We all are tempted and we succumb to temptations and many times regret as we fall to the temptation. Devil’s biggest weapon against the beloved is temptations. He is the master to deceive people through it. Because the word says he is a roaring lion looking to devour someone with his temptations and make them fall to Sin. At the same time Jesus has given us many tools for us to overcome temptations. We read Jesus was tempted 40 days and 40 nights. So how did Jesus overcome temptations ? so that we follow the foot steps of our Saviour to overcome them in the world.
Some may procrastinate and say, Jesus overcame as he was son of God. I cannot do as I am an ordinary man.. I will give you reasons why we should use Jesus as reference point for this learning. As he has gone thru all the temptations we are experiencing and he has overcome them.
He was tempted in every way possible by Satan, yet he did not sin - Hebrews 4:15 '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. '
He helps all who are tempted as he himself has experienced that by himself - Hebrews 2:18 'Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.'
We read in Matthew how Jesus was tempted in wilderness. he was tested on three fronts
1st Target for Temptation is Self desire -
Read details of this in my earlier part - https://bit.ly/4aTJp9s
2nd Target of Temptation is our holiness
Matthew 4:5 'Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. '
He took him to holy city (not any ordinary city, its Holy City), this proves he will target our holiness to get yourself to Sin against holiness.
Like how he took Jesus “stand on the highest point of the temple”, We may be taken to high places to commit sin with his temptations of praise by people, people may say your ways are righteous, your work / prayers are great / you are a great man of God etc.. Don’t fall for that.. Watch and look out when some one praises you. It may be a temptation to make you fall down.
Matthew 4:6 '“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘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.’ ” '
Jesus response was Matthew 4:7 'Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” '
Learning from Jesus - We should apply to our life
Jesus did not prove to satan that he is “Son of God” , likewise we also need not prove to satan that we are a “Child of God”
When you are tested on your holiness he will use the word of God to test you. Satan used the word of God “For it is written:” Jesus did overcome only with the word of God to say “It is also written” , Meditating the word day / night and living close to him is the only defence for us.
Since we are children of God, Jesus gives us some more ways to defend this holiness. Paul gives details on this to the Romans.
Romans 12:1'Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. '
Offer your body as a living sacrifice to make yourself holy. Satan is after the body that is unholy. if we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. The Holy Spirit will guard us from this torments of Satan
Holy Spirit will help give the words like how Jesus was helped “its also written”
We are to offer this kind of prayer every morning as we get out of the world to be protected with God’s Holy Spirit
Don’t be a loner - you need to have fellowship with God’s children - a person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, two or three cannot be defeated.
Ecclesiastes 4:9,12 'Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. '
Meet with believers regularly at home for bible meditation
Be part of Carecell meeting or prayer group (Men or women’s fellowship) to strengthen your walk with God
When you have this kind of fellowship, they can help you in times of trouble Ecclesiastes 4:10-11 'If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? '
“Away from me, Satan” - Matthew 4:10 'Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” '
We are his sons and daughters, we are clothed with his body and covered with the blood of Jesus.
We are to use the words of Jesus to resist the devil head on In Jesus Name I say - “Away from me Satan”
Once we resist the devil, temptation will leave.. we will also be surrounded by Angels that Jesus sends for us to rescue..
3rd Target of Temptation is worldly
Matthew 4:8 'Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. '
The world and the kingdoms of world are fully controlled by devil. So remember this.. the world we live in is controlled by him, soon that will come to a end. And the devil knows that ,hence he will use all the powers of the world to entice us to temptations with the world.
He showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world , this means he can take us to far away to a new place which may be pretty than where you live to make you fall in temptations.
He not only has the world, he has many beauties of the world. Note the word “their splendour” - this can be of objects of world - beautiful man (for woman), beautiful woman (for men), beautiful homes, money, job title ~ anything that may lead us to lust is what this “this splendour” means..
Matthew 4:9 '“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” '
He wants us to worship the world instead of God whom we worship, the lusts of the world can lead to worshiping satan, we need these in world but that cannot be the primary when we are separated in God. All our life principles should evolve primary with Jesus and secondary to the world. The word is clear to us Matthew 22:37-38 'Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. '
Learning from Jesus - We should apply to our life
When Satan entices us with the “Splendour”
To say you are missing out - don’t be worried or worked up by looking at others who make more money than you, living a comfortable life than you, its a trap to get into his plans..
That attitude of us to compare is a trap of satan to his splendour - believe the word to seek God thru meditation and prayer - Matthew 6:33 'But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. '
Promise is clear, when we look to him he will provide all that is needed for us to live in the world - good food to eat (thats free from sickness / Plagues that comes from God’s wrath), Good place to live (free from all the troubles / tribulations of God’s wrath), the resources ( the college to study / Places to work or kind of business to do that is needed for us to take care of things in world, read thru all the patriarch (Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Job etc..) all were rich even after following God, they had their eyes on God to be rich in world, not the other way around..
Overcome the world with Paul’s advice on how to deal with the mind
Romans 12:2 'Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. '
We have to renew our mind by transforming that with God’s word and his Holy Spirit without that we cannot overcome the mindset of world.
Only when we are rooted to the Word - we will be able test all these lust and understand what is God’s will.
Job’s life lessons - Job 31:1 '“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman. '
The lust can hit us at any age in our life, Job had 10 children (7 son / 3 daughter) prior to trial and post trial he was restored with that many..
Warning for Men - Lust here is against Woman, Warning to Women is not to lust against men. Thats how we should read thru..
So Job’s advice is not to look at young woman so that we don’t fall under trap. Ask God to help you in this..
Our flesh is weak, we cannot overcome these temptations unless we follow the advice of Jesus
Matthew 26:41 '“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” '
Without prayer we will fall into temptation.
Prayer is the big wall to protect us from the temptations.
Pray with a wresting attitude with God to ask him, like how Jacob was wrestled with God at Bethel and was broken to become a Peniel Genesis 32:26,28,30 'Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” '
“Away from me, Satan” - Matthew 4:10 'Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” '
We are his sons and daughters, we are clothed with his body and all his crowns of victory
We are to use the words of Jesus to take the temptations head on In Jesus Name I say - “Away from me Satan”
Satan can bring this temptations in any order, its not a serial order, he can take and use against us in any order.. We have to take cover under our Saviour to be protected. Take refuge under his blood to overcome the temptations Romans 6:11-12 'In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ' Remember Satan can tempt, but the one whom we worship is greater and bigger than Satan and at his name he trembles, we can overcome anything that comes our way with His help & His name is Jesus 1 John 4:4 'You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. '