Satanic Temptations

Mike Hosey, An Elder

In his war against us, Satan uses quite a few tactics.  He can attack our families (Job 1:1-22, Job 2:1-13). He can attack our bodies (John 9:14-17). And he can cause us to do his evil work (Acts 16:16-18). But as powerful and as horrible as these tactics may seem, they are the weakest, the least horrific, and least used in his arsenal.

He used his biggest guns against Jesus, and more often than not, he uses those same guns against us.  In fact, Satan is so serious about the war that he is waging that he attempted to take down Jesus face to face. You’ll find that story in Matthew 4:1-11. It’s there that Satan tempts the actual creator of the universe (John 1:1-3). Jesus had been fasting for forty days and forty nights, so Satan tempts him by focusing on biological needs.  Jesus answers with the word of God, and wins the moment by pointing out that people live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, and not by every morsel they put in their own mouths. Satan then tempts him by focusing on human pride. He reminds him that God has commanded angels to protect him, then tempts him to jump from a high place. Once again, Jesus answers with scripture, reminding Satan that one does not test God. Finally, Satan tempts him by focusing on another kind of pride by telling him that all the cities he can see from a high place would be his if he would just bow down and worship him. Jesus reminds Satan that one is to worship no other God but the true God. Satan was trying to get into the mind of Christ.  This is because Satan knows that the real battlefield is in the mind. It is also the same reason, perhaps, that one cannot please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). What we think and believe creates what we do.  If Satan could get Jesus to walk by sight and not by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) then he has won a great deal of the battle.  He will do the same thing to you.  His temptations and mind games are far more powerful than anything he can do to your body, to your family, or by magically causing you to do his evil work.  

Think about it, if he can get you to walk by sight instead of faith in the word of God, then he doesn’t have to hurt your body, or your family, or get you to do his evil work. You’ll do all of that yourself. Consider just one sin of indulgence in the "beautiful feelings" or "beautiful friendships" one might see in drugs or alcohol. This can lead to you destroying your body, destroying your family, and advancing Satan’s kingdom everywhere you go - leaving an ungodly trail of debris.

So live out the word of God like Jesus, and defeat Satan and his wiles.