I was listening to a preacher talk about the enemy coming to steal the word immediately after you believe. That’s because your faith would be destroyed and the enemy can take territory that way. While I was listening 3 scriptures came to mind with three forms of attack that the enemy uses after a person receives something from God. Jesus left us the pattern and instructions on holding on to our faith to the end, that is the end of the series of attacks. After that the blessings of faith in that truth of God will thrive and bear fruit in your life. So really this is the pathway to bearing fruit that remains for the Kingdom of God.
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Luke 4:1-3 That’s lie number one the lust of the flesh.
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘ Man shall not live on bread alone.” The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Luke 4:4-7 This is lie number two the lust of the eyes.
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’ The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Luke 4:8-11 This is lie number three the pride of life.
Jesus answered, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” Luke 4:12 One thing we see is that Jesus answered each of the devil’s lies with the truth of scripture. The truth of scripture, the word of God spoken and believed creates faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Faith in God and truth is what the devil is attacking with these three attacks that are described in 1 John 2:16 “For everything in the world- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life- comes not from the Father but from the world.” These are the things of the world and they are demonic in nature.
Jesus tells a parable that describes this process that He himself went through and then He explains its meaning. “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. (lust of the flesh) The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. (pride of life) The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word,(lust of the eyes) making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” Matthew 13:18-23
Not understanding comes from the lust of flesh because it doesn’t make sense to live for something aside from the flesh. The deceitfulness of wealth and the worries of life are the lust of the eyes. And persecution is the pride of life. These things are the enemy’s attack to push you away from the truth of the gospel of the kingdom of God. To live for the kingdom of God is a different lifestyle than what the world has. But the only way out is through. So if God says, ‘give and it shall be given unto you’ (which he does) and you hear those words; you’re going to face these three attacks. First it’s not going to make sense, if you can get faith to give past that; people will tell you it’s wrong and stupid and some will very forcefully try to push you off of that. And that doesn’t stop you, there will be a problem that leads to need in this world to try to stop you from giving. Once you overcome those three attacks with that one truth, you can become fruitful in the kingdom in the area of giving. You can live with an open hand and God trust you with more financial resources to be used for His purposes.
There are many Bible truths about the Kingdom and you can walk by faith in all of them. To do so will require holding on to the seed of the word of God through a series of attacks. And when you break through, the devil will leave you alone until you get another word and start living it out. You have the power of the blood and example of Jesus to defeat each of the attacks. You can walk in extremely high levels of faith and see the world changed in front of your eyes as you grow God’s kingdom by supernatural means that come by faith. You have an amazing prize at the end because truth comes with promise and power and God will confirm His word with signs following so once you breath through the attacks, you’re assignment is to tell other people how to do what you did. Now you will have the language to use to help them keep what they receive as you spread the message. Many blessings.
Practice Outlaw 