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“The Implanter” Publication by Stacy
& Pamla Wood
– Promised Seed Ministries
January 2007
SATAN’S PURPOSE IN THE LIFE OF A SON
Discerning Between Spirit And Soul
God Is Spirit That Possesses A Soul
Satan’s Purpose In The Life Of Every Son
The Importance of Patiently Enduring
A Third Son Tested by The Devil
What Was The Purpose For Testing?
Testing The Focus of The First Son
Proving His Placement In The Body
What We Learn In The Second Testing?
The Third Test Ascribes Worth & Value
Testing is Necessary for All Sons
GETTING TO KNOW SPIRIT
In our study of Satan some
have asked if I believe in a "literal"
devil. My answer is, "I believe there is a "literal" devil, just as I believe
there is a "literal"
God." However, I do not see God in human form, sitting on a "literal" throne or a judge’s
bench with a gavel in his hand. For "God
is spirit." Those who worship God must ascribe worth or value
to him in spirit even truth. (Joh. 4:24) Moreover, I do not see Satan in human
form, wearing red flannel underwear, with a pointed tail, horns on his head and
carrying a pitchfork.
When I think of God I often
consider the wind, because it is a force that we all experience each day. It
blows and we hear its sound or voice, but we do not know where it came from or
where it goes. (Joh. 3:8) Moreover, the force of the wind is unlimited like the
power of God.
I also think of Satan as a
spirit. The majority of the church would agree that Satan is described by Paul
when he wrote concerning "the prince
of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the sons of
disobedience." (Eph. 2:2) That is, the adversary is an invisible force or
influence in and about the life of God’s sons. It is important to understand
that Satan is given primarily for the perfection or maturity of God’s sons. In
the Bible the first mention of Satan is when the adversary stood up against
Some get the idea that we
are speaking of "
Discerning Between Spirit And Soul
In the early stages of
Bible chronology the serpent and Adam are found in the middle of the garden at
the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It is made clear in the book of
Revelation that the serpent is just another name for the devil or Satan. (Re.
12:9)
Why do I say, "Adam" was at the tree rather than
"Adam and Eve"? In
Genesis chapter five we read, "This,
is the record of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man
(Heb. 'âdâm). In the likeness of God, made
he him. Male and female, created he them,and blessed them, and called their name
Adam, in the day they were created." (Ge. 5:1-2) Did you
notice that God called the name (or nature) of both the male and female, Adam,
not Adam and Eve? They were so much like one another that they both received
the same identity. Apparently, Adam was about as bewildered over his state of
being, as many are about their’s today. We are told that Adam was placed in the
garden of Eden where he diligently named all the fowl of the air along with the
beast and cattle of the field, but he found no help meet for himself. (Ge.
2:19-20) God determined it was not good for Adam to continue in his lonely
state of existence. So he caused a lethargic state to come upon Adam and the
female portion was extracted from him in what the Bible calls a "rib." From this rib God formed
a help meet or assistance for times of distress. When Adam saw his counterpart
he said she would be called, "Woman"
(Heb. 'ishshâh nâshîym), because she was taken out of "Man" (Heb. 'îysh.) (Ge. 2:23) Adam does not call his
counterpart Eve, until after the transgression and pronouncement of God’s
judgement. (Ge. 3:20) Thus, it is not Eve, but it is Adam, "ish" and "isha," at the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil. This shows the transgression involved Adam, both
male and female, which represents the spirit and soul of humanity. (Ro. 5:14;
1Ti 2:14)
God Is Spirit That Possesses A Soul
The Scripture tells us Adam
was created in the likeness of God. Now, this does not mean God looks like a
man, or that Adam looked like God. For God’s image and likeness speaks to us of
something much more than mere form or outer appearance. God is not a man, but
is spirit, possessing a soul. (Nu. 23:9; 1Sa. 15:29; Job 9:32; Ps. 11:5; Pr.
