This week my wife and I went to Mayo Clinic to seek treatment for her breast cancer. Although it was just a 2 ½ hour ride, having just come off of major back surgery, it was a grueling ride. The surgery did not relieve my agonizing pain and my spine is still compressing and pressing down on a nerve. I had just been told by my surgeon that I will need the same 4 hour surgery again, only this time they will make the 7” incision down the back of my neck instead of the front.
I was dreading that ordeal and we were downright afraid about Teresa’s life threatening condition. It seemed that things had come at us from every angle. Broken friendships, a bad investment that cost me dearly, road blocks to the ministry, devastating pain, possibly losing my wife of 44 years to cancer, facing serious risks of undergoing deep anesthesia and more terrible devastating pain.
We were wondering what we had done to God and why He wouldn’t give us some relief; after all we were trying our utmost to do His will and foregoing a life that would be far easier in order to launch an unfunded ministry (that it seemed few in the ministry want) in an attempt to follow what God had clearly laid on my heart and later affirmed to lead an effort to fulfill John 17:22 for His “church to be as one”.
My wife and I finally, mercifully arrived at Mayo Clinic and went into the café to grab something to eat before her appointment. I didn’t have an appetite and was happy to see an incoming phone call. It happened to be one of the foremost religious leaders in the world. He wanted to encourage me and said he was praying for me and a host of others all over the world were as well. He told me that I was on the cusp of doing a mighty work for the Lord and anytime that happens satanic darkness and attack comes fast and furious. He told me to keep the faith and meet the challenges and I promised that I would.
As I hung up I told my wife about it and we marveled at how timely this phone call was. It was like encouragement from God at the precise time it was needed. As we went across the street we soon discovered that the clinic had lost the Fed Ex package from the radiology clinic that had been sent from Tallahassee. (Another fiery dart from satan? Of course!) They could not proceed without it. We did get to consult with the doctor to understand the type of cancer she has and the prognosis which was much better and more optimistic than we feared.
Satan did not approach Jesus until He was at His weakest condition after His 40 day fast in the desert. So it stands to reason that he also challenges us the most when we are at our lowest point especially if we are preparing to launch an effort designed to battle him.
It seems when pain, turmoil, and bad things are occurring in our lives it provides little comfort in knowing that our troubles are derived from satanic attack. We have a tendency to focus on our problems and often put the blame on God instead of its source satan.
It is helpful to revisit the word of God and see how Jesus reacted to adversity which is the diametric opposite of what most of us do.
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.
And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
But He answered and said, “It is written,
‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'” . . .
Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'” . . . “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
“On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'”
“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written,
‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY’.
Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him”
It is interesting to me to note that:
- Temptation was not withheld even from the Son of God
- Jesus was tempted most severely when He was at His lowest point
- Jesus was tempted when preparing to launch His ministry which would give us eternal life.
- Jesus countered each temptation by quoting Scripture
- Angels ministered to Him after His temptation had passed
If you are going through some tests I hope you will understand that no one escapes testing and especially not those who try to make a difference. Prior to His crucifixion Jesus prayed the prayer below. I hope and pray that you will be encouraged and stay strong and be gloriously sanctified by reading about the love of Christ as He prepared for His horrific death on the cross and said these words:
John17:15
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
March 5, 2015 – Click here to listen