.The Temptation of Jesus.

Matthew 4:1-11 NLT

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’ ” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

When we are in this kind of situation, how is our respond will be like?

In the Scripture, Jesus was being tempted after he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. As human he was very hungry. His flesh was weak. Fragile — easy to break and need a rest and food to refuel it.

But his Spirit was full. He had God’s fullness at this time as he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. His Spirit was high with God almighty.

As tempter tempted him, first, he tempted his weakness— his flesh — his hunger. But Jesus thrown the tempter a Scripture “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Second, the temper tempted Jesus through his sound mind. “Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’

Third, the tempter tempted Jesus through the lust of the eyes. “Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus. Matthew 4:11

How are we able to be like Jesus? Resisting the temptation in this fallen world?

We should be like Jesus! We must understand that in this Scripture, Jesus was still human. He had his weaknesses as well, but he resisted it.

How he can resist it? He resisted it by

1. SOAK. Soaking his Spirit in the presence of God. The Bible said in Psalm 91:1 ” Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. Psalm 91:1‭, ‬3 NIV – The Devil will first target our weakness. But he know nuts! He thought that Jesus can fall as prey. The things that he was not aware was Jesus’ Spirit was strengthened and communing to God at that very moment. “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;” – Romans 8:26. Knowing that  God is already protecting Jesus at that very moment.
2. FILL. Filling and knowing the Scripture by Heart. After Jesus was not tempted his weakness. The devil’s second target was his sound mind. Li’l did he know that Jesus is guarding his heart with the words of God. Jesus guarded his heart by believing the truth of the Word by heart. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Jesus’ heart was saturated with Word of God and as in everything we do it flows from our heart. Jesus’ heart was so strong as he had fasted because God made it strong and full of wisdom that directs and flows to his mind not to be warped by this world.
3. SATURATE his Focus. Knowing where your heart is there your treasure is also. Jesus knows where is his treasure is. He knows his kingdom is not in this world but in the heavenly kingdom that the Lord is preparing for him. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19‭-‬21 NIV . Jesus knows by heart and mind that his kingdom was not in this world. He can never be deceived by this world’s deceiving glory. He set his focus in mind and heart to heavenly treasure.

Let us learn on Jesus’ ways on how he resisted temptation. He soak, fill and saturate. Early in the morning he will wake up to devote his time to the Lord. He will fast for him to regain the zeal of his commitment to do the will of God to him and to draw near to God.

Let us follow Jesus’ ways! Let he be our role model to resist temptation in this world.We need to have God’s fullness in our life daily!

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