Over-comers
. He is first tested with food while in a deep 40 day fast. Then, He is offered prominence over the angelic realm after He had “been made for a little while lower than the angels” (Hebrews 2:7). And then, Satan offers Him power above every earthly kingdom.
Over-comers
Do you know how to overcome the world? Jesus teaches us exactly how to do that in an incident that takes place in the wilderness, far away from any prying eyes or ears.
In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus leaves His home and is baptized by John the Baptist. His arrival is announced and now the King must prove His worthiness. So, the Holy Spirit drives Him into the wilderness where He is tested by Satan. During this time, Jesus teaches us how to overcome the world.
How? Through the Word of God. Take a look:
Jesus is tested in 3 specific ways in the wilderness. Satan tries to lure Him with pleasure, power and prosperity.
He is first tested with food while in a deep 40 day fast. Then, He is offered prominence over the angelic realm after He had “been made for a little while lower than the angels” (Hebrews 2:7). And then, Satan offers Him power above every earthly kingdom.
Jesus counters everything the devil has by responding with God’s written Word. That’s right. Every single response to temptation is a direct quote of the Holy Scriptures.
That’s the kind of power that God’s Word has. Just quoting a Bible verse is enough to keep you on target and send the tempter packing!
It’s a lesson for all of us to learn. When we undergo trials, when we are tested beyond what we can endure and when temptation gets the best of us, we have His Word to lift us up and give us an answer for all of our trials.
That’s the approach that Jesus used. Maybe we should treat our Bibles the same way.
Jeremiah 23:28-29
“… let him who has My Word speak My Word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the LORD. “Is not My Word like fire?” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”
