* Tempted but Not Persuaded

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, 

nor powers, nor things present , nor things to come, 

nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, 

shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39

When our mind is made up to follow Jesus all the way with all of our heart, our mind, our strength and our soul, know that everyone is not going to be happy for us;  namely Satan.  He will make it his mission to turn us in any way that he can away from God; to get our focus and attention off of God.  That is why it is imperative to know God's word.  It is through His word that we not only know the wiles of the enemy, but also how to handle him.  The Word of God is our manual for warfare and reveals God's spiritual battle plan.  

God's word, coupled with His Holy Spirit, gives us everything we need to be successful and victorious against the enemy.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

One direct confrontation between Jesus and Satan came during a particular period of temptation by the enemy. In this encounter, one of the major portions of our spiritual battle plan was revealed. 

And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.   Mark 1:12-13  (Also see Matthew 4:1-11, and Luke 4:1-13)

In one temptation, Satan tried to get Jesus to turn stones into bread. The power of Jesus, which was later going to raise Lazarus from the dead, surely could have turned stones into bread. 

And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.  Luke 4:3-4

Surely, Jesus was at his weakest point physically; having not eaten in 40 days.  But to do so in this situation would have been acting independently of God and using His power for personal benefit.  The power of God residing within us is for His manifested glory that men may know who is the one true living God.

In another temptation, Satan tried to get Jesus to cast Himself down from the top of the temple. 

And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:  For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:  And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.  And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.  Luke 4:9-12

Note that Satan said "Cast thyself down." Satan could not cast Him down, because the power of Satan is limited.

Satan can persuade you to sin, but he cannot cast you down.

It is a truth, as the word of God teaches us, every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust. He is not forced, but enticed. In this temptation, Satan used God's Word to back up his appeal, but he misapplied it. Misapplication of God's Word is a major strategy of Satan. If we don't understand anything else about being tempted, we should know this truth from the word of God:

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.   James 1:15

In both of those temptations Satan said "IF you are the Son of God," do these things. For Jesus to have complied would have been admission that the verification of His sonship by God was inadequate. God had already spoken from Heaven confirming this relationship:

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

Matthew 3:17

Satan always centers his attacks on your relationship with God. 

The other temptation was an appeal by Satan for worship. In return, Satan would deliver to Jesus all the kingdoms of the world.  

And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.  Luke 4:5-8

Bright lights, big cities, fame, fortune, wealth, power, position!  The question becomes is any of it worth the selling of your soul?  Jesus asks the question:

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?  Matthew 16:26

In these three situations of temptation you can see the evil forces of the world, the flesh, and the Devil warring against Jesus. Jesus met the temptations of Satan with the 

Word of God. 

The Bible is a very important spiritual weapon and part of the armor of God. It is called 

"the sword of the Spirit."

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Ephesians 6:17

The Word of God is the only divinely inspired manual of spiritual warfare. Other books are useful only as they are in harmony with God's Word.

In meeting the temptations of Satan, Jesus used the Word of God. Jesus quoted specific scriptures applicable to the immediate battle. He did not quote passages of chronology or history from the Old Testament. Jesus said, "It is written ..." When you use specific scriptures, be sure they are in balance with the remainder of the Word of God. 

The scriptures must be viewed in their context and applied in harmony 

with the total revealed Word of God.

In order to use the Word of God effectively in spiritual warfare, you must know the Word of God. You must study, meditate on, and memorize it. Many defeats in life come because we do not know God's Word or the power of His word.

God gave Joshua the key to success when He told him:

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.   Joshua 1:8

Jesus confirms that without knowing the word of God we err in our decisions and do not operate with the full power and authority of God:

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.   Matthew 22:29

(Biblical Studies)

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04/13/22