6:16-19; Isa. 42:1; Jer. 5:9, 29, 6:8, 9:9, 12:7, 51:14; Am. 6:8; Joh. 4:24)
How are we to describe God, as a being? For both spirit and soul are like the
wind. They are invisible and not limited by shape or location. The spirit is
the force or energy of life. While the soul gives expression to the life. The
spirit breaths out the intellect, desire, will and emotion of the heavenly
plain. While the soul gives expression or birth to the heavenly intellect,
desire, will and emotion on the earthen plain. The likeness and image of God is
seen as spirit expresses through the soul. This is what we see in the creation
of Adam, for God created Adam both male and female. That is, God created a
heavenly expression of himself, a spirit possessing a soul. Then, he breathed
this heavenly creation into a earthen vessel or body. (Ge. 1:26-31; 2:7; 1Co.
15:45) Thus, Adam first functioned as a epicene (ĕpʹĭ sēēnʹ from Greek epikoinos) creation. That is, he had both male
and the female characteristics. He was created to function as God, a "living spirit" that births the
seed of his intellect, desire, will, and emotion through the "soul." When God divided Adam
into two individual expressions, he was unveiling the "adamic soul" to Adam, who was
a "spiritual man."
The soul and spirit, separated in Adam, are destined to become joined as one
"new man." (2Co. 5:17; Eph. 2:15, 4:25) That is, it is necessary for spirit
and soul to become unified in every human being. (Ge. 2:24; Eph. 5:31-32)
Satan’s Purpose In The Life Of Every Son
The tree of the knowledge
of good and evil represents the letter of the law. Adam had been forbidden to
partake of it. Because the letter of the Law, serves only to produce
condemnation and adverse judgment, which leads to death. (Ge. 2:7, 15-16; De.
30:11-16; 2Co. 3:6, 9)It is the spirit of God alone that gives life to the
soul. The spirit of God is represented by the tree of life that is also at the
center of the garden. However, the tree of life is not immediately unveiled or
recognized by Adam. Possibly the foliage or abundance of the knowledge of good
and evil prevented Adam from recognizing the tree of life. Just as the reading
of the law of Moses opens the knowledge of good and evil to the understanding
and prevents so many from coming to the life hidden or veiled in the very midst
of the law. (Ge. 2:15-17; De. 29:29, 30:19; 2Co. 3:15; Col. 1:26-27)
The Importance Of Obedience
In our last writing we
looked at God’s first son, Adam, where we learned the importance that God
places on obedience. Obedience is so much more than merely doing what one is
told. The Hebrew word for obey and its Geek equivalent both mean "to hear intelligently." That
is, listen intently using ones ability to acquire and apply both the knowledge
and the skills to what is heard. Thus enabling the hearer to submit to
authority and carry out the instruction or command. Samuel declared, "To obey is better than sacrifice!"
That is, to listen and pay attention is better than the fat of rams! (1Sa.
15:22-23)
"Two
transgressions"
took place in the garden at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The
first was with the Adamic female, or the soul of Adam, who was deceived or
beguiled by the serpent to transgress God’s command. (2Co. 11:3; 1Ti. 2:14)
Then, the Adamic male, or the human spirit, was not deceived, but deliberately
violated and disregarded what God had commanded. This deliberate act or side
stepping of the command of God by the federal head of humanity, caused sin and
condemnation to come into the ordered arrangement or world. Moreover, death
passed into all humanity through sin, for all have sinned and come short of the
glory of God. (Ge. 2:16-17; Ro. 3:23, 5:12, 14, 6:23; 1Ti. 2:14)Some want to
deny their connection with "the first
Adam." This would then disconnect them from "the last Adam." However, since
we all came through "the first
Adam" taking on his earthen form and identity, we are also
experiencing overcoming in the soul and the taking on of a new identity that
concludes in "the heavenly form of
Christ." (1Co. 15:45-49)
The Importance of Patiently Enduring
The next son that we
examined in our last writing was Job, who patiently endured during the days
that the sons of God, with Satan in their midst, came to set or station
themselves above the Lord. (Job 1:6, 2:1; Is. 12:14-16)
It is in Job’s experience
that we find the conclusion, or goal of the Lord, for Job came to recognize
that there was so much more than learning about God by what one hears. That is,
the letter of the word can never fully teach one what they need to know, for
each person must come to the place of seeing
God, as he is, which brings a person to a change of thinking. This
is commonly called an act of repentance and is brought about with a mighty
shaking of the earth. The quaking of Job’s earthen heritage caused a removing
of all that was shaken. (Job 42:5-6; Ro. 2:4; 2Co. 7:10; He. 12:25-29)
Remember. Although, we are
God’s offspring it has not been fully revealed what we will become as we reach
full maturity. Yet, we know when Christ is revealed, we will be like him, for
we shall see him, as he is.
