Have you ever thought that God just doesn’t understand what you are going through? How could He, you think? He's all-powerful, up there in heaven, and doesn’t understand the trials and problems we go through each day, nor how easy it is to slip up with the temptations we are bombarded with. As we read today’s Scripture from the Gospel of Luke, we will read that Jesus faced similar trials that we do, and was also relentlessly tempted by the devil. As we look into and study the temptation of Jesus, we can learn some ways to help us when we are going through our own times of testing.
Most of us would want to be victorious when we face temptation, and not fall victim to the lures and tricks of Satan. As the Bible records, Jesus was tempted just as we are (Hebrews 4:15). The difference is that He did not give in to the temptations, and did not sin. Our Scripture passage gives us some ways that we can imitate the Savior in order to also have victory when we are tempted.
As our Scripture opens, we read that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit when He went into the wilderness for a time of prayer with God, which also ended up being a time of severe temptations (vs. 1). It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can have any victory over the temptations of Satan. He is a very wily and evil foe, and we, on our own and in our own power, are no match against him. We need to remain filled with the Spirit, and in close, obedient fellowship with God through prayer to win over temptation.
When Satan came to Jesus, tempting Him in various ways, Jesus responded, not with His own arguments, but with quoting Scripture verses. He used the Bible, which is our only weapon of offense in the spiritual armor that God has given us (Ephesians 6:13-18). The Bible, God’s Word, is the sword that He has given us, and Jesus used it effectively to fight off the temptations of Satan. We need to keep that weapon always sharpened.
Jesus was alone, fasting, and ready to start His ministry when His temptations came. Satan likes to tempt us when we are vulnerable, when we’re hungry, sick, tired, or preparing for an important ministry. When Satan struck, he tried to get Jesus to make selfish choices, instead of submitting to God’s plans. We should question decisions that place more emphasis on our personal desires, rather than God’s will.
As mentioned, Jesus used the Bible to combat Satan. The Savior accepted and recognized the divine authority of the Bible, as God’s very Words. With each attack from the devil, Jesus answered him with Scripture. It’s not enough to just quote the Bible, though. We must believe, obey, and live it, as Jesus did.
As Jesus used the Scriptures against Satan, the devil thought he would try the same, and he quoted a verse back at Jesus (vs. 9-11). However, Satan misused Scripture, and didn’t even quote the verses correctly. We need to be aware that Scripture verses can be twisted, and the devil will use people to twist them to try and mean anything he wants them to use it for. The more we study and know the Bible, the easier it will be to see when Satan and his minions try to misuse it.
Satan doesn’t attack us in the same way all the time. Just as with Jesus, he looks for opportune times, such as when we feel weak, as Jesus did while fasting many days and he tempted him with turning stones into bread (vs. 3). He appeals to our pride (vs. 5-7). And he makes us question whether we can trust God and His care for us (vs. 9-11).
When Satan entices us to indulge in the pleasures of the world in a way that disobeys God’s commands, we must remember that he is not doing so because he cares that we are missing out on some “fun” or a “good time”. Satan hates mankind. He wants to capture and control us. Never forget that when you follow Satan you walk right into a trap. Don’t get lackadaisical about temptation. It always strikes us at our weakest point and weakest moments. Just as Jesus did, stay filled with the Holy Spirit, stay in daily prayer, and pick up our sword, the Word of God when Satan brings his temptations.
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