A S P E C T S - a monthly devotional journal For subscription information on receiving Aspects every month via e-mail, or the laser-printed edition by mail, see NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION near the end of this file. Aspects is written by David S. Lampel. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Issue #16, March 1992 (Internet Edition) I T I S W R I T T E N . . . L u k e 4 : 1 - 1 3 ----------------------------------------------------------------- In this issue: Perspective - The Arrogance of an Empty Kit Perspective - "I'll Be Back!" Perspective - Weapon of Choice Perspective - Developing an Arsenal Perspective - Answering the Why ----------------------------------------------------------------- Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'" The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. -LUK 4:1-13 NIV ________________________ Try as I might, I cannot find the right room in which to keep my tools. I have several from which to choose: there is the garage, the workshop, the closet around the corner from the kitchen, the linen closet near the bedroom upstairs, the cabinet in the laundry room. I've tried keeping all my tools in one of those places, and I've tried distributing them between all of the rooms. Each system has failed in the same way: The right tool for the job is never where I next want it. If I have anticipated needing the Crescent wrench in the garage, it will invariably be needed next in the basement; if I have specifically stationed the crowbar in the workshop, it will most assuredly be required next in the garage. Count on it. The solution is obvious: I must fashion a leather belt that will hold every one of my Home-Handyman/Dutiful-Husband tools and wear it about my rather substantial waist at all times. This is the only way in which to ensure that any one tool is always in the right place at the right time. In the sixth chapter of Ephesians, the apostle Paul describes our Spiritual toolkit--with one critical difference: this toolkit is not for repairing household items, but is to be used by us in our life and death struggles against evil. The toolkit is called "the full armor of God," and includes the girdle of Truth, the breastplate of Righteousness, the shoes of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace, the shield of Faith, the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.(1) These are all items readily available to us--we don't even have to run out to the hardware store to buy them. In fact, as Christians, these tools are a part of us--actually grafted into us; they were included in the package of Grace we received at our moment of regeneration. All we have to do is remember to use them. Like Jesus remembered to use His, during His trial in the wilderness. God never promised any of us a rose garden. He daily hones and tests(2) us, scouring and polishing us for His service. He sets things in our path, and waits to see what we do about it. He puts us through struggles of seemingly eternal duration to teach us dependency and maturity. But God believes in a fair fight. He never leaves us standing before the enemy without our trusty toolkit. Jesus had all the tools he needed in just two items. Verse 1 says: And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness. (LUK 4:1 NASB) Years ago, when we were in Kenya and came upon a thoroughly gorged cheetah that had just finished its dinner, one of our traveling companions referred to the feline with the rounded belly as the "replete cheetah." Jesus was replete with the Holy Spirit. After the triumph and astounding witness of His baptism [Aspects, February 1992] v.1 describes Jesus as gorged full of--and hence the power of--the Holy Spirit. The second tool Jesus had at His disposal was holy Scripture. This he wielded not like a screwdriver, but like a two-edged sword. Ephesians 6:17 puts it together: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (NASB) Oh, how we diminish these tools by their disuse. God the Father was putting His only Son up against evil incarnate, the one and only Satan. The real thing. Not one of his despicable minions, but the big cheese himself. Jesus would need all the arsenal He could carry. The problem was, He didn't have the strength to carry much of anything. After forty days without food--forty days, by the way, of constant badgering by Satan--Jesus was in a physically weakened state. He couldn't have swung a pair of pliers, much less a sword. No matter. He needed nothing more than those two things He had carried from the beginning: the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit, and memorized Scripture. ________________________ Come, Holy Spirit Come as a wisdom to children, come as new sight to the blind, Come, Lord, as strength to my weakness, Take me:soul, body and mind. Refrain Come, Holy Spirit, I need You, come, sweet Spirit, I pray; Come in Your strength and Your power, Come in Your own gentle way. Come as a rest to the weary, come as a balm for the sore, Come as a dew to my dryness: Fill me with joy evermore. Come like a spring in the desert, come to the withered of soul; O let Your sweet healing power touch me and make me whole.