Now, everyone who has this confidence in Christ keeps themselves pure, as
Christ is pure. (1Jo. 3:2-3)
Job’s experience
demonstrates how extremely compassionate and full of mercy the Lord is. All of
Job’s friends, being also sons of God, did not speak to him as they should
have. For they spoke to condemn him as a hypocrite. They did not support or
encourage him throughout his trials, but became false accusers and adversaries
in his situations. (Job 42:8) They all had the same word of God, but ministered
guilt and condemnation rather than life and strength. Just as many brethren do
in this hour. However, Job did not become bitter because of the way they judged
and condemned him. Instead, he arbitrated or interceded with God on their
behalf, as a priestly son. Thus, God restored his family, health and fortune
and then doubled it! (Job 42:10;
The prophets, who spoke the
word of the Lord, are also an example of the cost paid to enter the
A Third Son Tested by The Devil
This son of God came into a
unbelieving and corrupt generation to usher in the dawning of a new day and
establish it with a new and better covenant. (Heb. 8:6) In this writing we will
look at the Jesus, the Son of God, who was sent into a generation of "poisonous serpents." (Mt. 3:7,
12:34, 23:23)
The experts of his day
taught from the law of Moses and loaded the people down with grievous and
wearisome burdens of guilt and condemnation. Yet they would not help to lift
the load in any way. (Lk. 11:46) These religious rulers were to lead men in the
ways of the Lord, but had made the word of God of no effect through their
tradition. (Mk. 7:13) They took away the key of knowledge by refusing to enter
the kingdom. Moreover, they hindered those who wanted to enter. (Mt. 23:13; Lk.
11:52) By not being able to practice what they preached they set a poor
example, thus raising up an unbelieving and corrupt generation. (Mt. 17:17)
You know the story of what
happened in
Coming Into A New Day
After Jesus was immersed,
he immediately stepped forth out of the water to follow in his Father’s
footsteps. The experience that pursued began with a personal spiritual revelation. This confirmation
of his calling brought him into the wilderness where the testing of his faith,
virtue and character began. Finally, these trials would consummate with the
approval of his calling and the breaking forth of his ministry.
It all began when Jesus
came out of the water and the heavens opened to him, revealing he was to
relentlessly seek those things which were above his earthen heritage. This
shows us that sons are to give their thinking to those things that are above
and not to the things on the earth. (Col. 3:2) In this experience Jesus
witnessed the spirit descending like a dove to abide upon his life, which
suggests the anointing gently rested upon him from this very time throughout
his entire ministry. The signification of the Holy Spirit abiding upon him
tells us the "spirit of
conciliation" and "attitude
of peace" rested upon him throughout his entire life. (Joh.
