Facing The Tempter

Matthew 4:3-4 And the tempter came and said to him, If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread. But he answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

This was the devil, tempting a hungry man (Jesus) to do what was in his power to satisfy his hunger against the will of God.

The devil tempts us by showing us opportunities to disobey God. He brings opportunities in our way that are not God’s will for us.

What do you do when you are faced with temptation? When you are presented with an opportunity to sin?

Sometimes it is easy to see that we are being  tempted by the devil.  But often the devil tempts us from within. He speaks to our minds. He looks for opportunities when we least expect it.

What did Jesus do when He was tempted? He didn’t try to snap himself out of his thoughts, but He spoke the word of God: “It is written”. Again, he didn’t just speak any scripture, but He spoke the word concerning His situation.

Let us say your mind is impure…maybe you are struggling with lust; You can declare what the Bible says:

1 Corinthians 2:16 For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Declare: I have the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ doesn’t think lustful thoughts. The mind of Christ is pure. So my mind is pure, and it can’t accommodate lust and any form of impurity.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Let Us Pray

Dear Lord, you train my hands to war, and my fingers to battle. Teach me how to use the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God in order to defeat the tempter.

As I submit to God and resist the enemy with the word of God, may he flee in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.