RESIST Satan and he WILL FLEE--Jesus' temptations and victory

Considering Jesus' fasting for 40 days.

Jesus is tempted in like manner such as we are.
Jesus went into the wilderness, away from the crowds and all people, away from the comforts of home and the conveniences of town. He 'retreated' " away from it all" to pursue physical cleansing and spiritual strength that can ONLY come when a person resists "lusts of their flesh" and the unhealthy yearnings of our spirit.
The things that Satan tempted him with when he was in a weakend state, food, depression, and power, are the very things the WE suffer from and usually give in to.
Satan seeks to affect the place where we are weakest.
The first area Satan tempted him in was with FOOD. Jesus was NOT going to give in to that tempatation of the flesh. He KNEW the spiritual power he would gain through his physical purification and cleansing. He also knew the physical strength and health he would gain. To NOT be dictated by our flesh saves us (and those we love and share our lives with) much pain and suffering. It strengthens and disciplines us when we don't GIVE in to that which our body craves.... good food, junk food, sex, drugs, physical pleasures, comforts and entertainments... all the things that we have weaknesses for - do they dictate our actions/our life?? NOT ALL of those things we enjoy are BAD but he gave them ALL up for a greater gain. HE LED HIS FLESH, he did not let his flesh rule him. Would that we chose that- how much better our life would be!

I know from experience the things the body goes through during a time of fasting. I've fasted a few times. Usually it's been for physical health. The last time was for spiritual growth and strength. I truly gained that. God revealed Himself to me in some amazing ways. But when a person goes through the fasting many things occur in the physical, emotional and spiritual levels. It DRAWS OUT the toxins in each of those areas.... it isn't comfortable and usually stirs negative things up within you. That's the purpose-cleansing and detoxification. It's important to understand and be prepared for that.
The first thing that gets stirred up is in your flesh- your body CRAVES food. That can get ugly- what a person DOES when they're hungry; how a person behaves when they WANT food and every cell is fighting to be fed. It's difficult. But to resist and look ahead towards the benefits- you CAN have victory over your flesh. The initial brain fog and fatigue you suffer is difficult but the strength and mental clarity that occurs afterwards is worth every ounce of suffering. Jesus knew that. It was important to prepare his flesh and mind, to clean out his body and clear his brain, to prepare himself for the weeks ahead that would lead to his crucifiction.
Secondly when you fast, Satan attacks your emotions. Things upset you easily, because your physical state is weakened. Often during this phase, things that you haven't thought of for YEARS come out to bother you. It is good for that to happen- they NEED to come out -- for your emotional health. You cry, you may be angry, you get depressed. You feel worthless. That's where Satan struck next with Jesus.... Jesus was feeling weak, and his mind and body were fatigued. He felt "bad". How many times has that happened to you- the thought of ending it all? Jesus FELT that.... he was tempted to just jump off a cliff. No one would've known and he would've been taken to heaven. HE knew his FUTURE- he was SOON to face those that despised him and were going to torture and KILL him. How easy it could've been to take his OWN LIFE, on his OWN TERMS. He could've still had victory over "death" but the fact that his death needed to be PUBLIC so that it could touch millions over centuries was the plan of God the Father. Satan told him, "Just jump what will it matter?". That was a lie. "It will be BETTER to just END your life Jesus. You are worthless here; EVERYONE HATES YOU; they don't appreciate you; what do you think you're DOING?? you are only ONE person and you can't CHANGE the world? Come on- just jump and God's angels will carry you to heaven and there your problems will be over!" Lies we have ALL heard in our minds. Suicide is never, never the answer and never fullfills God's purpose of HOPE within you or for the others that your life/death affects.
Jesus fought those LIES with TRUTH. He resisted. The resisting gave him power- he clung to what he KNEW about God and God's promises. He focused his EYES ON THEM..... he turned his heart towards the truth.... there WERE people that loved him; he had EXCEEDING value to his Creator; God had a wonderful and unique purpose for his life (as He does for EVERY person that He's ever created); one CAN make a difference; things are never HOPELESS. Those ARE GOD's promises!! Jesus focused on the beauty of the gifts of God..... His creation, the complexities of his body, he allowed the gifts of the earth to minister to him, the fresh air, the song of the birds, the water to refresh, all the wonderful miracles of creation, of heaven and earth. He focused on those. THAT would serve us well in our dark times to do the same rather than focus on our misery.

When you have victory over such things as physical discipline and spiritual victory, pride can attach itself to your spirit... You're GOOD. your're STRONG. You RESISTED physical and emotional urges. Pride is a cancer in our spirirt. It grows and destroys if you don't recognize WHERE your strength comes from. It comes from Immanuel...... from God Almighty's spirit within you. It is NOT of yourself- it is of GOD. Jesus WAS victorious and he was proud of himself, grateful. Being proud isn't wrong when you recognize who should be praised for giving you strength.
Satan knew that. If he could slip him up there- Jesus HAD power. Not only that, he had the LOVE for the people that would motivated him. He loved them to the point that he would give his all. ALL of that makes a powerful LEADER. He could've given the people of Israel exactly what they wanted- a STRONG, powerful Leader that would make them proud and they would willingly follow. Satan moved towards that avenue in his last temptation of Jesus.
But Jesus knew his power was in his meekness. He "stood down" even though he had power. What God purposed for his life and death would span until the end of time. Had Jesus ruled during his life time, his glory would've been limited. Once his life on earth was over, his fame would've died out- as in the others who's names mesh together in history. He was meek- that was his fame. He didn't fight the Jewish rulers, he submitted. His submission to Ceasar and MAN's AUTHORITY was the very thing that allowed him to rise to everlasting fame that has been spoken of for over 2000 years now. He resisted Satan's attempts to RISE UP according to his "rank". HE WAS the SON of GOD. How's THAT for rank?? What he COULD've done, he purposed in heart NOT to do. He submitted even though he had the highest Authority. It was the plan of the Father that he obeyed.

So what did Satan do THEN? He left. He had NO POWER over Jesus, because Jesus CHOSE to look beyond his flesh, beyond himself and look ahead to God's purpose. In doing so, he would receive God's power. He CHOSE to listen to GOD's promises. He chose God's presence and recognized in EVERYTHING he suffered or had victory over, it glorified God. THAT was his purpose. That is OUR purpose. We glorify him because HE loves US and performs in us His good works. We glorify Him when we submit our flesh and yeild our spirits to Him. We glorify Him when we have had victory and then reflect praise back to Him. He deserves the glory and honor.

Jesus DID it. He battled and fought then had victory over the temptations in his flesh, emotions and spirit. :) We CAN be victorious in the those areas also! Place God's words and promises before you and "RESIST. Satan will FLEE." that's the key in fighting Satan. It is Jesus example to us.

You CAN do this!! GO FOR IT with God's promises and strength!!!