SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1288

“The Tempter Came”

And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” – Matthew 4:2-3

Jesus was hungry, and the tempter came. Perhaps you have been in a time of fasting and prayer in preparation for the Easter celebration of our Lord’s resurrection. Have you experienced the temptation to break the fast and give in to the flesh?

Fasting is a self-imposed ‘law’, and it is in our nature to break the law. ‘Wet Paint – Do Not Touch’, and we touch it. ‘Speed Limit 55’, and we set our cruise control for 60.

Beginning with ‘but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat’ and the Ten Commandments, God’s Law reveals to us how utterly powerless our flesh is to be righteous before Him. This revelation from the Law drives us to look to Jesus for help. The tempter comes and seeks to deceive and keep us from seeing the light of the Gospel.

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. – 2 Corinthians 4:4

The Tempter Comes When We Are Pridefully Self-Sufficient

Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. – 1 Corinthians 10:12

The deceiver tells us that we can be good enough and righteous enough in our own strength to earn salvation. The Truth is that only Jesus can keep us from falling and present us faultless before God.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. – 1 John 1:8

The Tempter Comes When We Choose To Walk In The Shadows

Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” For at one time, you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. – John 8:12; Ephesians 5:8

Our flesh desires the pleasures of this world, some of which are detrimental to our physical and spiritual well-being. So, on occasion, we ‘dip our toe’ in the shadows of sin. We will watch that movie, play that game, go to that bar, flirt with that person, or fellowship with the wrong crowd thinking that we ‘can handle it’. The reality is that walking in the shadows becomes more frequent and the shadows eventually become a walk in the darkness.

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. – 1 John 1:6

The Tempter Comes When We Are Weakened

Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. – Proverbs 23:4

Many people are forced to work long hours and multiple jobs to provide for their families in this tough economy. However, many more of us need to be honest with ourselves as to our motives regarding excess work. Many of us are chasing the mammon of the world: money, power, and prestige and it takes a toll on our physical, emotional, and spiritual health making us vulnerable to the tempter.

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction; It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil… – 1 Timothy 6:9; Psalm 127:2

The Tempter Comes When We Love The World

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world… – 1 John 2:15-17

The deceiver tells us that ‘The one who dies with the most toys, wins.’ Jesus tells us that we cannot serve two masters.

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. – Matthew 6:24

The Tempter Comes Even When We Are In Fellowship With Believers

Little children, let no one deceive you; And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. – 1 John 3:7; 2 Corinthians 11:14

It is not enough to be a ‘church goer’. The deceiver used Scripture to tempt Jesus in the desert and he will use it out of context to deceive us today. We must avoid religiosity and seek a relationship with Jesus. We must study the Word – the whole counsel of the Word, and not just be spoon fed a denominational doctrine of man a few times each month.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits…; Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. – Matthew 7:15-16; Ephesians 5:6

May you walk in the light of Christ, equipped for the spiritual battle that will come against you.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. – Ephesians 6:11