REMEMBER: temptation is never sin!  Being tempted is not sinning.  Jesus was tempted; yet, He never sinned!

(NASB) Hebrews 11:33, 37 “who by faith…” 37 “…they were tempted…”

  Anyone who follows Jesus Christ will be tempted to turn from worshiping the living God and obeying His words.  We have the example Jesus gave us on how to resist temptation.

Christ Jesus was tempted by Satan — He was tempted to trust Satan to provide food to eat.  Jesus fasted for forty days and nights…He was hungry!  Yet, He resisted that temptation by quoting Scripture.  [Luke 4:4; Deuteronomy 5:3]
  “Man shall not live on bread alone.’”  (Luke 4:4 NASB)

Satan tempted Christ Jesus to rule the world at that very time.  Jesus used the sword of the Spirit, God’s word to resist the temptation.  [Luke 4:8; Deuteronomy 6:13; Deuteronomy 10:20]
  “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
(Luke 4:8 NASB)

If Jesus had said “yes,” to that temptation, by His choice He would have acknowledged Satan as being more powerful than the living God and He would have yielded to serving Satan and worshiping Satan.  Power and position are not evil, but they can be used as leverages to gain political advantage. Political advantages are found in churches, businesses and nation’s governments.  Be on the alert…be in God’s will and resist temptation.

Jesus was tempted by Satan again.  This time Jesus was tempted to test God’s very words concerning prophecy of Messiah.  Jesus resisted the temptation to test the prophecies which come from
[Psalm 91:11 & 12].
Messiah is guarded by God and protected by Him.

Again, Jesus used God’s words to resist the tempter.
[Luke 4:12; Deuteronomy 6:16]
“You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Luke 4:12 NASB)

Men and women in the Old and the New Testament resisted the same kind of temptations Jesus resisted…by faith in the living God.

Satan offers you the same kind of temptations – food, position & power, testing God’s protection of you.  We are to resist temptations to satisfy our needs apart from God.

Jesus did eat after He resisted the wrong ways of Satan.
Jesus will one day come as King to rule all the earth – in God’s timing.

Jesus did trust God His Father to protect Him – He did not need Satan’s ploys to test God’s care for Him.  And neither do the followers of Christ today.

Take it to heart ~

(NASB) James 4:7-8a “Submit therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…”

Resist temptation by turning to the living God.

Resist temptation to satisfy your needs apart from God.

Resist temptation to exercise power not given by God.

Resist temptation to test God’s care for you.

By Faith ~ resist temptation