Today I want to break down a few temptations the devil will use to try to get us off track in times of testing and hardship.  In a previous post, we talked about the purpose of testing. 

What is the purpose of Testing in the Wilderness?

Basically, God tests us to determine if we are ready to move to a higher level of responsibility and blessing. He wants you to remain humble (fixed on God’s will only) and fixed immovable (not easily swayed by fleshly temptations). 

Reasons you’re facing hardship as a Christian

Today we look into more of those temptations.  I already wrote one post similar to this where we looked at what the Children of Israel did in their wilderness experience.  That was an example of what not to do, but today we look at the life of Jesus and what we should do. 

Our Text

2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

Luke 4:2 KJV

Temptations the Devil Used

Through the life of Jesus we get a glimpse of how the devil operates to sway us in times of hardship. It’s really important that we pay attention to these stories because they show how the devil will try to come at US. 

11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2 Corinthians 2:11 KJV

Let’s take a look at a few of these right now. 

Temptation 1: Move your dependence from God to Himself

3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4 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 KJV

The first temptation that satan attempted to combat Jesus with was the moving His dependance from God to Himself. 

10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Hebrews 4:10 KJV

The ultimate goal when walking in God’s perfect will is to do only the will of the Father God. That means working in this life the way that HE wants us to. 

We can get 1000 jobs and work ourselves to death, but there’s a better way, and that comes by trusting in God to provide for our needs in whatever our hand finds to do. 

Satan will always come to attempt to get you worried about the future and overly busy.  If he can get you busy and focused on what you can do in your own strength then you won’t be focused on who He is. 

Temptation 2: Commit Idolatry 

5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

6 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.

Luke 4:5-6 KJV

This next temptation goes hand in hand with the first one.  Many times we allow ourselves to get focused on finding a way to wealth and riches outside of the plan of God.  We move to what our hand can get us. 

We allow ourselves to only focus on the world and its riches instead of on the Lord. 

This is really easy to do and can happen without any bad intentions. 

This is how it happens – thoughts. 

• If I had that money wouldn’t I be able to do so much good for the kingdom of God? 
• I really need to focus on my career right now so I can provide for my family.

These are just two examples, but you get the idea. 

Temptation 3: Testing the Lord’s Faithfulness

9 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:

10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:

11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Luke 4:9-12 KJV

Many times we will get right in the middle of a test and the thought will come, Am I really in the will of God? Am I really doing the right thing here… Things are getting pretty hard….

It’s at that moment when we might start to innocently question the Lord.  You might ask, “Lord did you REALLY mean I should be doing this? Are you sure I shouldn’t get this job or do this thing?” 

We start to test the Lord to prove if He is really going to come through for us. 

Jesus Christ overcame temptation by quoting THE WORD

So what’s the solution for all of these temptations? 

It is written.

The Bible is the answer to all temptations that the devil brings.  It’s vital that we have THE WORD on the subject.  We must know what the Word says about our circumstances and start to confess that over the situation. 

The Result of Testing is MATURITY IN FAITH

4 And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

James 1:4 AMP

After Jesus remained faithful in the time of testing, he returned to Galilee in the POWER of the spirit of God.  That’s because he was mature in the faith lacking nothing and God was then able to use Him for the work of the ministry. 

It wasn’t until after Jesus went through the wilderness experience that God used Him to perform any miracles on this earth. 

Contact Us

Thank you for reading this blog post!  Please take the time to comment, share or send me a message via the chat or email at [email protected].  It really does mean a lot to me.