I have been looking at how Jesus handled temptation. In Matthew Chapter 4 Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. Three times Jesus is tempted and three times Jesus answers the Devil with scripture declaring that “It Is Written”. At one point in this discourse, the Devil quotes from Psalm 91:11-12. So not only is there a real supernatural evil being who wants to steal kill and destroy and who is a slanderer, liar, and accuser. Oh and by the way, he knows the Bible and how to manipulate what it says. Jesus answered the Devil with “it is written.” We don’t answer it is written because we don’t know what's been written. We give in to temptation and fail the test because we don’t allow the words of Christ to dwell in us richly (Col.3:16). Jesus quoted from the Old Testament all through His ministry. Jesus Recognized the entire Old Testament as authoritative. Is the Bible the authority in your life? When was the last time you changed something in your life because of what you read in scripture?
Why was Jesus tempted? Hebrews 4:15 tells us that we have a high priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses and that He was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. This means that Jesus really knows what you are going through and He has overcome! The war is over Jesus won the victory on the Cross!
When we are tempted, tried, and tested and we will be tempted, tried, and tested. We can come out wiser smarter stronger. Our faith can increase and our hope can shine brighter. We will be able to help others with what we have gained from this experience because the Lord has brought us through and refined us! Jesus fought and beat the Devil with the words of scripture and that is our best line of defense, knowing, doing and believing the word of God.
“They overcame him by the blood of the lamb” and by the word of their testimony, for they did not love their lives in the face of death".
Revelation 12:11