12:20-31; Ro. 5:14-19; 2Co. 5:19; 1Ti. 2:1-6) Finally, what a wonderful word of
affirmation and encouragement he received, as he heard the Father openly
declare, "This is my son, the dearly
loved, in whom I am well pleased. " The title "son" was given to him by God
himself. This experience also denotes the nearness of their relation and the
love of the Father for him. (Mt. 3:16-17, 17:5; Lu. 9:35-36; Joh. 12:25-30;
2Pe. 1:17)
Jesus obeyed and followed
the leading of the spirit. This took him, like
What Was The Purpose For Testing?
All the tests in the life of Jesus challenged his true
identity and focus as the son of God. The first test dealt with the focus and
importance he put on the flesh or carnality. It is absolutely impossible for
flesh and blood to be an heir of God’s kingdom. (1Co. 15:50) The second
tribulation dealt with his feelings of self-importance and his need for
recognition. The need for recognition can become a deadly trap, as can the
focus on one’s self-importance. (Ps. 131:1-2; Isa. 57:15; Mt. 18:1-4, 20:26-27,
23:11-12) The third trial proved him in the area of his heritage and allotted portion.
God’s sons are given an allotment in God’s kingdom and it is necessary to
qualify as a recipient of the prize. (1Co. 9:23-27; Phil. 3:13-15) It makes no
difference in what sequence these hardships come, the purpose is the same, they
are all given to ascertain the quality of faith, virtue and character in the
life of a son.Why was the wilderness chosen for the first testing? Let us
remember that God placed his first human in a garden called
Up to the time of Jesus the
promises of God had been limited to those who grew up under the teachings of
Moses. The Mosaic covenant had been the true way of God for nearly two thousand
years. However, the laws and tradition of the Pharisees became more important
than the law of God and this resulted in the word of God being made
ineffective. (Mt. 15:1-6; Mk. 7:1-16) This formed a void or wilderness in the
life of those who heard their teachings.
Zion
And Eden
It is interesting to note
the prophet Isaiah mentions
God’s chosen people were a
delight and pleasure until they became a dried and parched representation of
godliness. Isaiah prophesied to those who pursued fairness and relentlessly
sought after the Lord, saying, "The
Lord will comfort
It is not the wars in the
middle east that are bringing a restoration to
Testing The Focus of The First Son
Jesus was compelled or
driven by the Sprit into the wilderness, where he would have a spiritual
experience. This would take place after forty days and forty nights of fasting.
(Mt. 4:2; Lu. 4:2) This time of going without food establishes two important
things. First, it declared a significant and lasting change was about to take
place through his ministry life, just as it had in the days of Noah and Moses.
(Ge. 7:4, 12; Ex. 24:18) A "new
day" was about to dawn upon God’s people. It also served to
prepare his soul or life for the testings that were set before him.
The first testing
determined how much focus Jesus put on himself or his fleshly state of being.
The first Adam saw the tree or ordered system of his day and how it was good
for sustenance. (Ge. 3:6) It always appears that if one is willing to partake
of the existing system and its identification with the law what is needed for
the flesh will be provided. What was the true focus and desire of Jesus? Did he
focus on the needs of his flesh more than the needs of the spirit? How
important was the hearing of God’s voice? It was immediately after the forty
days of fasting that Jesus was tested of the devil or adversary. This first
testing came during the time of hunger and weakness of the flesh. Trials and
testings most often come to take advantage of our circumstances. That is if we
are jobless, poor, hungry, sick, or addicted the testing comes to cause us to
doubt our placement as a son of God. The test seeks to get us to look to
another source for our supply. Moreover, Jesus was fully aware of the solitary,
lonely, desolate, uninhabited, waste that all about him, because of the
religious order. Then the adversary began to whisper or hiss within his thought
life, "In view of the fact that you
are God’s son, by virtue of your participation in the divine essence of deity,
speak, to these stones and turn them to loaves of bread." (Mt.
4:3)
What Is The Challenge?