(3) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective T H E A R R O G A N C E O F A N E M P T Y K I T ------------- Have you ever in your life said words to the effect: "I'm smarter than the Son of God" or "Maybe Jesus needed that help, but I don't." Of course not. You'd have to be a real nit to say something as outrageously presumptuous as that. One more question, then: How often have you stepped into your "wilderness" without being filled--and empowered--by the Holy Spirit? Yes, I know. When we become Christians we receive the Holy Spirit. I'm not talking about that. I'm speaking of that level of faith wherein the Holy Spirit becomes a dynamic power working within us. For example, in the sixth chapter of Acts, the early church was presented with a controversy: In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. Acknowledging the inequity in this, the church leaders called a meeting: So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Significantly, the people attending were already believers-- specifically, "disciples." "Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." Because the leaders ("the Twelve") felt their time would be better spent in the study and ministry of the word, they decided that seven men would be chosen to administer this situation. So this group of believers selected seven standouts--seven men who had a reputation for being "full of the Spirit and wisdom." This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.(5) As Christians, they all had possession of the Holy Spirit, but only some of them were leading lives that demonstrated a more fully-developed relationship with the Spirit. We each have our own wilderness, and we usually step into it from time to time. How often do we set out relying more upon our own spirit than the Spirit of God? Do we think ourselves more capable than Jesus Christ, the Son of God? How easy it is to dismiss His help! How easy it is to think He wouldn't want to bother with the small things. Let Him be God! Into the Word ------------- Spirit / Spirit-filled ---------------------- 1SA 16:13 2SA 23:1-2 PSA 143:10 ISA 11:1-2 MIC 3:8 ZEC 4:6 ACT 2:38 ACT 4:1-8 ACT 4:31 ACT 5:32 ACT 6:1-6 ________________________ Father of Lies "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased with both errors..."(6) "All of us were born spiritually dead and subject to the ruler that Paul called 'the prince of the power of the air' (EPH 2:2). But when we received Christ, God 'delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son' (COL 1:13). Our citizenship was changed from earth to heaven (PHI 3:20). Satan is the ruler of this world, but he is no longer our ruler, for Christ is our ruler. "But as long as we live on the earth, we are still on Satan's turf. He will try to rule our lives by deceiving us into believing that we still belong to him. As aliens in a foreign, hostile kingdom, we need protection from this evil, deceptive, hurtful tyrant. Christ has not only provided protection from and authority over Satan, but He has equipped us with the Spirit of truth, the indwelling Holy Spirit, to guide us into all truth and help us discern the evil one's schemes (JOH 16:13)."(7) Shaping Character "The men chosen as Spirit-filled men were known for their wisdom and their faith. Paul in Galatians focuses our attention on how the Spirit shapes character. Sinful nature shows itself in immorality, interpersonal discord, jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, and lack of self-control. But someone filled with the Spirit--led and enabled by Him--demonstrates love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (GAL 5:19-23)"(8) Making it Personal ------------------ Where is your wilderness? Is it the kind of place you try to avoid, or do you step into it gladly? What do you bring away from your wilderness experience? Do you come away feeling beaten down, defeated, or do you profit by the experience? What tools do you carry into your wilderness? What tools (or weapons) stand at the ready when you do battle with Satan? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective " I ' L L B E B A C K ! " - ------------- a Retelling of the Temptation (after Matthew 4:1-11) SATAN: Jesus. (pause) Jesus! It's now been forty days and still You haven't eaten. JESUS: (weakly) You're slow-minded, Satan, and ignorant. My spirit is fed; My body has not been hungry. SATAN: Your body's hungry now. JESUS: Yes. SATAN: If You're the Son of God, turn these stones into bread, so that Your body might be fed. If You truly are the Son of God, You have the power to do this. JESUS: These stones would make a suitable meal for you just as they are. I do have the power to transform them, but it's written, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" SATAN: Mmmm, then You trust in the Father. JESUS: My life is perfect submission to His will. SATAN: This trust is---absolute? JESUS: Absolute. [Go to black immediately. The scene shifts to Jerusalem. Then, lights up.] SATAN: Do You recognize the place where You now stand? JESUS: Why, yes. I'm on top of the temple in Jerusalem. SATAN: If You are the Son of God, and Your trust in Him is absolute, then throw Yourself down; for it's written: "He will give His angels to protect You, to guard You in all their ways. They will bear You up in their hands, lest You strike Your foot against a stone." JESUS: On the other hand, it is written, "You shall not test the Lord, your God." I am here so that man might see the Father, see the Father through Me as I accomplish His will. His will--not Mine! [Go to black immediately. The scene shifts to a high mountain top. Then, lights up.] SATAN (with contempt): Look around You, Jesus, Son of God. From this mountain top see the world. See the lands given to God's people, the lands belonging to other peoples---the endless, blue waters. See it all--all the kingdoms of this earth. Everything before You, and the glory that goes with it, I give to You. (pause) You know, Jesus. You know He gave it to me. And I may do with it what I wish---even give it to You. All this will be Yours, if You fall down, right now, and worship me! JESUS (through clenched teeth): It is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only!" (screaming) GET AWAY FROM ME SATAN! You've made a mistake, devil. I've come to do the Father's will--to fulfill His kingdom. This is your kingdom, and I don't want it! SATAN (with an