There are many things to learn in these verses of scripture, which account Jesus�?temptation by Satan. Our Lord’s response to all three temptations was to quote the word of God. The greatest lesson to be learned here is the power of scripture, in battling the Evil One. But we must also understand the order of rank of power that was set up by God in the beginning, and remains, as God’s word is unchanging.

I’ll get back to this concept in a little while, but first we need to deal with some other issues in these verses. It is my hope that by the end of this examination of these scriptures, you will, 1) be enlightened to a few misconceptions that have occurred throughout history in the understanding of the verses, and 2) take it on yourself to study the scriptures relating to these issues and how they relate to us, modern day Christians, in our walk in Christianity.

There was nothing wrong, morally, in turning stones to bread, but Satan was tempting Jesus to do a miracle that was outside of the will of the Father. This explains why Jesus quotes Deut.8:3. Bread alone doesn’t sustain life; ultimately God alone is the One who sustains all life. Thus we are responsible for trusting God and remaining in His will.

Interestingly, Satan when quoting the protective promise of Psalm 91:11,12 to Jesus, left out the words "to keep you in all your ways". Satan in telling Jesus to "throw Yourself down", tempted Jesus to gain public attention through spectacle rather than through His righteous life and message.

Deuteronomy 6:16 emphasizes that one should never test God. In only one area did the Lord ever ask the Israelites to put Him to the test and that was, tithing. By giving to Him they could test whether He would fulfill His promises to bless them. Jesus commands Satan in verse 7, "You shall not tempt the Lord, your God."

Satan then took Jesus to an exceedingly high mountain and after showing him the glory of the worlds kingdoms, he told Him, fall down and worship me, and all of this I will give You.

Christ rebuked the devil for asking for worship, a temptation to do exactly the opposite of what every Israelite was called upon to do, to worship the Lord God alone. Specifically in reference to Jesus, Satan was offering a crown without the Cross.

But here is where we need to understand the rank of power as I mentioned in the beginning of this writing, because Jesus�?experience here serves as a pattern in spiritual warfare today. And in order to keep some hardships from coming down on you, you must understand who you are in relation to the Angels, and them to you.

The Bible tells us that we were created a little lower than the Angels, meaning they outrank us in the Grand order of things. Satan, is a fallen Archangel, and, being a created being of God, is in the same league as the Archangel Michael and Gabriel. Even they when facing Satan in battle knew the order of rank that God had instituted in creation, ( remember, God’s word is unchanging) and they being equal in rank to Satan, said to him, the Lord rebukes you! They didn’t say, "we rebuke you in the name of the Lord. No, they said, "THE LORD REBUKES YOU!"

We must stop shouting at the devil, and start praying to our Lord God, for His covering and protection, as written in the Holy Scriptures, His Word.

The only addition to our authority on earth concerning confronting evil spirits were those possessing and living in people, not in geographical areas nor in the celestial heavens where they are positioned in ranks.

A scripture that helps us understand how we exercise our assigned authority is in Matthew 16. Our Lord said, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven," Matthew 16:19. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary says, "This binding and loosing, in the common language of the Jews, signified to forbid and to allow, or to teach what is lawful or unlawful." John Wesley’s Bible Notes say, "Under the term of binding and loosing are contained all those acts of discipline which Peter and his brethren performed as apostles: and undoubtedly what they thus performed on earth, God confirmed in heaven."

Binding and loosing therefore implies making decisions on allowing or forbidding matters on earth which once agreed upon would be supported in heaven. These matters could be in whatever area of life –spiritual, social, political, physical and material. They have largely been spiritual matters throughout history. Unfortunately we recently (in the past few decades) took the binding and loosing to imply the authority to go after evil spirits.

The church is a representative congregation of people who decide on matters that affect their lives and the lives of people they represent before heaven, not hell. They render the matters as binding or loosed in the sense of annulling whatever was considered bound. As the council presents its decisions before heaven once agreed upon on earth God in his heavenly government also considers them binding in the heavenly realms. How these matters are enforced as bound or loosed in the heavenly realm may not be a big issue to know. All we know is that God’s angels are involved in fulfilling what he has considered binding. The angels do the work of fighting any spiritual beings that oppose his will. We do not have any business to directly deal with these heavenly beings.

The authority of binding and loosing was therefore not intended for going after evil spirits. It was Christ giving the power of agreement on matters between us in the church (body of Christ) and heaven. The minimum number to operate in this authority is two. "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them," Matthew 18:18-20.

Two or more people thus constitute a church with enough power on earth to receive the full backing of heaven on whatever matters they’re entrusted with. Whatever they agree upon is then left to heaven to fulfill the rest. This includes heaven’s role in directly overcoming the evil spiritual forces that try to oppose what has been considered a binding matter between heaven and earth. We’re not to interfere how God’s government deals with these matters in the heavenly (celestial) realm. Our jurisdiction is down here - authority over whatever (spiritual, social, political, physical) matters that exist on earth. "Whatever you bind on earth..."

Following Jesus rejection of Satan’s offer of bread, assistance from angels, and earthly kingdoms, Jesus was immediately visited by angels who helped Him. Jesus received the reward of God’s blessings for remaining in obedience to Him. We too receive His blessings when we walk in obedience to Him.

"Thank You Lord for helping me grow in the knowledge of Your word. Help me to recognize my place and authority as set up and instituted by Your word, and help me to not ever overstep my bounds. If I have, Lord I repent of this and ask Your forgiveness. I pray to You for wisdom Lord, and thank You, for all that I have and receive, in Jesus Name, Amen."

Love in Christ, Rev. Michael <:)))><

Copyright ©2005 Michael Sparr