The Lord Jesus (as we all are) was tempted with bread (survival and security); with the kingdoms of the world (pleasure) and with jumping from the gable of the Temple (achievement). The Lord passed the three tests by appealing to the written Word of God. The Word is His testimony.

We shall be tested in these three realms, and we too must overcome by adhering strictly to God's Word. This is how we overcome the accuser.

God has promised us survival and security in the world. Either we will attempt to create our own survival and security or we will trust God's Word and enter His rest.

God has promised us fullness of joy. Either we will attempt to create our own joy or we will trust God's Word and enter His rest.

God has promised us fruitfulness and dominion. Either we will attempt to create our own fruitfulness and dominion or we will trust God's Word and enter His rest.

The three realms are those of worldliness, sin, and self-will. We can flee from trust in the world by calling on the Lord for strength.

We can overcome sin by following the Holy Spirit carefully and confessing and turning away from our sinful passions.

The third realm, that of self-will, is by far the most difficult area of challenge. It is the "mother" of sin, so to speak. Until we are willing to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus, we cannot possibly be His disciple and we cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

All sin proceeded from the "I will" of Satan. Until through Christ we are able to lay down our life, not seeking to save our life and follow our own will, there remains a door in our personality through which Satan can enter.

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24—NIV)

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (I John 2:15—NIV)

The Temple of God

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:21,22—NIV)

The building of the eternal Temple of God is one of the main subjects of the Scripture.

Part of God's reaction to the rebellion of the angels appears to be the movement of His throne from His palace in Heaven into the personalities of mankind, His new creation. In fact, it appears man was created to be the eternal Throne of God.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only man ever to appear on the earth who truly is in God's complete image in body, soul, and spirit. As glorious as the Lord Jesus is, the most significant aspect of His personality is that He is the dwelling place of God, the eternal Temple of God. God has created all things through the Lord Jesus Christ and upholds all things through the Lord Jesus Christ.

When Christ has been formed in us and is dwelling in us, it may be said the eternal Throne of God, the Temple of God, has been formed in us and is dwelling in us.

To be continued.