The grand design of Satan down the ages in bringing temptation is to empty us (believers in Christ) from our stations.
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Just as he unseated the first Adam from his lovely station in the garden of Eden, his preoccupation has always been manipulations of holy saints. He desires to send us out of their godly inheritance.
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However, as believers, we have the Captain of our salvation right before us whose godly example we are admonished to follow.
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Looking unto Jesus the Author and the Finisher of our faith (Heb.12:2).
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As the second Adam, He was tempted in all points and yet without sin.
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Nevertheless, His victory shows to us that we can also emerge triumphantly out of the temptations that confront us daily.
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The Master’s Steps
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A cursory look at the temptations of our Lord from Luke 4:1-13 gives the following insights regarding overcoming temptations :
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1. Luke 4:1 –
The Spirit of God led Him to the wilderness, the place of mighty temptations.
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Thus, we should not count it strange today when we see ourselves confronted with many temptations, even when we are in the place of God’s will or leading. It may be in our career, marriage, friendship, discipleship (like Peter to Jesus) etc that He Himself has led us into.
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2. Luke 4:2 –
Fasting and other self-mortifying activities do not exempt us from temptations. Sometimes, the more spiritual we become, the more of the tempter we see. The Lord was tempted for 40 days!
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3. Luke 4:3 –
In temptations, we are enticed to doubt the veracity of what God has said and make God a liar.
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Satan employed this method for Eve: Has God said? (Gen.3:1) To the Master he said “If thou be” in a way asking him has God said because the scriptures has already said in Psalms 2:7 “Thou art my Son.”
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Satan does not come with a new thing you are not used to, but he will make the old thing look like new through illusion so that the temptation will be very appealing.
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4. Luke 4:4,8 –
In temptation, the only potent weapon permitted to be used is IT IS WRITTEN. Because this weapon is too quick for the devil to squash, and is too sublime for him to subdue.
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The words of scholars, self-thought, human ideas, quotable quotes, sound philosophical jargon, etc are all in the realm where Satan can manipulate, but the Word of God is forever settled in heaven and there Lucifer cannot decipher its potent power.
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5. Luke 4:5-7 –
In temptation, you will be presented with an offer that is actually yours in the purest sense, so it won’t be yours after senseless lust.
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In reality, one day the kingdoms of this world will become that of our God and of His Christ.
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The devil wanted Christ to prematurely have what God had ordained… on his own terms but not on God’s terms.
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If we fall to this kind of evil plot, it makes us drink our water for money and our wood to be sold unto us (Lam.5:4).
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6. Luke 4:14 –
For every significant season before you, be ready for serious temptations. Just like Christ, for us to enter our next level of prophetic manifestations, it is imperative for us to gain victory over temptations before us for us to have circumstances behind us.
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7. Luke 4:13 –
Every plot and temptations of the devil have an end because he has an end. But the plan of God has no end because He is an endless God.
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The temptation always has an end. The pressure will not continue.
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For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. (Pro.23:18)
For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end. (Luke 22:37 )
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Therefore, dear young professional, be resolved to overcome like the second Adam did, and it shall end well.