The first testing
challenges several areas in the life of the son. For it brings to question the
relationship Jesus has with the Father. Just forty days prior to this
experience Jesus received a glorious confirmation of his true identity when he
clearly heard the voice of the Father say, "This
is my son, in whom I am well pleased." (Mt. 3:17) Now, while
his flesh is weak a whisper surfaces within his thinking. Will he be able to
stand with confidence in what he heard the Father say? Or will he feel the need
to prove God’s word with a sign? The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is
weak at this point. (Mt. 26:41)
The forty days and nights
of fasting served to humble Jesus, as he sought the will of the Father. He had
taken this time to consider the lessons learned by the elders, who preceded him
in the forty years of a
wilderness journey. All that happened to them had a figurative meaning for the
present. It had been passed on from generation to generation to admonish those
upon whom the end of the ages would come. These were to remember, "The one who thinks he is standing securely,
needs to beware of falling." Moreover, "No testing comes upon a son, but such as is
common to the human nature." Yet, "God is faithful and will not allow anyone to be tested beyond
their strength. For when the testing comes, God also provides the way of escape
and that is made manifest in that you are able to bear up, under the
testing." (1Co. 10:1-13; He. 9:26) These are all principles of
wisdom that every son can hold to during these times of testing.
Jesus never swerved from
the standard or foundation given to him by the Father. He did not look for a "new" expression or idea beyond
what was recorded as God’s word, even though, the law of Moses had become
weakened by the Pharisees interpretation. Jesus simply quoted the law of Moses
in answer to adversarial thinking that had risen within his mind, saying, "It has been written and is at present on
record, "Not upon the basis of bread only will an individual live, but upon
the basis of every word proceeding out of God’s mouth." (De.
8:3; Mt. 4:4; Lk. 4:4)
This response was taken
directly from a dialogue of Moses concerning manna. For Moses had taught that
the Lord humbled
Jesus answered this testing
with substance by declaring, "Bread is
not the most pressing or necessary issue at this time, for life first depends
on the will of God. He supports life in other ways than with bread. Humanity
will live by everything his Maker commands." In other words, "I have bread to eat that you cannot comprehend.
For my bread is to do the will of the Father who sent me and to accomplish his
work." (Joh 4:32, 34)
What Should We Learn?
It is important that we
understand what the spirit is teaching through the testings of Jesus. We do not
see a literal Satan in red flannel underwear, with a forked tail, horns and a
pitch fork in hand coming to Jesus in the wilderness. Moreover, we do not
imagine a literal snake slithering up to Jesus and talking with him. For this
is a spiritual experience and it is taking place on the battlefront of his
mind. These questions are rising up in his thinking as he ponders his true
identity and the call of God on his life. Although Jesus literally walked in
the flesh he did not war according to the flesh. The weapons of his warfare
were not fleshly or self-centered, but mighty through God to the pulling down
of strongholds. He cast down reasonings and every lofty thought that exalted
itself against the knowledge of God, thus bringing every thought into
captivity. (2Co. 10:3-5)
Those who are fleshly,
focus their thinking on the acts and desires of the flesh. This obsession with
self is a dead end and is hostile toward God. This thinking is not subject to
the law of God, nor indeed can it be. Focusing on self or flesh is the opposite
of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed with self ignores God and ends
up thinking more about the flesh than God. This only leads to ignoring who God
is and what he is doing. God is never pleased with being ignored. Therefore,
those who are self-centered and in the flesh cannot please God. (Ro.
