What Are You Willing to Do for Power?
In the Bible, Satan is called “the tempter.” Paul told Christians at Thessalonica, “…I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.” (1 Thessalonians 2:5) Paul was concerned that Satan had succeeded in getting the Christians to stop living for Christ.
Satan cannot read minds. Only God can read minds: “(for thou [God] only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)” (2 Chronicles 6:30) Yet Satan goes “to and fro in the earth.” One day God asked Satan, “Whence comest thou?” (Job 1:7) Satan replied, “From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.” (Job 1:7) Satan goes “to and fro in the earth” and sees people’s weak areas for temptation: what they do when they are alone, what they watch on TV, what internet sites they visit.
Now to our passage. Satan offers Jesus the world’s kingdoms and glory if Jesus will worship him. If you are in political office or running for office, this story is especially important for you. As someone who is seeking power, you have a potential weakness the devil can exploit. Please ask yourself two questions: 1) What are you willing to do for power? and 2) What are you willing to do with it once you have it?
Romans 13:1 says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: The powers that be are ordained of God.” God ordained for people to govern people. Yet Satan can use the desire for power to tempt people to sin. He may not tempt you to worship him, but he will tempt you to disregard God’s word. Satan’s first temptation was not to eat the forbidden fruit, but to doubt God’s word. He asked Eve, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1)
When leaders use their power to endorse sin, they influence citizens to sin. Thus they may not worship the devil, but they are helping advance his cause, whether or not they realize it. Here is a reason why Christians need to pray for leaders, “For kings, and for all that are in authority;” (1 Timothy 2:2) that God would give them right convictions about their political conduct and that they would follow them.
It is also why leaders need to pray often and be knowledgeable in God’s word. As a leader, you will face temptations most people don’t face. Sometimes the temptations you face will amount to spiritual battles in a political arena between God and righteousness and the devil and sin. Opposition may come from other leaders, hostile media sources, or elsewhere, and it can be difficult. Yet the Lord is able to give you the strength you need: “For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle:” (Psalm 18:39)
The devil is also “…a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44) He does not own any kingdom or control who reigns. Only God does that: “…he [God] removeth kings, and setteth up kings:” (Daniel 2:21)
When the devil tempted Jesus, the Lord resisted with Scripture: “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Luke 4:8) Scripture is a powerful tool against temptation. When you must take action on some matter, don’t act based on bipartisan support or even what others in your party say. Ask first, “What does God’s word say about it?”
If you want to see how to have your sins forgiven and eternal life by receiving Jesus as your personal Saviour, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?’
Brian Miller 10/18/2024
Cleveland Baptist Church 4431 Tiedeman Road, Brooklyn, Ohio 44144 216/671-2822