And the Word Became Flesh – Part 4: Temptation

Article written by Brother Bledsoe

The beginning of Jesus’s ministry could be called anything but inconspicuous. He was baptized by John which was very public.  When He came out of the water the Holy Ghost sat upon Him in what appeared to be the form of a dove.  The heavenly Father spoke from heaven and declared that Jesus was His Son and with Him He was well pleased. However, from there it would seem to go downhill. He was driven into the wilderness where He would fast for forty days and be tempted of the devil.

The Word of God records this in Luke 4:1-4, which reads:

“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days, he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 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.”

Temptation

The devil, also called Satan, tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden. Here he tempted Jesus in the wilderness. Satan is a fallen angel. He is real, not symbolic, and is constantly fighting against those who follow and obey God. Satan’s temptations are strong, and he is always trying to get us to live his way or our way rather than God’s way.

One day Jesus will reign over all creation, but Satan tried to force his hand and get him to declare his kingship prematurely. The devil’s temptations focused on three crucial areas:

1. physical needs and desires
2. possessions and power, and
3. pride.

Stand your ground

If Jesus had given in, his mission on earth—to die for our sins and give us the opportunity to have eternal life—would have been lost. But Jesus did not give in! When temptations seem especially strong, or when you think you can rationalize giving in, consider whether Satan may be trying to block God’s purposes for your life or for someone else’s life.

There is a law in some states that is called, “Stand your ground.”  This law permits you to defend yourself and your property. God gave us a spiritual law that says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Count on it.

Pastor Jim Bledose - Prayer ministry and weekly devotion author at Life Church in Phoenix
Brother Bledsoe
Prayer Ministry | Weekly Devotion
Share This Article

Subscribe to receive Weekly Devotion straight to your inbox.

Keep Reading

Weekly Devotion

Rewind Your Brain

Do you worry about anything and everything? Do you expect bad things to happen to you? Do you listen to the doubters, skeptics and unbelievers more than you listen to God? If you answered yes to any one of these questions you need to stop, rewind your brain all the way back to the time that you knelt in prayer, confessed your sins and received Christ into your heart; because at that moment in time you knew that God had forgiven you and that He would bless and keep you.

Read More »

I Will

Throughout the Bible God gives us His promises and relates them to us by saying “I will” do this or that and most of the time they come with the condition by The Lord saying, “if” we will keep His Word and be obedient. In the Psalms the writer states, “I will,” do such and such but never seems to put a condition on God. We are to do what is right even when God does not bless us for doing so, don’t you think?

Read More »

It’s Not All “Hunky-Dory”

If you read on in this Psalm you will find that not all was hunky-dory will David. As usual he was facing some enemy and he was pleading his cause before the LORD. But in the midst of his trials, he was determined to praise and worship the LORD.

Read More »

More Articles >>

Post Categories

stay informed!

Event updates are sent out weekly on Monday mornings.

* indicates required

Subscribe To Receive Life Church News & Articles

* indicates required
Please select which articles you would like to receive. You may choose more than one!