+DEV+ Temptation Resisted

Date: June 10, 2009 11:56 PM

Topic: +DEV+ Temptation Resisted

Temptation Resisted

Scripture Focus: Matthew 4:1-11

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

“I believe Satan to exist for two reasons: first, the Bible says so; and second, I’ve done business with him,” so says D.L. Moody.

Though Satan is a fallen angel and we cannot see him, he is a being with whom we have to deal. A relationship with Satan is one we certainly want to destroy, not build. Before Jesus began His public ministry, He demonstrated how to do so by overcoming Satan’s temptations. We can learn much from this encounter.

Satan tempted Jesus in the same areas he tempts us today the cravings of our flesh, the lust of our eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). First, he tried to get Jesus to act independent from God; next he tempted Jesus with the boastful pride of life to test God; and finally he appealed to the lust of the eyes to get Jesus to become King by avoiding following God’s will to the cross. To each of these temptations, Jesus used appropriate Scripture to resist temptation. He is available to enable us to resist temptation today.

Insight: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).