(October 27, 2024) Dr Richard Winter shares great encouragements …

My other article this month (Can Satan Read our-Minds) highlights Satan’s awareness of three human traits that he can trouble us with— tendencies, temperaments and temptations.

Below we will consider overing temptations the Jesus way… and to start I ask a question: Have you ever been tempted by the devil? Naturally I’m expecting you to retort ‘Yes! Haven’t you?’ Of course I have, we all have! But have you ever seriously reflected on the incident of our Saviour being strongly tempted by Satan for 40 days… and how He overcame him?

Let’s look at three of those many temptations aimed at Jesus, surreptitiously disputing God’s word of provision, promise and protection!

1. Provision
Luke 3:21-22 records Jesus being baptised in the Jordan River and the Holy Spirit descending (katabaino) on Him like a dove (one of several Holy Spirit symbols). Filled with the Spirit, He was Spirit-led to start out on a walk (Luke 4). R&R time? Far from it!

Jesus was walking right into oppression, affliction and conflict! Directed into the lonely desert wilderness He would be tempted by the devil (v2)! Forty days of temptations yet we’re only told about three! Therefore it’s important to understand what happened and learn the Jesus way of overcoming Satan.

That Spirit-led ‘walk’ resulting in Jesus battling Satan, the source of all conflict, is a warning and encouragement to all of us about our own battles with the devil! So… never think that—

• The devil isn’t walking after you! (Most likely he is!).
• Just because you’re filled with the Spirit, you won’t ever be afflicted by Satan!
• When you’re ‘led by the Spirit,’ you won’t be lambasted by the devil! You will!
• Being led by the Spirit means you won’texperience the enemy’s attacks! (You will!).
• Walking with God, as every believer should be, you’re not a living target for Satan! You are!

But— don’t be discouraged, and fearful! Jesus won His temptation battle over Satan! And so can you with the Holy Spirit’s help.

Jesus’s 40 days of temptation was a time of fasting for our Lord! No wonder that afterwards He was ‘very hungry’… peinaō indicating a pining for food (Luke 4:2bNLT).

Most of us are good for a four hours’ fast, some for four days… but 40 days? My experience with fasting is that we start out well but soon we’re thinking only of food. If you make it for a couple of days your stomach shrinks and so does your physical stamina.

But soon you get into real prayer because the body and its appetites are being subdued. This is not a spiritual diet, although you might lose some pounds! Real fasting is a time where you desire to know God’s will regarding some situation, or decision to be made.

Jesus’ fasting in the wilderness was a traumatic one. Satan’s first temptation (v3) zeroed on Jesus’ physical weakness and emotional vulnerability, and subtly questioned God’s provision — ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.’

Think of it this way: ‘Jesus… since you’re you’re the Son of God, the Promised One, why isn’t your Father providing for you out here? Why would He let His own Son, the Messiah, starve to death? Use your power to satiate yourself.’ Sneaky. Huh? Satan is questioning God’s ability to provide simple daily bakery items.

Jesus response? Ignoring His own needs He quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3, His Father God’s word. Here’s the strong Message version: ‘Men and women don’t live by bread only; we live by every word that comes from God’s mouth.’ 

Scripture-believing Jesus won that round! But… what about you? Have you ever had—

• Queries like ‘How come you aren’t taking better care of me, God?’
• Devilish whispered thoughts? Hmm.
• Had feelings inside your little head: ‘Hey, I’m a child of God, a Christian. I’ve devoted my life to Jesus. Why isn’t He looking after me?’

2. Promise
Satan’s next temptation that day challenged God’s promise. Picture Satan in a slinky way saying, ‘Come on Jesus, come with me and have a look at this…’

Verses 5-7 tell it this way,  ‘The devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. Then he tempted Jesus: “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”’

• Folks, nothing has changed… this is still the devil’s strategy!
• Humankind will worship something— often it’s money, position, power and sex…
• Worshipping God is off many people’s lists.
• The Bible says that one day Jesus will rule and reign over the whole earth… but He first came to redeem us by His death on a cross. He came to save everyone because He loves us all.
• Even the devil knew this!

Let me paraphrase Satan’s trickery here… ‘Jesus, I know why you’re here. You’ve come for the whole world.’ And cunningly suggests an easy way out for Jesus… ‘Why go it the hard way, the painful way? You came for earth to redeem it back. I know what those Genesis 3:15 and Isaiah 53 promises are all about.’ (Genesis promise was that Satan’s head would be crushed! Isaiah about God providing a redeemer who would suffer much for sinful humanity).