8:6-8)However, if a son focuses upon the spirit of God, who has taken up
residence in his life, he will not be able to think more of himself than of
God. For anyone, who experiences the indwelling spirit of Christ – even though
they still experience all the limitations of the fallen Adam – they truly experience
life on God’s terms. (Ro. 8:9-10)The testing of the self-life or flesh takes
place to help a son learn where his thinking is truly focused. When one has
risen above the earthen realm, they seek what is above, where they are seated
and enthroned with God. So give yourself to thinking on things that are above
and not to those things that pertain to earthliness. (Ro. 8:5-9;
Three Easy Steps To Sonship
Early in my ministry I
began to seek the Father’s will for my life. I wanted to know how to manifest
the life of God’s son while in this weakened flesh. One night the Lord came to
me while I was dozing off. You know the place that is part way between sleep
and consciousness. What took place was so vivid that it became imprinted in my
memory. I remember it today, nearly forty-five years later, as if it just
happened. One night the Lord entered my bedroom and came to the right hand side
of my bed, where he handed me a booklet. The title read, "How to Manifest Sonship In Three Easy Steps." I became so excited over the
writing that I hardly noticed Jesus leaving the room. However, I did say, "Goodbye, I will see you later."
I began to skim through the booklet in which there were three chapters. Chapter
one was titled, "You shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your
mind." (Mt. 22:37) I thought, "I pretty well understand this and have applied it in my
life." So I turned to chapter two, which was titled, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
(Mt. 22:39) Again I thought, "This I
also understand and practice. What am I lacking?" Finally, I
turned to the third and last chapter which was titled, "You Can Eat All The Fish You Want, But Don’t
Waste Any Time Catching It." As I read this title I suddenly awakened
and started laughing uncontrollably. What had been so real to me turned out to
be a joke. I carried this memory with me and shared it with others as one of
the funniest experiences of my Christian walk. Then, one day I was sharing this
memory with a group of ministry and an elder said,
"Son, don’t laugh
at that, it is a prophetic word to your life." Suddenly, what I had long
considered a joke became a very serious thought. Where I had never given any
thought to the third chapter I now began to seek the understanding. When the
cognition finally dawned it was simple, yet quite profound. Fish speak of the
sustenance of life. So the title told me that I could have whatever it takes to
sustain my human life, but I was not to waste any time obtaining these things.
Jesus said, "Do not be anxious,
saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? Or, with what will we be
clothed? For the heathen seek after all these things. Your heavenly Father
knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the
Proving His Placement In The Body
For the next test the
adversary took Jesus into the holy city,
The historian, Josephus,
describes the pinnacle of the temple, as being so high that it would make a
man’s head giddy to look down from its towering heights. (Antiq. 15.412) It was
on the lofty extremity of the temple that the adversary once again challenged Jesus.
A thought or whisper rises within his thinking, "Since you are God’s son, cast yourself down from here, because it
is written, He will give his angels (messengers) charge over you, to keep you
in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot
against a stone." (Ps. 91:11-12; Mt. 4:6) Is it possible for a
son of God to qualify himself through such an arrogant act as to cast himself
down from the heights of the temple? If anyone deserved to be given recognition
and pre-eminence by the religious leaders of his day, Jesus did. Remember. "Everything is permissible, but not everything
is helpful. Everything is permissible, but we are not to be brought under the
control of anything." (1Co. 6:12, 10:23) Could he cast himself
down without coming under the control
of carnal headship?
The adversary misuses and
abuses God’s word in an attempt to misguide, deceive, and beguile those who
blindly accept whatever comes into their mind. If someone is looking for a
verse from the Bible to backup their thinking, no matter how misdirected, they
will find it. However, just because it is recorded in the Bible does not mean
it is God’s will or even God’s word for the present moment.
Does The Bible Always Apply?
One of my pastors used to
tell about a young man who was looking for God’s answer for a problem in his
life. He understood the Bible held the answer to his dilemma and decided to
look for an answer. Because he was not a faithful student of the Bible he
decided to play a game that I call, Bible roulette. So he picked up a Bible,
randomly flipped it open and pointed to a verse. His finger landed on a verse
that said, "Judas went and hanged
himself." (Mt. 27:5) Thinking this did not answer his quandary
he decided to give it a second try. Once again he randomly flipped open the
Bible and pointed his finger. This time the verse read, "Then said Jesus unto him, "Go, and do thou
likewise." (Lk. 10:37) Now this story is an extreme example
given to make a point. Yet, some have risked their true identity, as a member
of the body of Christ, on such foolishness as this.
