Empty Promises

Satan's empty promises only fulfill empty people!! 
I was thinking about Jesus in the wilderness and being tempted by Satan. The Lord shared with me how Jesus was able to answer Satan when he spoke to Jesus. Jesus was able to resist Satan's advances because Satan couldn't deliver what he promised. 

The bible says that Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. He was directed to the wilderness to be tempted by Satan after fasting 40 days/nights. Jesus was hungry and Satan tempted Him concerning food. 

Jesus was proven to be able to multiply fish and bread for the multitude, so it's hard to imagine Him being powerless to 'create' the meal Satan was promising to prepare. Satan tempted Him with the very things Jesus could do('miraculously make/multiply food, be royalty on earth,rule the earth,etc). 

What Does This Mean to Us?
The Lord caused me to revisit the story of creation. As I revisited the creation story, I was reminded of the statement 'let us make man in our image'. We are made in the image and likeness of the triune Godhead. What does this mean? Well, Satan lost everything he had and was condemned to an eternity in hell. Satan is also powerless against the Father,Son and can not quench the Holy Spirit. We too are created with these characteristics though we are human. Jesus was the ultimate slap in Satan's face. He guaranteed that NO ONE would ever be 'like' Satan. Even though Satan tempted Adam and Eve and death came to an entire dispensation, Christ defeated Satan in this realm and will defeat him in the age to come!

So...when we are experiencing hardship or the oppression of the enemy, let us be mindful of exactly who we are! Jesus was full of power,yet vulnerable(hungry) when He was led into the wilderness. Tempting and testing occurs in times like these in our lives. It may seem a little oxymoronic that Jesus was full of power yet had to endure testing. He had to face the enemy's advances and NOT give in. Many of us face our most intense testing when we are at our fullest spiritually and our emptiest naturally. 

Look Who's Talking
Something has to be more vocal. Had Jesus' stomach done most of the talking, he would have simply given in. He later showed the power of fasting and praying in Mark 9 when the disciples weren't able to exorcise a demon. Something in us has to become more and more vocal as we grow in our walk with Christ. As food is essential to our natural man, the lack of food is essential to our spiritual man! Otherwise, we become spiritually vulnerable and susceptible to succumb to Satan's attacks. 

Whatchu Talkin' Bout, Devil???
Have you ever thought about this...Both Jesus AND Satan knew that he couldn't deliver on the promises he was making! It's comical that we give in to the enemy's temptation knowing that there is a TRUCKLOAD of consequences coming behind our satanic decision! It's more than a notion to just shake off his advances at times because it is EXACTLY what we 'need' in life. The temptation reaches us when we are tired of waiting on God. A phone call for a job, that ex that jilted you wants another chance and will do anything to 'make it right', you get an inside track to how to make money without getting in trouble. All kinds of scenarios pop up when we are 'in need'. Even when Satan temps us with his empty promises(though they sound so awesome) we should challenge him with a good ol Arnold Drummond-esque "Whatchu Talkin' Bout, Devil??

All in all, Jesus showed us how to answer Satan...by/with every word that preceedeth out of the mouth of God.(Matt. 4:4) We must be ever mindful that Satan can't promise us anything God hasn't already guaranteed to those that love Him. Empty promises only fulfill empty people. Jesus was empty and weak in the natural but strong and well girded in the Spirit. When the enemy comes, we should be prepared with a ready response. For Jesus, preparation for his response was days and nights of telling food NO. 

Satan can't promise us anything that God hasn't already guaranteed to those whom he loves!!! Love God, fill yourself with the things of God, this way Satan's empty promises can in no wise affect you!!!