Scripture
Luke 4:1-13 NLT
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.
Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”
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.”
Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’”
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.’”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’”
When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.
Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”
But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”
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.”
Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say,
‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’”
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.’”
Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’”
When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.
Devotion
It was a great day when Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tested.
When the devil came to tempt Him, over and over again, Jesus had an answer to defeat every temptation and lie that was thrown at Him, eventually forcing the enemy to withdraw from Him altogether!
It’s amazing how the enemy will try and use a partial truth to get us to agree with a lie. What he says may seem logical, but really he is just out to destroy us. We must realise this as Christians: the enemy ALWAYS lies and is ALWAYS out to destroy us. That day in the wilderness, he gave it his best shot. So why couldn’t he win over Jesus? Because Jesus knew God and was familiar with His Word. In the same way, the closer we are to God and the more familiar we are with His Word, the less likely we are to fall to the temptations of the enemy.
Let me use an example to help illustrate this further. Maybe you’ve come from a broken home or your marriage has fallen apart and you find yourself divorced. The enemy will use your circumstances to tell you repeatedly that you’re a failure, that no-one will ever love you and that everyone will eventually leave you. Now because Jesus was clear about what He thought of divorce, you may be inclined to partner with the accusation of the enemy and think you HAVE failed God by not making your marriage work. You could be tempted to agree that you’re a failure and that everyone will leave you. However, when you know God and you know His Word, you can easily resist this lie by realising that He will always love you and will never leave you, and that He will turn all things around for your good.
You see, God is greater than any attack of the enemy and when you submit yourself to Him and resist the enemy, the devil MUST flee from you. Be encouraged to draw closer to God and read and memorise His Word so that when the enemy comes to tempt you to believe destructive things about yourself or God, you can defeat him by God’s Word—just as Jesus did that day in the wilderness.
God is so much greater than the enemy; the devil has been utterly defeated by Jesus so we can walk free of all his attacks!
Prayer
Thank you Jesus for what You did upon the cross. You overcame the enemy so I can walk in victory and freedom. I draw close to You today. I want to know You and Your Word so much better. Please give me the desire to read Your Word more and to become more aware of the lies of the enemy so I can walk in Your truth and life.
Thank you Lord Jesus.Amen.