Satan’s subtle teasing temptation paraphrased… ‘Let’s strike a deal— I’ll give the world to you. No need to fight me or suffer that cross with all its pain you’ll go through. Just indulge me. If you’ll just worship me now, you can have immediate gratification.’

Notice how Jesus responds — ‘Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve”’ (v8NKJV), referring to Deuteronomy 6:13.

Scripture-quoting Jesus won that round too! But… what about you?

• Ever heard tempting words about something that isn’t Christian, God-honouring?
• Whispers such as… ‘Just do something for yourself that you’ll be immediately gratified for.’
• Or ‘Can you really trust God’s promises.’

May your response be like Jesus’! God wants us to worship Him only, honour Him, and serve Him in whatever He calls us to do. Read, know and trust God’s promises!

3. Protection
Crafty Satan still dares tempts Jesus again.

Verses 9-11 tell that the devil promptly changes location and led the weary, hungry Jesus ‘to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple.’ Then he cunningly challenges Jesus, again quoting scripture— ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here’ he said, ‘For it is written: “He will command His angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone”’ (See Psalm 91:11-12).

• Satan knows the Bible better than we do!
• He was trained in the best seminary in the universe— heaven!
• He knows what to bring in— and what to leave out.
• What he now suggests to Jesus was not Gods’ way.
• At that time from the top of the temple to the floor of the Kidron valley was some 450 feet (137 metres) and if Jesus had jumped down – splat!

Jesus quickly pointed out that self-determinism and potential self-harm is not the way God works… in verse 12 He answered Satan, ‘It is said: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test”’ (Deuteronomy 6:16).

Scripture-knowing Jesus wins again! But again… what about you?

• Don’t place yourself in positions that spell danger!
• Don’t presume that God will protect you in your foolishness!
• Don’t go jumping off buildings believing angels will prevent you from being hurt!
• Don’t do anything else as stupid!

No one is exempt from temptation! The devil wants us to worship him so expect his wrath if you don’t —Jesus was whipped, beaten and crucified.

Procedure
Jesus’ procedure of resisting Satan was to use scripture… and the devil took off!

James 4:7 encourages us to ‘Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’ And 1 Peter 5:9 echoes ‘Resist him, standing firm in the faith.’ So—
(i) Stand Your Ground
Don’t run away! Stand up to the devil! Be immovable… with an attitude of ‘I’m standing right here, Satan. I’m not afraid of you.’

(ii) Study God’s Word
Jesus stood His ground on God’s word!

Face temptation head-on knowing scriptures! When you know God’s word you have an advantage. (That’s one of the blessings of being in church… hearing and learning God’s word).

• Bible-illiterate folk have no reference source of authority.
• God is our Father, our source of authority, and His word controls everything.
• These three tactics here will help you in overcoming temptation.

In the wilderness Jesus won the battle over Satan’s temptations — He succeeded victoriously! Then He ‘…returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all’ (Luke 4:14-15). It was the beginning of His ministry!

(iii) Speak With Authority
I’ve shared above about how Jesus dealt with and overcame Satan’s cunning temptations. But do note Luke 4:13Mge, ‘That completed the testing. The devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity.’

Satan will be watching us for an opportune moment… we too must overcome the devil’s trickery! Paul encourages, ‘We are not ignorant of his devices’ (2 Corinthians 2:11NKJV). Do be on guard.

John 8:33 declares, ‘You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ Know, as Jesus did, that God will not fail you regarding His provisions, promises and protection! Let our attitude be ‘God, you have promised to provide and to protect as we stand our ground in a world that needs your truth.’

Prayer
‘Father, we believe in your word. We thank you, Lord, that in the hearing of your truth there is freedom! Not only are we freed by it, but our faith grows because of it. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) says that “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes through the word of God.” We have heard your word, read these Bible truths and imagined them in our mind’s eye. Lord, along with these principles above, we are backed by your Holy Spirit. As we deal with our temptations, our struggles… we will firmly stand our ground, study our Bible and speak with authority. In Jesus’ name, amen.’

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Dr Richard Winter pastors The Connection Church, Huntington Beach, California. Link: OnlinerConnect@gmail.com
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