husband, a man who has the love, the character and the nature of God; who was also a foreshadow of Jesus):
Romans 5:14 – Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Only two men came directly from God, Adam and Jesus, and both had the same character and nature of God in them. Note that Adam’s transgression was different from that of others; Adam was a type or shadow of what Christ did; Adam did it for his wife. What Adam had was lost and Jesus came to restore that which was lost. Adam lost that God like character and nature as a result of his action; but Jesus came to restore it to all who lost it if they only accept what Jesus did on the cross.
Now look at the three temptations of Jesus: (1) hungry? ..then just turn stone to bread - lust of the flesh. (2) Look at all these kingdoms of the world; I will give you authority over them for they were "delivered unto me" - lust of the eye. (Note: that authority was given to him when Adam and Eve submitted to him; the devil then legally got what was theirs - dominion over the earth.) (3) Finally, jump off this pinnacle and prove that you are the Son of God since it is the angel’s duty to watch over you - pride of life, prove who you are.
Since that time in the garden, the devil has had dominion and authority over the earth, acting as the god of this world. Thus he had the authority to compel Jesus to his tempting. Since Jesus was made a man, He had to submit to that authority, but he did not have to obey. Jesus relied on an even higher authority - the Word of God - to overcome the tempting.
Scripture tells us the reason Jesus came to earth:
1 John 3:8 – He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
What was accomplished on the cross was to reverse the result of the devil's treachery in the garden that had been in effect on all mankind ever since. In addition, Jesus stripped the enemy of all his authority when he rose again from the dead. Knowing this fact is a key to walking in victory and being an over-comer.
Matthew 28:18-19 – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore,
Since Jesus now has ALL authority and power, this means that the enemy has NONE! Satan knows he has no power or authority but that does not stop him from using the one thing does have – LIES and DECEPTION to cause us to FEAR. Satan is a deceiver, a lair, even the father of lairs. He wants us to think he has this fearful power that can defeat us; but he can't to those who truly know God and His Word, so they can live by it and apply it by using the authority our Lord has granted us to use - the authority of His name.
John 14:13-14 – And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Mark 16:17-18"...In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up (away) serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover".
Note that all the things listed in the above verse are works of the devil that Jesus said he came to destroy; this means from that time forth, not just back then!
Jesus now has ALL AUTHORITY and Satan has none! So Christians need to stop acting as though the enemy is so powerful; he isn't - but he is the master deceiver, conspirator and manipulator. Jesus then gave his power and authority to "THOSE WHO BELIEVE"; the problem in the church today is people just DON’T BELIEVE God or His Word; at least they don't live and act like it. It's time to change this and start living and acting on His Word, His Power and His Authority. It's ALL His and He has delegated it to His people when He gave the command to GO into all the world with His message! He gave US power to resist the devil and take a stand against him and stop his efforts to corrupt, steal and destroy.
Luke 10:17-19 – And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 5:8-9 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Jesus also gives the Holy Spirit to those who believe and accept. The Holy Spirit gives us the POWER to be WITNESSES of Jesus to all the world, meaning He gave us power to show the world who Jesus is and what He did for us.
Acts 1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
These witnesses are walking in His authority as the children of God through Christ. So remember, Christ has ALL AUTHORITY and Satan has none!
When reading the account of Jesus' temptation by the devil, the question arises, "How come the devil had authority to compel Jesus to go with him to the pinnacle of the temple or the mountain top for the challenges” listed in Luke 4:2-12?"
First we have to recognize that it was in the Father's plan that Jesus had to be subjected to the three areas of human vulnerability that lead to sin;
Hebrews 4:15 & 18 – For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. …. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
The three areas of human vulnerability are lust of the flesh; lust of the eye, and pride of life:
1 John 2:16 – For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
When any one of these three areas are solicited by the enemy the end result is SIN. A fulfilled lust is consequently the result of submitting to the enticements of the enemy:
James 1:14-15 – but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Jesus had to be subjected to the same temptations that all of mankind experiences, yet he had to remain sinless in order to offer himself as the perfect sacrifice and atonement for all the rest of us.
1 John 4:10 – Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (to appease) for our sins.
Second, the Son of God had to become a man in order to redeem mankind from his fallen state. Thus, as a man, he was subject to the influences and attempts of the devil to corrupt Him. Herein is our victory because Jesus overcame all of Satan’s temptations which qualified Him to be the spur and spotless sacrifice for all of our sins.
