Believers can not avoid temptation in a fallen world, but we can learn about its nature and how to stand firm against Satan by examining how our Lord Jesus went through temptation.
Man in his sinful nature tries to justify his evil actions. Based on circumstances, we often struggle between following our own will versus submitting to God’s will. Jesus’ circumstances were extreme. He was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, and having fasted for 40 days, He was extremely hungry. At this moment of physical weakness, Satan began to tempt Jesus by trying to make Him question what he was doing- “If you are the Son of God…” He was essentially suggesting, as the Son of God, Jesus should just enjoy His power and status and abandon the hard work of suffering and redeeming sinners.
What is the true nature of Jesus’ first temptation?
Your hunger must trump God’s will.In difficult circumstances, Satan tries to deceive us into thinking we are justified to disobey God’s Will. We must not discount God- God never changes in His holy and merciful attributes. No matter what we are going through- whether it be a pandemic, persecution, or suffering- we can not dismiss God’s will.
You are the Son of God yet God allows this?Satan always tries to cast doubt on God’s love and kindness. We read that it was the Spirit of God who led Jesus into the wilderness. This shows that God has a good purpose for every righteous suffering that a believer goes through. When we go through prolonged suffering, Satan will often try to confuse us to misunderstand God’s goodness, but we must always remember that God is good.
Be pragmatic.
Jesus was not exempted from learning obedience through suffering. It is a process that takes time and pain, but Satan tried to get Jesus to take the easy way. Satan attacks the church with this temptation today- to take the wide and easy way that leads to destruction, rather than the narrow and hard way that leads to eternal life.
Ultimately, Satan will try to challenge you with the question of who you love most- God or yourself. How did Jesus respond?
It is written…
God’s Word is the only weapon to deal with the devil. Jesus didn’t respond to Satan by His emotions or opinion. Without hesitation, Jesus spoke Scripture- “‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” He applied this verse to Himself because He was a man, just like us. God’s Word is our spiritual food, and we feed on it by faith.
Temptations are inevitable, but we have the means to overcome them by following Jesus’ example. Jesus prioritized God’s Word in His life because it was His essential spiritual food. Let us always remember that those who keep the Word of God are the truly blessed.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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