Dealing with the Dragon

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 ESVThe dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus. Revelation 12:16 NLTCorrect the deceived, hate the deception and oppose the deceiver. The best intel we have is battle tested material from the life of the Messiah. ————————————————————————————————————————————Jesus didn’t just tell us how to fight, He showed us how to fight. Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. For forty days and nights he was tested by the Devil. Luke 4:1-2 MSG - (He was tested in every way. Heb 4:15)He ate nothing during those days, and when the time was up he was hungry. Luke 4:2 MSGThen the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Luke 4:3 NLT One of the enemy’s most obvious tactics is to test us when we’re tired.Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to really live.” Luke 4:4 MSGJesus said, "The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started. John 4:34 MSG ———————————————————————————————————————————For the second test he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. Then the Devil said, They're yours in all their splendor to serve your pleasure. I'm in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. Worship me and they're yours, the whole works. Luke 4:5-6 MSGWe are called to think, desire and discern differently!Jesus refused, again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.” Luke 4:7-8 MSGWe take our directives from our deified savior not the damned to hell dragon. ————————————————————————————————————————————For the third test the Devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the Temple. He said, If you are God's Son, jump. It's written, isn't it, that 'he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; they will catch you; you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone’? Luke 4:9-11 MSGJesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Luke 4:12 MSGJesus made it clear He didn’t come to be the dragon’s subject but rather the dragon slayer. That completed the testing. The Devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity. Luke 4:13 MSG