Confessions of a Maleficent...

So the other day my friends and I found ourselves debating who the most evil Disney villian is. I think hands down it's Frollo. I mean come on, the guy is demented. But let's not forget our dear Maleficent. As far as villians go, she's a pretty close second. But I think what makes her so evil is how utterly sadistic she is. But you really don't know Maleficent's story, which leads you to believe that her corruption comes from within. Sometimes the same is true for us and temptation.

See, that's how Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the garden in Genesis 2 and 3. He corrupted their hearts. As the pastor explained on Sunday, he appealed to the three basic areas of temptation. First, their natural appetites. These are temptations for things you are naturally designed for, but in the right context. We are designed for relationships and intimacy, but within the right confines. Adam and God had a specific creation to creator relationship. But Satan tried to convince Eve that God simply didn't want them to be like Him. Eve was led in by the temptation of changing the relationship to God to God instead of God to man. And its important to note why Satan used Eve instead of just going straight to Adam. Eve was the object of Adam's affection. The thing we love the most, whatever it is, stands as the most vulnerable for Satan to attack.

The second way was by appealing to their condition appetites. It's a known fact, the longer you look at something, the more desirable it is. The more I stare at a mustang convertible, the more I crave it. The more Eve looked at the fruit and heard what Satan was saying, the more appetizing it became.

Lastly, Satan appealed to their ego. We don't need to go too far into this to know that pride is a huge issue for man. They for one instant believed they could be on the same level as God, and it destroyed them. They ate the fruit, and sin entered the world. If you don't believe me when I say man is, by nature, born a sinful being, take a trip to your nearest Long Beach Arco gas station. Man doesn't need all the other outside forces of temptation. Our pride and internal corruption is more than enough!

1 John 2:16 warns about these three ways of temptation. "For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure [natural appetites], a craving for everything we see [condition appetites], and pride [did somebody say ego?] in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world."

So what hope do we have? I mean we don't have winged fairies named Merryweather, Fauna, or Flora to turn the arrows Satan throws into flowers. Well, my friends, there is good news. "What?" you may ask. Well, I'm glad you asked. Drum roll please. Christ faced these same three areas of temptation when in the wilderness. And He pretty much kicked their butts.

Let's look at Luke 4.
Luke 4:3-4 "The devil said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.' Jesus answered, 'It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"- Natural Appetites

Luke 4:5-8 "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, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if you worship me, it will all be yours.' Jesus answered, 'It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"-Condition Appetites

Luke 4:9-12 "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. 10For 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.' Jesus answered, 'It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"-Ego

So, my fellow Maleficents, ask for help to resist temptation. And be on your guard, but not just from the things coming at you, but those thoughts, desires, and pride within.

1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."