What We Learn In The Second Testing?
Throughout the Bible
Jerusalem speaks to us of a bride. (Isa. 49:18; Jer. 2:2, 7:34; Rev. 21:2,
9-10) The temple represents the body of Christ or the promised son within the
womb of the woman. (Ge. 3:15; Isa. 62:4-5; Joh. 2:19-21; 1Co. 12:27)
The Third Test Ascribes Worth & Value
It is said, "Things come in threes." This
time it was true for a third testing soon became apparent. We are told the
adversary took Jesus with him, into an exceeding high mountain, and pointed out
all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. An eagle can see a rabbit about
1 mile or 1760 yards away. The average person needs to be about 550 yards away
to see the same rabbit. Now Pamla and I live on a mountain ridge and we are
told that four state can be seen on a clear day.
It should be easy for
anyone to understand that this was a spiritual experience in the life of Jesus.
After all, there is no earthly mountain in existence from which all the
kingdoms of the world can be seen. The whisper of Satan’s voice could be heard
within the thought process of Jesus’ mind, saying, "All these things, will I give you, if you will fall down and
worship me." (Mt. 4:8-9)
Jesus was brought to a
place where he could view all the kingdoms or dominions of the world (ordered system of traditional religion)
and its glory (doxa, thinking, opinion and
estimation of others). It was this voice that brought Jesus to a
place of quandary about himself and his heritage. In this place he would make
the most important decision. Would he bow and ascribe worth and value to that
which accuses the brethren? Would Jesus accept the judgment and condemnation of
the brethren, so that he might possess and rule the kingdoms or dominions of
the religious minded?
It is at this point that
Jesus said to the accuser, "Withdraw,
Satan! For it is written, "The Lord your God, will you worship, and, to
him alone, render divine service." (Mt.4:10) He declared at
this point he would not accept the guilt and condemnation of the Pharisee’s traditional
interpretation of the law. He would only attribute worth and value to the Word
of God. Thus, the adversary left him, and messengers came near, and began
ministering to him. (Mt. 4:1-11)
From that time Jesus of
Nazareth was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit and he was ready for action.
He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten
down by the Devil. That is, the accusing, judgmental religious system with its
tradition. Jesus set people free from the bondage of condemnation and was able
to do all this because God was with him. (Ac. 10:36-38)
Testing is Necessary for All Sons
Just as the tests in the life of Jesus challenged his true
identity and focus as the son of God so are all who are called to Sonship
tested. Remember, the first test dealt with the focus and importance he put on
the flesh or carnality. It is absolutely impossible for flesh and blood to be
an heir of God’s kingdom. (1Co. 15:50)
The second tribulation
dealt with his feelings of self-importance and his need for recognition. The
need for recognition can become a deadly trap, as can the focus on one
self-importance. (Ps. 131:1-2; Isa. 57:15; Mt. 18:1-4, 20:26-27, 23:11-12)
The third trial proved him
in the area of his heritage and allotted portion. All of God’s sons are given
an allotment in God’s kingdom and it is necessary to qualify as a recipient of
the prize. (1Co. 9:23-27; Phil. 3:13-15)
It makes no difference in
what sequence these hardships come, the purpose is the same, they are all given
to ascertain the quality of faith, virtue and character found in the life of a
son.
The apostle John wrote, "Love not the world (ordered system; traditional
religion) neither what is in the world (ordered system; traditional religion).
If ever anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. the
desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the pretentiousness of
living, is not of the Father, but it is of the world. The world is passing by,
and its desire, yet he who is doing the will of God is remaining for the age
(eon)." (1Jo. 2:15-17)
In Eden Adam was tested at
the tree and he found the tree, or ordered system of his day, to be pleasing to
the eyes. What was the desire of Jesus’ eyes? When Jesus was tested he had to
look at his vision of sonship to see if it caused him to desire recognition and
preeminence
among the religious leaders. Was the pride and pretentious display of wealth,
skill, and knowledge that the Pharisees designed to impress others an element
in Jesus life?
