When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time...
Luke 4:11
What a journey! Three times he was tempted and three times he overcame. Jesus overcame all the temptations of the devil, setting an example for us that when we are tempted we do not have to yield; there’s a way out.
Let’s now take a few steps back and examine the weapons with which our Lord was able to overcome the temptations of the devil.
First, Jesus was able to resist these temptations because He walked in the fullness of the Word and of the Spirit; these two are the resources for Christian living and they must work together. There is no such thing as being full of the Spirit and empty of the Word or being full of the Word and empty of the Spirit. Too much Word and not enough Spirit and you puff up (in the sense of pride). Too much Spirit and not enough Word and you blow up. With the Word and the Spirit together, you grow up.
Secondly, Jesus was prepared for this moment. The forty days of fasting were part of the exercise to tame his appetite; to bring his body under subjection not only in matters of food but in other areas. As believers, we must live daily with the reality that we are still on the battlefield with a restless enemy. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Only when we anticipate the possibility of a strike can we see one when it’s coming.
Third, resist constantly and continually. Satan is not stupid; he will not continually put his limited resources into an ineffective battle. If you want Satan to leave you alone for a while, you must continually resist him. Many are so attacked because they resist so little. When Jesus resisted him consistently, he gave up. James knew this secret so he advised us “So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you” (James 4:7 AMP).
May God grant you victory over every temptation of the enemy today and always in Jesus’ name.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the victory we have in Christ. Help us to walk in the fullness of your Word and Spirit, to engage in spiritual preparation, and to resist the devil continually. May we stand firm against every temptation, knowing that through Christ, we are more than conquerors. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
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