DOUBT-TEMPTATION-STRENGTH

Luke 4:3 (NKJV)

Satan so tried to manipulate Jesus in the wilderness, just like he manipulates so many of us today, Jesus demonstrates to us that we must hold firm to our beliefs, our faith, and our knowledge that we can without a doubt confront temptation by our God given strength. In this verse we could see the three manners in which Satan attacked Jesus;

1. Doubt: “If you are the Son of God,” note that Satan tries to tempt us to doubt whether Jesus is the Son of God just like he did to Jesus. He plants the seed knowing that if we begin to have doubts about Jesus being God it becomes easier for him to get us to do what he wants. During these questioning times we can sort out our beliefs, strength and faith, then again these could be very dangerous times. If you are dealing with doubt be aware that you are vulnerable to temptation. As you search for answers always protect yourself, meditating on the unshakable truths of God’s Word.

2. Temptation: “change this stone into a loaf of bread,” Satan knew that Jesus could turn that stone into bread, and so did Jesus. Jesus being tempted to turn the stone into bread was not wrong in itself, turning that stone into bread would not have been necessarily bad. The sin would not have been the act of turning the stone into bread, no the sin would have been the motive behind it. Satan was trying to get Jesus to take a short cut so He could solve the immediate problem of being weak from fasting those 40 days at the expense of His long-range goals by seeking comfort at the expense of his discipline. That’s the way Satan works persuading us to take action, even if it is the right action, for the wrong reason or at the wrong time. Just because something is not wrong in itself does not mean that it is good at a given time. Many of us try to fulfill legitimate desires outside of God’s will or ahead of his timetable. Why not first ask the Holy Spirit to lead us into our decisions? Or should we let Satan get us off track?

3. Strength: Many times the Devil will tempt us through our strengths rather than through our weaknesses. He tried to tempt Jesus at one of his strengths, the power to turn stones into bread, the power over the kingdoms of the world, and angles. Satan wanted Jesus to use that power without regard for his mission. When we give him into the devil and wrongly use our strengths, we become proud and self-reliant, we trust our own powers with little need for God. We must avoid this trap realizing that all our strengths are God’s gifts to us, and we must dedicate those strengths to His service. 

If the Devil tried tempting Jesus knowing full well that He was the Son of God, imagine what we face every day, we know the Jesus is the Way, let Him lead the Way and us follow His example laid right there for all of humanity to see.


Rayed Redemption Ministry
Euless, TX 76039
www.rayedredemption.org