Word IMPACT!ಮಾದರಿ

Day 14

JESUS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL

(Luke 4)

Overcoming temptation releases the power of His Spirit in our lives. God thoroughly prepares the man and woman that He uses. He also tests them deeply. Temptations are attacks of the enemy on our character and identity. They usually come when we are weak. Jesus was hungry. He hadn’t eaten for 40 days. He was alone. Physically and emotionally, He was not in a good space. The enemy prefers to launch his attacks at times like these.

The challenge of the first temptation is to abuse your privileges. “’Jesus,’ the enemy said, ’if you are the son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.’” (Luke 4:2,3) The aim of the first attack is to care for our own needs. To silence the voice of hunger and the voice for emotional comfort. “You haven’t eaten for 40 days. You’re hungry. You’re tired. It will do you good. After all, you are the Son of God. You’re someone special and you deserve it!”

“But Jesus answered him, saying, ’It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God.’” (Luke 4:4 NKJV) It is not about our physical and emotional needs – it’s all about doing His will. May we find the grace to live by His Word. The Word will always lead us in the right direction – the direction of His will.

The challenge of the second temptation is to follow a shortcut. “Then the devil took Him up and revealed to Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “I will give You the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to You if You will worship me.” (Luke 4:5,6 NLT)

Jesus knew that to obtain everything Satan was flaunting before Him, He had to follow God’s plan for His life. That plan included rejection, false accusations, being mocked, flogged with a lead-tipped whip, the cross, being forsaken by God, and, ultimately, death. We should guard against falling for shortcuts. They usually end in a place where we don’t want to be.

We must close our ears to what the world wants to offer us. Close our eyes to its glitz and glamor. Not be impressed by those things. Not get power-hungry. Not jump the gun. Wait! Be patient. We need to let the Spirit of God work true sonship in us. “…For it is written in the Scriptures, ‘Only One is worthy of adoration; therefore, worship only the Lord your God and love Him supremely.’” (Luke 4:8 TPT) God’s word is sure. The process takes time. Trust Him.

The challenge of the third test is to abuse the Word of God for your own advantage. “Then the devil took Him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If You are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order His angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” (Luke 4:9-11 NLT)

The tempter wants us to use the Word of God for what we want. It may look very Christian-like and good, but it isn’t necessarily the will of God. It is very hard to hear God’s voice when we have already decided what we want Him to say. “And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” (Luke 4:12 NKJV) Tempting God is to ask Him to do what we want. Temptation becomes very real when we are not content with what He has given us. We want more, like the Israelites who tempted God in the wilderness. The miracle of the manna was not enough. They cried out for more. They wanted meat. Actually, it says, “they lusted intensely; so the children of Israel also wept again and said, ‘Who will give us meat to eat?’” (Numbers 11:4 NKJV)

He gave them what they wanted, but in the end, they paid a very high price. Many of the Israelites lost their lives. They actually died from gluttony! “So the name of that place was called, The Place of the Graves Caused by Lust, because they buried the people there who had lusted for meat and for Egypt.” (Numbers 11:34 TLB) They got what they wanted, but it left them empty inside. “He gave them exactly what they asked for - but along with it, they got an empty heart.” (Ps 106:15 MES)

Father, thank You that Your grace and Your Word empower and strengthen me against all the wiles of the enemy!