angry growl, immediately Jesus' last line): I'll be back! [Lights out immediately] (from "The Surrender" by David S. Lampel) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective W E A P O N O F C H O I C E ------------- One of the more sobering aspects of this encounter between Jesus and Satan, is that Jesus does battle with precisely the same weapon available to us. Here was the timeless Son of God--temporarily encumbered by flesh, but God nonetheless--who could have chosen any weapon from a limitless arsenal. As the agent of creation, who spoke the world into existence, who tossed the stars into place, who fashioned man from clay--surely He could have selected something a bit more flashy than quotations from an ancient parchment. I imagine he could have used His index finger like a Star Trek phaser, and zapped Satan into submission. He could have taken one of those rocks lying about and instead of converting it to bread, He could have transformed it into a deadly heat-seeking projectile; surely the devil gives off sufficient radiant energy. Or He could have called down an entire squadron of F-14s to strafe Beelzebub back into the netherworld from whence he came. Jesus could have used myriad items from His toolkit, but what does He pull out? DEU 8:3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. DEU 6:13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. DEU 6:16 Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah. We so often dismiss the Old Testament--and especially, the Pentateuch(9)--as nothing but archaic theology, having no application for the contemporary Christian. A foolish man once blithely dismissed all of the Psalms with a wave of his hand, referring to it as "just ancient Hebrew poetry," suggesting that it wasn't worthy of our time. Foolish, foolish man. Well the first Christian, the author of the new covenant, thought the ancient writings valuable enough to make them His weapon of choice when it came time for fisticuffs with Satan himself. "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." -MAT 5:17-18 NIV ________________________ Christian, Dost Thou See Them? Christian, dost thou see them on the holy ground, How the powers of darkness compass thee around? Christian, up and smite them, counting gain but loss, In the strength that cometh, by the holy cross. Christian, dost thou feel them, how they work within, Striving, tempting, luring, goading into sin? Christian, never tremble, never be downcast; Gird thee for the battle, watch and pray and fast. Christian, dost thou hear them, how they speak thee fair, "Always fast and vigil, always watch and prayer." Christian, answer boldly, "While I breathe I pray." Peace shall follow battle, night shall end in day.(10) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective D E V E L O P I N G A N A R S E N A L ------------- There can be two, equally worthwhile approaches to this business of using Scripture against our battles with Satan. The first is "lifestyle"--cultivating a consistent lifestyle that is daily nurtured from the word of God. Then Scripture becomes less an "encyclopedia," referenced when we need a quick answer, than a "guidebook" that has become a part of us--as described in PSA 119:11 "Thy word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against Thee." (NASB) It's like the difference between aspirin and propranolol. If I get a headache, I take a fistful of aspirin to quench the pain, but the aspirin does nothing to ward off the next headache. Every day, however, I take 3 propranolol tablets, that have actually altered my system to prevent the more terrible migraine headaches. I actually avoid some of the battles with pain, because of the medicine that has actually changed me from the inside. Steady, consistent medication is the key. The second approach is "ammunition"--which is generally a result of the first. When we practice a lifestyle that includes daily feeding from His word, we naturally come away from that with the necessary ammunition for battling Satan. But sometimes we need to be more specific and methodical about developing our personal arsenal. Here's a 3-step project that will guide you through the process of laying in your ammunition. 1. Reconnoiter: In what areas does Satan tempt you the most? What are the weaknesses that Satan knows about, and is constantly using to lead you astray? 2. Search: What Scripture verses speak to this weakness, and can be used--just as Jesus did--against the temptations of Satan? 3. Load & Fire: Now memorize these verses (review them while driving to work every day) and keep them ready to answer Satan's first volley. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective A N S W E R I N G T H E W H Y ------------- This is the third episode in Jesus' preparation for ministry. In the first, we looked at His time in the temple at the age of 12.(11) In the second, we took a close look at His baptism, by John.(12) In this issue, we have examined His time of trial and temptation in the wilderness. Perhaps this is a good point--before Jesus moves into His time of public ministry--to pause and reflect upon what He has just experienced, and why. ________________________ It is my nature to wonder why. Even after the question has been answered, the explanation made, it still nags at me: why? Why did God decide that man would be saved through a member of the Godhead? And why does God want to save mankind, after all? Why has God always required a blood sacrifice? Why not fruits and vegetables, trinkets or gold? I'm not being facetious--nor am I blaspheming. If the Father had not wanted us to wonder why, He would not have given us free will--He would have crafted mindless puppets, with their marionette strings running up through the clouds to heaven: playthings for the angels. The first thing Jesus consciously did in preparation for the ministry (of which we are aware) was to sit at the feet of the temple scholars and listen.