Fighting Temptation!

Objectives:
(1) To realize temptation is real
(2) To learn how to fight the temptation of and defeat Satan.

Scriptures to Study:
Luke 4:1-14

Greetings Brothers and Sisters!
We’re going to talking about standing…through….temptation. God desires for us to stay encouraged when we are going through.


Scripture text – Luke 4:1-2
Jesus had just returned from Jordan and the Holy Ghost sent him into the wilderness and was there for 40 days. He was fasting during this time and the word says that Jesus began to hunger. So here comes the devil, seizing the opportunity to come in and he tempted Jesus.

I want to stay there for a moment. Jesus was journeying from Jordan and the Holy Ghost led him into the wilderness. We can relate because our life is a journey (with God) and sometimes the Lord allows us to enter into a wilderness. (the could be a situation, stagnation or a prison cell) This isn’t to punish us (in the eyes of God) but to build our character (so that we won’t repeat those things that got us in the situation to begin with).

A wilderness is gloomy and lonely…its dark. We have all been in a dark place in our lives. We can become desperate while in that dark place. This becomes a perfect opportunity for the devil to come in and try to get us to turn from the road that God prepared for us. Satan desires to cut us off from God permanently.

And devil knows where we are weak. We can fool others but the devil, he knows when we’re at our weakest point. The devil knew Jesus was hungry and I’m sure Jesus was staggering around with his tongue hanging out his mouth, crying he was hungry. Therefore, devil knows our weaknesses and truly, that is the only means he has to use against us.

But if we put on Jesus’ spiritual attire, we can stand against the wiles of Satan even when we are at our weakest. Though Jesus was tempted he stood, because he know who his Father was.

Satan…

Said to Jesus, if you’re the son of man, turn this stone to bread…
He took Jesus to the highest mountain and showed him all the kingdoms and said I’ll give you all this power if you worship me…
He took him and set him on pinnacle of the temple and told him to cast himself down…and then get this, quoted scripture, “He shall give his angels charge over, to keep thee…and their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Psalms91:11), see the devil knows the word of God…

We can relate to all these temptations, can’t we?

. . .How many times have your salvation been tested by others? The devil using people to work your last nerves…and while he’s working in their minds he’s telling you in yours, you know who used to be. You know you can tear them all up. That’s the devil. Talked about you, put you down, judged you, lied on you. You know you wanted to tell them off (or lay hands on them). That’s Testing Your Salvation and now that Satan knows who you are in Christ!

…How many times have the devil made something look so good that you just had to have it though deep down you knew it was artificial or out of line with God? The devil will not give you anything without price.

…How many times have the devil told you, “well the bible says…” and then have you taking the Word of God out of context? This is why the Lord says to rightfully divide the Word of Truth. Amen!


So how do I remain standing? How do I defeat the devil when his approach is so crafty and elegant? How do I stand when I’m already tired?

The answer is through God’s Word. If you stay in the Word of God, you can defeat everything the devil throws at you.

If we go back to Luke, we see every time the devil threw a tempt at Jesus, Jesus came right back with the Word of God. Get thee behind me Satan, for …“It is written, it is said…”.(versus 4,8,&12) So if we put that same Jesus attire(Romans13:14), the same attitude, we will stand in time of temptation.

The sword of the spirit with us, which is…The Word OF God!

And in verse 13, the devil was defeated!

Greater is He that is in you…than he that is in the World. If God be in you then the Word of God is in you too. So use it!

If I’m in Christ, then I’m a new creature.(IICorinthian5:17). I don’t fall easy to temptation no more. Those things that used to entice me and lure me in, can’t do that anymore. God’s word said, we are new creatures in Christ. Therefore, we take off those old clothes (attitudes, habits, associates) and we put on the new, Christ-like attire (rightousness).

Who’s attire are you wearing?

God Bless You!

-KingdomDIVA