“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)

As we address temptation today, let us admit that we have all given into temptation, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) All of us have the same problem. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23a) Even after we come to faith in Jesus Christ, we still struggle with sin. John would admit this struggle. “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8) Paul would agree, “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” (Romans 7:19-21)

The good news is that Jesus has taken our judgment for all of our sin. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2) Through Christ, we have been forgiven. However, temptation continues. We must learn from Jesus ways to over come temptation. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16)

In the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He is lead by the Holy Spirit where He will be tempted by the devil. During the forty days, Jesus fasted. After His fast, Jesus in His human body was hungry. His natural desire was for food. James would speak of the basic temptation being our dealing with our own desires. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” (James 1:14 ESV) While we can learn from Jesus, these temptations address not only His humanity, but also His divinity. Thus, the devil’s temptation, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (Matthew 4:3) Jesus refutes the temptation through His use of Scripture. “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4, quoting Deuteronomy 8:3) This is why we are to put Scripture to memory. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)

In temptation, the devil will use our faith against us. In the second temptation, he takes Jesus to the top of the Temple. Where he offers a way for the people to know that Jesus is the Messiah by showing His power by leaping off the temple. Then the devil quotes Scripture. “He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” (Matthew 4:6, quoting Psalm 91:11-12) Here he tries to turn what is disobedience to look like obedience. Jesus said concerning the devil, “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) Jesus answered the devil by saying, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Matthew 4:7) Jesus knows that we must learn to trust God and not to put Him to the test. We must remember that God loves us, this is why Jesus came to earth,

In the last of the temptations, the devil takes Jesus to a high mountain. Now he gets to the heart of the matter, he “showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’” (Matthew 4:8-9) He will give Jesus everything, if He will worship the devil. The problem, Jesus already owns it all. The devil is offering a short cut to our forgiveness, where there will be no suffering or pain. Which is a lie. Jesus again responds with Scripture. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matthew 4:10, quoting Deuteronomy 6:13)

Jesus had come with the purpose to bring us new life, as He took our sins to the cross and overcame them through the resurrection. We continue to face temptations, but we have One who has overcome, and He will lead us to overcome. As Jesus lived in obedience to the Father, He will teach us to be obedient. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5) Just as Jesus used the Word of God, we also must learn the Word of God and allow it to transform our lives as we follow Jesus.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block