THE BATTLE BETWEEN JESUS AND SATAN
Jesus was in a battle with Satan after His baptism. “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was afterward an hungred.” Matthew 4:1–2. For forty days Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness where He was alone and hungry. Then Satan went to Jesus and tried to tempt Him into doing the wrong thing.
Satan tried to take advantage of Jesus’ sufferings and tried to tempt Him because Jesus had humbled Himself as a man. First He said, “If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” Matthew 4:3. Then Satan, to show his power, carried Jesus to Jerusalem and put Him on the highest point of the temple and told Him to throw Himself from there and He would be saved by angels.
Finally Satan took Jesus to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the earth and made the promise, “All these things will I give Thee, If Thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:9
Jesus is our example. When we are tempted, we must bear it patiently.
Satan thought that he could make Jesus fall, just like he had done with Adam and Eve. He wanted to have power over Jesus. But what did Jesus answer him? “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:10
Jesus had placed Himself in the position of Adam and He had won the battle. We can also win the battle. We need to give Jesus our heart and be like Him.
It is my wish and prayer that we may come to the throne of grace, that we may have mercy and obtain grace for the time of need. Amen.
Sarah Newby
PAUL’S LIFE BATTLES
Paul wrote, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7–8
Now, who of us can say the same thing as the Apostle Paul?
What battles did Paul fight and who was the enemy that he fought against? The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” These were the battles that Paul fought, plus there were more. In Romans 7:17–18 it says, “Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh.) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Paul also fought the battle against sin.
Paul knew that his battle against evil would not end so long as life would last. Therefore Paul was always alert, watching to make sure that the things that this life had to offer, the human desires that he had, would not overcome him. He continued to fight, to strive against natural inclinations. He followed Jesus’ example, reaching for the high standard that Jesus set. Paul fought the battles to bring himself into willing obedience to the law of God. Sister White wrote about Paul, saying, “. . . his practices, and his passions—all . . . were brought under the controlling influence of the Spirit of God.” –Manuscript Releases, vol. 4, p. 363
How hard was it to fight this battle? In Hebrews 12:4 it says, “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Fighting this battle was hard, very hard.
The other battles that Paul fought were in winning souls for the Lord. Paul faced opposition; he faced dangers; he suffered loss; he suffered a lot for Jesus’ sake. Paul believed; Paul had a strong faith in Jesus and he knew that he was not fighting these battles alone. In Ephesians 6:13–18 it talks about the armour of God that we are to put on. “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
Paul needed every piece of that armour and he used every piece in the battles that he fought in order to bring others to Jesus.
In these battles, Paul was beaten, he was bruised, he was injured, and he almost died many times. As Paul’s work on this earth was coming to a close and his battles were coming to an end, he finally gave up his life for the cause of God. Being a Roman citizen, he could not be subjected to torture, and was therefore sentenced to be beheaded.
So, at the end, from all the battles that Paul fought, did he win the war or did he lose it?
The answer to that question is found in the words we read in the beginning from Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7–8
Let us also fight a good fight, as did the Apostle Paul and obtain victory through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
James Bessec