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What to do when the devil comes and tempts you to sabotage your destiny.

Satan has many names – the Evil One, the Father of Lies, the Accuser of the Brethren. These are all aspects of his wicked character. But one of his names – the Tempter – describes the allure of sin in our lives. Consider the great men and women of God who fell to the Tempter. Adam, Eve, David, Samson, Judas. The truth is we’ve all fallen short of the glory of God at the Tempter’s beckoning. And it’s time we face down this demon coaxer once and for all and tell him to get behind us!

The Tempter uses what’s in us, of course, but let’s get beyond the generic discussion about the flesh and the carnal mind. By the same token, let’s not go the extreme of sexual sin or white collar Enron-style embezzlement. Chances are, the Tempter comes at you with subtler temptations that tap into soulish insecurities or impatience, especially when you are in a wilderness place. The temptation could be a desire to prove your calling to the world at the wrong time. It could be a temptation to misuse the Word – or take it out of context – for personal gain or to prove a point. It could be a temptation to pursue the wrong kind of power or idolize the wrong god.

Indeed, these are the very strategies the Tempter used against Jesus when He was in the wilderness. You’ve probably heard it said that Satan doesn’t have any new tricks. Well, I’m here to tell you he doesn’t have any new temptations, either. It all boils down to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, doesn’t it? (1 John 2:16) Said in different words, wanting our own way, wanting everything for ourselves, and wanting to appear important opens the door to the Tempter. I believe if we can expose the Tempter we can defeat him. When we think we are beyond temptation – in any area – that the devil sneaks in and defeats God’s will in our lives.

The First Temptation
Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit. (How about you? Without the Holy Spirit’s help, we’ll never thwart the Tempter.) The Holy Spirit drove Jesus into the desert, where He was tempted by the Devil for 40 days. After Jesus fasted for about six weeks, the Tempter figured it was time for the first test. The Tempter said to Jesus: “If you are the Son of God, turn this stone into bread” (Luke 4:3).

This is interesting because the temptation came with a provocation. In other words, it was almost as if the devil was saying, “Prove your identity by using your power – I dare you!” The devil knew right well who Jesus was, and he knows who we are: sons and daughters of God with the authority to bind his wicked operations.

Has the Tempter ever challenged your identity or your ministry? Have you ever felt the need to prove who you are in Christ, or the authenticity of your God-given gift? One too many prophets have been tempted to prophesy in the midst of large, expectant crowds when there was no unction. Jesus wasn’t into giving signs. He wasn’t into proving Himself. We shouldn’t be either.

Provocation aside, the first temptation sought to entice Jesus to use His powers for personal provision. Specifically, to create bread to satisfy his hungry belly. How many ministers of the Gospel have been tempted to use their charismatic gifts to meet their personal needs rather than to meet the needs of others and trust God for their own? Selah. Jesus taught us how to respond to such temptations. Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It is written, man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Luke 4:4). In other words, trust God’s Word. He is the One who supplies all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

The Second Temptation
Next, the Devil led Jesus up to a high place and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. The Tempter then promised to give Jesus all their authority and splendor if He would worship him (Luke 4:5). Bowing down to the Tempter would have meant Jesus could skirt the cross and go straight to the glory – worldly glory, that is.

I found it interesting that Jesus freely followed the Devil to a high place. He didn’t have to go, but He went and submitted Himself to the temptation. (Yes, it was a temptation or the Bible wouldn’t have called it a temptation.) I believe Jesus wanted us to have a heads up about one of the Devil’s tricks: offers of worldly fame, glamour and riches in exchange for our worship. Remember, Satan is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) and many are worshipping him whether they know it or not.

Along with the cares and anxieties of the world, it’s the distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things that creep in and choke the Word (Mark 4:19 AMP). If we fall to this temptation, our lives and ministries will be fruitless. Sure, we may look juicy on the outside, but the inside will be dry and flavorless. When the Tempter comes with this tactic – and he will – we must respond like Jesus did. “Jesus refused, again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy: ‘Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness’” (Luke 4:8 MSG).

The Third Temptation
When the Tempter failed on his first two cracks, he took the warfare to a whole new level. He sought to kill Jesus by tempting Him to use the Word of God inappropriately. The Devil finally caught on to Jesus’ strategy of using the written Word to counter his temptations. So he adjusted his strategy mid-stream and used the Word itself against Jesus. The Tempter took Jesus to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple, saying, “If you are God’s Son, jump. It’s written, isn’t it, that ‘he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; they will catch you; you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone’?” (Luke 4:9-11 MSG)

Can you rightly divide the Word of Truth? Remember, the Tempter knows the Word of God inside and out. After all, he’s had a lot longer to study it than we have. The Devil may misuse God’s Word, written or prophetic, to deceive us. But let’s flip that around for a moment. The Tempter will also tempt us to misuse the Word for our own benefit or to prove a point. That’s called the spirit of error, and it comes with the temptation not to judge our “revelations.” By the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established (2 Corinthians 13:1).

Jesus knew just the right response to shut the devil up for good. He put the Tempter’s seducing words into context, and said, “It is written, You shall not tempt the Lord thy God” (Luke 4:12). That shut him up alright, at least for a while. The Bible says the Tempter backed off. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Let’s not think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Yes, we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus, but even Superman had to deal with kryptonite. Our kryptonite is called the carnal nature. So when the Tempter comes, rise up in the Spirit, tell the devil who you really are and what the Word says. Remember, it is written in James 4:7, “Submit yourself to God, resist the devil and he will flee.”

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