On the other hand, testing
in this area may result in a person attempting to defend what God has said
which results in one being filled with pride, vanity and self-conceit. Having
heard Father’s voice we know who we are in him, we are God’s sons. We have
heard God so clearly, yet we need to beware of the serpents hiss endeavoring to
cause us to do something that may bring forth activities of the lower nature,
leading us to "miss the mark"
or sin. Remember, we never have a need to prove God’s word.
James wrote, "Happy is the person who endures trials!
Because, being approved, they will receive the crown of life which God promised
to those that love him. Let, no one say, while they are being proven, I am
being tempted by God.For God is incapable of being tempted to do evil, and he
himself tempts no one. Everyone is tried when they are drawn out and enticed by
their own overpowering desire. Then when their desire con-ceives, it brings
forth sin; and sin when it has matured, brings forth death. Do not err, my
beloved brethren. Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down
from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of change.
It is he who begot us of his own will through the word of truth, so we would
become the first fruit of himself creatures." (
The testings of life often
seem plausible and necessary, because so often they serve only to urge us to do
what is worthwhile and proper. They even serve to promote the glory and honor
of God. Some of the most powerful testings occur when we are urged to do what
will be for the glory of God. However, we
are not to think that just because a thing seems to be good in itself, that it
is to be done . For we must hear the voice of the Father to know
the timing for the work that is to be done.
Finally, we are to meet the
trials that come upon our lives, as Jesus did, with the plain and positive
declarations of God’s established and proven word. We are to inquire whether
the thing is commanded and whether it is right to do according to the refined
word of God. It is this proven word of God that raises the Lord as a shield to
those who seek refuge in him. We must never add to God’s word, lest he convict
us, and we be found false. (Pr. 30:5-6) We are never to trust our own feelings and
desires in the matter.
The Refining Of Silver
A story has been told about
a group of women in a Bible study group, who were studying the book of Malachi.
As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of
silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what
this statement meant in relation to the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to
find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at
their next Bible study.
That week this woman called
up a silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t
mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her
curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silver
smith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained
that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the
fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
The woman thought about God
holding us in such a hot spot–then she thought again about the verse, that
states he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.
She asked the silver smith
if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the
silver was being refined. The man answered, yes, he not only had to sit there
holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time
it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the
flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a
moment. Then she asked the silver smith, how do you know when the silver is
fully refined?
He smiled at her and
answered, "Oh, that’s easy--when I see
my image in it."
This story is a good
analogy for when we feel like we are in a hot spot. In the difficult times we
fine the reminder, "He sits as a
refiner and purifier of silver." There are times we feel like
we are going go through a refining fire and it is comforting to know that we
are not alone, but Father is carefully watching over us. We know this to be
true for, we are told that he will never leave nor forsake us. (He. 13:5) He is
all the while looking for his own reflection to show forth. For deep within our
life is hidden the image of that we have had from the beginning. He is
patiently bringing us all back into himself. (Ge. 1:27; Ro. 11:36) Is there
anything more that we could want, than to reflect Him to others? (1Jo. 3:2)
Stacy and I are fairing
well. He continues to lose weight. It is a process, but he remains hopeful and
cheerful. Thank you for your prayers and consideration during this time. We
appreciate the cards, calls and support. It is our hope to see everyone again
one day before too long. Until we do come your way, please visit us online at
www.promiseed.com. It is our desire to soon post a "blog" which will
have updates concerning us and new information at regular intervals. It will
also be possible to ask questions and have Stacy answer, which will be
published for the entire world to see. We continually hold you in our hearts
before Father and pray you have a wonderful 2007.
Love & Blessings,
