How We Are Tempted – Part 1

….He will also provide a way out... 1 Corinthians 10:13

Temptation is all around us; no child of GOD is immune. The Bible warns us to “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. Satan may be our enemy but GOD has provided a shield of defense for His children and JESUS CHRIST is our model for how not to defend against temptation.

Matthew 4:1-11 recounts the temptation of JESUS in the wilderness, where, at the outset of His ministry, He was led by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil. We see that JESUS never yielded but repelled every temptation with the weapon of TRUTH, the “sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD of GOD.” 

JESUS demolishes every attempt of the enemy with a simple, “it is written.”

This same strategy will guarantee our victory today as Satan continues to use the same enticements against us now, as he did with GOD’s Son in the wilderness.

1. The temptation to doubt GOD in times of trial and suffering.

After fasting for 40 days in the desert, JESUS was understandably hungry and the devil chose to use this supposed weakness against Him: “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (Matthew 4:3) Satan tries to tempt JESUS into distrusting His Father’s wisdom and escape His appointed time of suffering by His own efforts, turning stones into bread.

The devil uses the same ploy when we are in a desert place of affliction or spiritual distress – he tries to talk us into doubting GOD’s love and escaping from what we perceive as unnecessary hardship and suffering, through our own efforts.

To avoid inconvenience, we turn what GOD intended to be stones into bread.  By doing so, we miss out on the favor of GOD and sacrifice the joy that comes with fulfilling our purpose in His kingdom for temporary comfort; but without peace. A child of GOD who disobeys the will of GOD cannot enjoy true peace.

We must believe, as JESUS did, that “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

We must believe that we are safer and happier when GOD and His WORD are with us in a wilderness place than feasting with our enemy the devil in the finest setting.

We must believe that GOD will take care of us; bring us through fire and through water and out of the desert into a wealthy place. (Psalm 66:12)

To be continued…

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy GOD, our good and faithful Father in Heaven. We thank YOU once again for the gift of YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST, our HIGH PRIEST who can sympathize with our weakness since He too has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Thank YOU Father for providing a way of escape from temptation; the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God is our proven weapon against the enemy. Thank you for the Holy Spirit that brings to our mind what is written so we are able to repel every thrust of the great enemy. Thank YOU, JESUS, for YOUR faithfulness to the Father and now to us.  We pray this in His NAME that is above every NAME, JESUS CHRIST our LORD.  Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile