“˜The devil made me do it”™ was said in a cute and humorous way by Flip Wilson on TV many years ago.

But is that saying really “˜cute and funny”™? I think not.

One of the many subtleties that Satan uses is”¦humor. Humor that Satan uses disarms us and makes us vulnerable. (There is much about humor that is good and of value, even therapeutic- we need to be discerning in how we perceive and usehumor.)

We need to be alert for the devil does prowl about seeking whom he can devour by deception and subtlety.

Jesus did not fall into the three temptations that Satan offered Him.

1- stones into bread

2- intentionally throwing Himself down from the temple”™s pinnacle

3- becoming King ““ bypassing the cross & God”™s will; worship of Satan

Consider this 2nd temptation according to Matthew:

(NASB) Matthew 4:5-7 “Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple,

6 and said to Him, “˜If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, “˜He will command His angels concerning You”™;

And

“˜On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.”™”

7 Jesus said to him, “˜On the other hand, it is written, “˜You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”™”

What are some things that can be learned about the devil from these three verses?

1- The devil had power to tempt Jesus ““ and he has the power to tempt you and me

2- The devil used real circumstances in Jesus”™ life ““ and he uses your circumstances and mine to tempt us

3- The devil quoted Scripture to tempt Jesus ““ and he will use Scripture to tempt us (this is another reason we need to know God”™s word for ourselves)

4- The devil tempted Jesus knowing He had the power to change stones into bread. The devil tempted Him when He was physically weak from fasting 40 days and 40 nights ““ the devil will tempt us at our lowest times and possibly where we are strongest

We need Jesus ~

We need His strength~

We need to depend on Jesus, never ourselves ~

Our greatest strengths are our points of vulnerability~

We need Jesus ~