In the third temptation of Jesus. And may I just
for a few minutes refresh your memory on several
things that were said in previous heart -to -heart
talks that you and I have had together. First
of all, in these temptations of Jesus, may I
remind you again that Jesus... could have yielded
to temptation. That fact has been established.
For if Jesus could not have yielded to temptation,
then the temptations would have been a farce.
The whole thing would have been fixed. The temptations
were a mockery and therefore should never have
been recorded. The fact remains that Jesus was
as much man as though he were not God, and as
much God as though he were not man. But when
he came face to face with these temptations,
remember something. As man, he could have yielded
to any one of these temptations. faced these
temptations, he was man's representative, your
representative, my representative. And in the
very same sense, though you and I may be tempted
daily, we need not yield to a single temptation.
Know that. Temptation in itself is not a sin.
And how... Often I have thought that after some
great spiritual victory or after some deep consecration
that one has made, the enemy is there with his
greatest temptation. You and I... Regardless
of our spirituality. Regardless of our spiritual
experience. We'll always have temptations. So
long as we are still in the body of flesh. So
long as we're still here on this earth. And as
long as the enemy is still with us. And it's
just like that. Well, sir. That first temptation
when the enemy attacked Jesus in the flesh and
yet he came forth victoriously. He stood there
absolutely perfect, unyielding. Coming to the
second temptation when Satan appeals to that
which is the very strength of all spiritual life.
and tempted Jesus regarding his trust in God.
And still the Son of the Living God, as much
man as though he were not God, standing there
unyielding, coming out from that temptation absolutely
sinless and perfect. Now we come to the third
temptation. And the enemy strips himself of all
disguise. He ceases to make use of secondary
causes and definitely asks the homage and the
worship of Christ. Let me give you that portion
of the Word of God. It's recorded in the fourth
chapter of Matthew. The eighth verse. Remember,
two temptations have already passed. They now
come face to face with the third attack. Again,
the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high
mountain and showeth him all the kingdoms of
the world and the glory of them. and saith unto
him all these things will i give thee if thou
wilt fall down and worship me there's no disguise
there he strips himself of all disguise lays
the cards on the table and says now if you'll
pay me homage If you'll only worship me. If you'll
bow down before me. I will give you the kingdoms
of this world. I will give you the title deed
to this planet. The whole thing is yours. In
exchange for your homage. In exchange for your
worship. It's all yours. Lock, stock. What about
it? Consider something just a minute. As they
came face to face, they both knew that it was
Satan's to give. Absolutely. In exactly the same
way, Jesus did not rebuke Satan when Satan quoted
scripture. because they both knew he was quoting
it correctly. In that first temptation, they
both knew that Jesus was deity and divinity and
that Jesus had the power to turn the stone into
bread. They both knew it. Jesus knew when Satan
offered him the kingdoms of this world, the title
deed to this planet that Satan held the title
deed and it was his to give. How do I know? Watch
something. And those of you who've been following
some of my other messages will especially appreciate
this portion of the Word of God because it is
a proven fact that satan was once one of the
most beautiful angels that god ever created all
angels are created beings but lucifer michael
gabriel were created with greater power greater
beauty and were given greater authority than
any of the other of the millions of angels that
God created. In giving these three angels power
and authority and rulership, God gave to each
of these a dominion, a kingdom, a planet over
which they were to rule and reign. can be established
that Lucifer had a throne here on this planet
in exactly the same way that somewhere on another
planet. Michael is still reigning with authority
over thousands and tens of thousands and thousands
of angels. He too, methinks, has a throne. Gabriel
somewhere. God gave to each of these angels the
title deed to the planet on which was their kingdom,
their throne. But one day, Lucifer became jealous
of Almighty God. Became jealous of the worship,
the adoration. that God was receiving. It's all
recorded there in the 14th chapter of Isaiah.
And this is what caused Lucifer to be changed
from one of the three most beautiful angels that
God ever created to that which is known and recognized
as Satan, as the devil today. The one who stood
face to face with Jesus. in these temptations
that we have just been speaking of. For thou
hast said in thine heart, speaking of Lucifer,
I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God. I think that we can safely
say from this that he... did have a throne here
on this planet. For he is speaking of my throne.
In other words, I will take my throne from over
this planet where I am ruling over millions of
angels. I will exalt my throne above the stars
of God. I will sit also upon the mount of the
congregation in the sides of the north. I will
ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will
be like the Most High God. I will have the adoration,
the homage, the worship that Almighty God has.
Always in the mind of Satan, he has been jealous
of the worship, the adoration, the complete homage
that God has been receiving. Always, he has an
obsession for worship. That is the reason when
we come to that period of time, which is yet
in the future, that is known as prophecy, that
John saw in the Isle of... Patmos in that marvelous
vision that God gave him. Satan will demand worship
by men right here on this earth. The day is coming
when he will not be known as Antichrist, but
in reality, he will be Antichrist. Satan incarnate.
demanding the worship of men here on this earth.
So demanding the worship that no man, no woman
will be able to buy or sell without his mark,
either upon their hand or on their forehead.
Demanding worship. Satan has an obsession when
it comes to worship. That's the reason he takes
a sinner. He takes man and holds complete sway
over him. Men and women are worshiping him who
never dream that he is demanding their full and
complete worship. That's the reason when the
hardest things in the world, and it can only
be broken by the divine power of the living God,
and that is the hold, the grip, the power that
Satan gets on the bodies, on the lives of men
and women. He fastens a hold on them. He demands
their worship. He had such an obsession for worship
that literally he came face to face with Jesus,
the Son of God, and said to him, there's one
other thing. Do you see all these kingdoms of
the world and all the glory? Do you see this
planet? It's mine. I hold the title deed to it.
God in judgment may have stripped me of my body
and I am left as a disembodied spirit, but he
did not take from me my power. He has not yet
taken from me the title deed to this planet.
It's still mine. And all these things will I
give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship
me. That's the third temptation. What did Jesus
do? Jesus knew that there would be a day and
the days would not be far spent. For with his
own shed blood, he would have paid the price
in full. That again the kingdom would be regained.
The planet would be regained. He, the mighty
king of kings and lord of lords, and he said,
I prefer to worship. the Lord God Almighty. Get
thee then, Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt
worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt
thou serve. He came from out of the third temple,
the mighty victor completely sinless the very
son of the living god but through each of them
your representative my representative therefore
in all these things we do are more than conquerors
remember beloved to whom you belong for i am
persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels
nor principalities nor powers nor things present
nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any
other creature shall be able to separate us from
the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our
Lord. Therefore, you need never be defeated on
a single score or in the face of any temptation
unless you consent to be.