(13) Was Jesus attentive to their scholarship because--even though God--His mind and theology were immature? Did He need this instruction, or was it a lesson for the teachers? The second thing Jesus did was to ask questions of the temple teachers.(14) Were His questions necessary to fill in gaps in His own knowledge, or were they, again, for the benefit of the masters? Was He performing like some public speakers--asking questions of their audience to force them to think for themselves--or did He truly need the answers?(15) And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. (LUK 2:47 NASB) Whatever His reason for listening so intently and asking questions, Jesus had some insight to share--to the extent that the temple teachers were amazed at His wisdom. If Jesus was not all-knowing at the age of 12 (causing Him to ask questions of the teachers) of what things was He aware? Was it simply a demonstration of remarkable maturity in one so young, or was it inexplicable enlightenment that left the scholars with gaping jaws? The challenge seems to be to sort out the things Jesus did because He had to, from those things He did to serve as an example. In the final analysis, it matters little what was in Jesus' mind at the age of 12. Scripture says He knew He was the Son of God and seemed to grasp the true weight of that condition.(16) If we look at an outline of His preparation for ministry up to this point, we can, at least, see His value to us as an example for our own behavior. 1. At the temple, He: * Listened attentively to His teachers * Asked them questions to better understand * Spoke confidently out of His God-given wisdom and understanding 2. After this, while still a youth, He * Remained in subjection to His earthly parents * Continued to develop both physically and Spiritually * Pleased both people and God 3. When it was the proper time, He: * Detached Himself from His earthly parent to serve full time His heavenly Father * Was publicly baptized, though sinless * Acquired the physical manifestation of the Holy Spirit and the approval of God the Father(17) 4. Before He could minister to us, He had to: * Suffer the ordeal of hunger and thirst, and the incessant temptation of Satan(18) * Sustain Himself by the power of the Holy Spirit * Wield His mightest weapon against Satan: the Word of God. Why? For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.(19) ======================================================================== NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Notes ----- 1 EPH 6:10-17. 2 "Satan tempts people, i.e., lures them to do evil. God never does this nor can he himself be tempted in this way. (JAM 1:13). Further, not all temptation comes directly from Satan; often it comes from our own lower nature (JAM 1:14-15). God tests (but does not tempt) his people, as he did [to Israel] in the desert (DEU 2:8). Although God already knows all about us, he reveals the thoughts and intents of our hearts through our response to him in times of trial. Thus he tested Israel in the desert to 'see' whether the people would obey (EXO 16:4). In this temptation by the devil, the Lord Jesus shows the validity of what God had just said of him: 'With you I am well pleased ' (LUK 3:22)." Source: Walter L. Liefeld in The Expositor's Bible Commentary (Zondervan, 1984), Frank E. Gaebelein, General Editor, p.863. 3 Gloria and William J. Gaither, Hymn #250 in The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration (WORD, 1986). 5 ACT 6:1-6 NIV. 6 C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters & Screwtape Proposes a Toast (MacMillan, 1971), p.3. 7 Neil T. Anderson, The Bondage Breaker (Harvest House, 1990), p.99. [This is a fascinating book, written by a pastor and counselor, that details how Satan works on us and what we can do--by claiming our Spiritual rights--to break the bondage.] 8 Lawrence O. Richards, Expository Dictionary of Bible Words (Zondervan, 1985), p.278. 9 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. 10 Andrew of Crete (660-732), Translated by John M. Neale (1818-1866), Hymn #406 in Worship and Service Hymnal (Hope Publishing Company, 1962). 11 Aspects, January 1992: They Found Him In The Temple - LUK 2:46-47. 12 Aspects, February 1992: To Fulfill All Righteousness - MAT 3:13-17. 13 Luke 2:46; Aspects, January 1992, p3. 14 Ibid; ibid, p5. 16 LUK 2:49 17 MAT 3:16-17 18 LUK 4:1-2 19 HEB 2:17-18 NIV Copyright Information --------------------- All original material in Aspects is Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel. This data file is the sole property of David S. Lampel. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this data file must contain the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel."). This data file may not be used without the permission of David S. Lampel for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its content. Brief quotations not to exceed more than 500 words may be used, with the appropriate copyright notice, to enhance or supplement personal or church devotions, newsletters, journals, or spoken messages. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture is from the New International Version. NIV quotations are from the Holy Bible: New International Version, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission. NASB quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Subscription Information ------------------------ Aspects is published monthly. There are two preferred methods of receiving it on a regular basis: 1) You may subscribe to the laser-printed (hard copy) edition, which is sent out via regular mail. 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