A huge part of our Wilderness journey is learning HOW to overcome the wicked one. Just as Jesus was led (by the Holy Spirit) into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, we too will go through temptations during our wilderness seasons, so that we can learn to overcome the wicked one.
Then Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 4:1 NKJV
I believe that it is important for us to understand that Jesus was tempted with the exact same temptations as Eve while she was in the garden of Eden. But praise be to God, instead of yielding to the temptations, He completely overcame each one. The reason I believe it is important for us to know this, is because it better prepares us for what we can expect during our wilderness seasons. If Satan used these 3 kinds of temptations to tempt both Jesus and Eve, we can be sure that he will bring the same ones our way.
3 kinds of temptations we will all face:
- The lust of the flesh
- The lust of the eyes
- The pride of life
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 lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15-17 NKJV
The account of when Eve was tempted in the garden of Eden
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’”
Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food (lust of the flesh), that it was pleasant to the eyes (the lust of the eyes), and a tree desirable to make one wise (the pride of life), she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:1-6 NKJV
The account of when Jesus was tempted by Satan
- The lust of the flesh temptation:
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
And the devil said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
Luke 4:1-4 NKJV
This temptation for Jesus came in the form of gratifying the flesh with food. I’d like to take a moment just to clarify that I understand that eating is not sinful. However, in this case, Jesus had received an instruction from His Father to fast. Therefore, we understand that the temptation from the enemy was to be disobedient to His Father’s will, by yielding to what His flesh was wanting.
I mentioned earlier that we will all face temptations of the lusts of the flesh. This does not always mean yielding to the temptation to eat when we fast. Scripture also helps us understand that the word ‘flesh’ can also be a reference to our old sinful nature. Let me offer you an example:
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication (sexual immorality), uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 NKJV
With this understanding in mind, we see that the purpose behind this kind of temptation is to gratify the desires of the flesh (the old sinful nature) with what feels good, or with what seems right in our own eyes. Let’s take a moment to consider why people sin. Often it is because it feels good, or we can justify it. An example could be gossip. Many people gossip because it makes them feel better about themselves, but that does not make it right in God’s eyes. Another example could be choosing not to forgive someone because they treated us unjustly. In this case, we can see how easy it can be to justify ourselves, but God has given us a command to forgive.
2. The lust of the eyes temptation:
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
Luke 4:5-8 NKJV
This temptation appeals to lusting after what we see, or anything that is pleasing to our eyes. It could be worldly possessions and riches, or even things like power and fame. I’d like to point out that money itself is not the problem, instead 1 Timothy 6:10 says that it is the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil. I believe things like greed; love of self; love of money; covetousness; power; fame, and setting our minds on earthly things would fall into this category of temptations.
3. The pride of life temptation:
Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt (or test) the LORD your God.’”
Luke 4:9-12 NKJV
At first, I couldn’t see how this specific temptation related to pride, but God helped me see it in Jesus’ response to the temptation. Jesus responded to the temptation by saying, “You shall not tempt or test the LORD your God.” Any time a person is willing to ‘tests the Lord’, it always comes from a place of pride.
God makes it clear in His written word that He hates pride. Proverbs 6:16-17 tells us the things which the Lord hates, and pride is mentioned first on this list. Proverbs 16:18 also tells us that pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Scripture tells us that Lucifer (now known as Satan – the adversary and enemy) was the anointed cherub who covered the mercy seat (Ezekiel 28:14), but it was pride that made him fall (Ezekiel 28:17). I don’t think it is a coincidence that Satan brought the same temptation (pride) to mankind that led to his own fall. I believe it was a well thought out strategy. When Satan tempted Eve, he said to her, “And you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:5)
We see in Isaiah 14:12-14 that Satan fell because of pride. He tried to exalt himself, because he wanted to be like God:
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
Isaiah 14:12-14 NKJV
Overcoming Temptation
Scripture tells us that Jesus went into the wilderness filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:1), and that He came out of the wilderness in the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:14). Coming out of the wilderness in the power of the Holy Spirit means that He came out victorious because He overcame Satan’s temptations. During our wilderness seasons, the Lord teaches us how to overcome the enemy – because it is through the power of the Holy Spirit living within us, that we are able to overcome temptation, sin, and the schemes of the enemy. We are not trying to do it in our own strength, but rather in the strength of the Holy Spirit living within us.
Jesus overcame every temptation from the enemy using the sword of the Spirit (the written word of God). During our wilderness seasons, the Lord teaches us many things, like how to use the sword of the Spirit to overcome temptations. He also teaches us how to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit who warns us of upcoming temptations, so that we can be ready to resist the temptation when it comes. The Lord also reveals truth to us so that we can renew our minds with His truth, thus safeguarding us from the lies and deceptions of the enemy.
I would also like to mention that Satan will most likely bring a temptation in an area where he last succeeded. In other words, if we have struggled with things like lust, pornography or sexual immorality in the past, that is where he will most likely bring the next temptation. It is good for us to be aware of this fact, so that we can be ready to fight off the temptation if it comes.
I would really like to encourage anyone who may be struggling with temptation to ask Jesus to teach you how to use the sword of the Spirit to fight off the temptation. God will help you, because He loves you and He wants you to have victory over sin and temptation. Remember that Jesus not only used the sword of the Spirit, but He also resisted the enemy. God knows what we are facing, and He also knows how to help us. He will give us a Scripture that will help us resist the temptation, provided as we act in obedience to what His Word says.
Perhaps I could offer an example:
If we are facing sexual temptation, the bible does not say to resist it, but rather to flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18). When we flee the temptation in obedience to the Word of God, that is how we overcome.
God also promises us that He won’t allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to resist. We promises us that He will make a way for us to escape so that we can endure the temptation.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
In closing off this portion of the message, I would just like to leave you with a few words of encouragement. Firstly, keep going and keep moving forward in faith. We may not have always resisted when we should have, we may have fallen into sin, but we can choose today to repent to God – knowing that He will forgive us. Leave the past behind you and choose to move forward in victory, because living in obedience to God will always bring blessing and life. The enemy will always make sin look appealing and attractive, but it will always lead to death and destruction. Remember that God is for us, and He has given us His Word and His Holy Spirit to help us. We can overcome, because Jesus has made the way for us to be victorious over sin and temptation. His enemies are under His feet, which means that they are under our feet too. Thank You Lord!
Having said that, we should never let our guard down. Scripture tells us that after the devil had finished every temptation, he temporarily left Jesus until a more opportune time (Luke 4:13). We should stay sober and vigilant at all times, because we know the enemy is constantly looking for opportunities to tempt us, or attack us. But God is greater, and He will help us.
Blessings in Jesus’ precious name.