Three areas of sin

There are three basic areas of sin, as portrayed in the three temptations of Christ in the desert. Every son of God must pass through these same testing's.

The first temptation is the bread question—that of material security and survival. It includes covetousness and the desire to acquire the comforts and conveniences of life. The life lived in the pursuit of material riches produces spiritual death. It is difficult for the rich to inherit the Kingdom of God.

The second temptation involves the pursuit of pleasure. This is the area of worship. Satan is the incarnation of physical lust. To live in the lusts of the flesh is to worship Satan. The person who is bound by lust, drugs, alcohol, perversions of the flesh, is in chains. He cannot know the freedom of the Spirit of God. Satan is his master. He will destroy his own body and soul unless he turns to the Lord. He is wallowing in the pen with the hogs.

The third temptation is that of presumption, ambition, a willingness to act apart from the will of God. The present booklet has to do with four aspects of the third temptation. It may be true that personal ambition, which is the mother of envy, is far, far more destructive and evil than the other two areas of sin combined.

Personal ambition in spiritual matters is close to the heart of Satan and provides an entrance in the believer for the deceptions of Satan. One has only to consider the harm done to true believers by those who desired to take away their place in the Kingdom to see how truly wicked spiritual ambition is.

Throughout the Scriptures there are many instances of religious people attacking the leaders God has chosen. We hear of church splits in our day. Why are there church splits? Is it because one or both sides is walking in the flesh and not hearing from the Lord?

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