Third, we need to understand that the enemy used his trickery and deceit to acquire the authority (dominion) over the earth that was initially given to Adam:
Genesis 1:26 – And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
With the enemy's treachery in the garden, he managed to get the woman to submit to his will by employing the three enticements that she yielded to:
Genesis 3:6 – 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.
She saw that the forbidden fruit was good for food - lust of the flesh; that it was pleasant to the eye - lust of the eye; that it would give her wisdom and understanding that she was made to think that she did not already possess - pride of life.
The woman sinned because of her lust; she then gave the fruit to Adam and he ate, but not for the same reason as Eve:
1 Timothy 2:14 – And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Adam did not act out of lust, therefore he did not sin as did Eve based on what the above scriptures tell us. Adam did break the command of God which was a sin, but his sin was different from that of Eve. (Adam committed an act of love, not lust. We fail to consider what Adam was like before the fall. This is another teaching that is vital to understanding the true role of a husband, a man who has the love, the character and the nature of God; who was also a foreshadow of Jesus):
Romans 5:14 – Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
Only two men came directly from God, Adam and Jesus, and both had the same character and nature of God in them. Note that Adam’s transgression was different from that of others; Adam was a type or shadow of what Christ did; Adam did it for his wife. What Adam had was lost and Jesus came to restore that which was lost. Adam lost that God like character and nature as a result of his action; but Jesus came to restore it to all who lost it if they only accept what Jesus did on the cross.
Now look at the three temptations of Jesus: (1) hungry? ..then just turn stone to bread - lust of the flesh. (2) Look at all these kingdoms of the world; I will give you authority over them for they were "delivered unto me" - lust of the eye. (Note: that authority was given to him when Adam and Eve submitted to him; the devil then legally got what was theirs - dominion over the earth.) (3) Finally, jump off this pinnacle and prove that you are the Son of God since it is the angel’s duty to watch over you - pride of life, prove who you are.
Since that time in the garden, the devil has had dominion and authority over the earth, acting as the god of this world. Thus he had the authority to compel Jesus to his tempting. Since Jesus was made a man, He had to submit to that authority, but he did not have to obey. Jesus relied on an even higher authority - the Word of God - to overcome the tempting.
Scripture tells us the reason Jesus came to earth:
1 John 3:8 – He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
What was accomplished on the cross was to reverse the result of the devil's treachery in the garden that had been in effect on all mankind ever since. In addition, Jesus stripped the enemy of all his authority when he rose again from the dead. Knowing this fact is a key to walking in victory and being an over-comer.
Matthew 28:18-19 – And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore,
Since Jesus now has ALL authority and power, this means that the enemy has NONE! Satan knows he has no power or authority but that does not stop him from using the one thing does have – LIES and DECEPTION to cause us to FEAR. Satan is a deceiver, a lair, even the father of lairs. He wants us to think he has this fearful power that can defeat us; but he can't to those who truly know God and His Word, so they can live by it and apply it by using the authority our Lord has granted us to use - the authority of His name.
John 14:13-14 – And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Mark 16:17-18"...In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up (away) serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover".
Note that all the things listed in the above verse are works of the devil that Jesus said he came to destroy; this means from that time forth, not just back then!
Jesus now has ALL AUTHORITY and Satan has none! So Christians need to stop acting as though the enemy is so powerful; he isn't - but he is the master deceiver, conspirator and manipulator. Jesus then gave his power and authority to "THOSE WHO BELIEVE"; the problem in the church today is people just DON’T BELIEVE God or His Word; at least they don't live and act like it. It's time to change this and start living and acting on His Word, His Power and His Authority. It's ALL His and He has delegated it to His people when He gave the command to GO into all the world with His message! He gave US power to resist the devil and take a stand against him and stop his efforts to corrupt, steal and destroy.
Luke 10:17-19 – And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
James 4:7 – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
1 Peter 5:8-9 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Jesus also gives the Holy Spirit to those who believe and accept. The Holy Spirit gives us the POWER to be WITNESSES of Jesus to all the world, meaning He gave us power to show the world who Jesus is and what He did for us.
Acts 1:8 – But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
These witnesses are walking in His authority as the children of God through Christ. So remember, Christ has ALL AUTHORITY and Satan has none!
