Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.

Matthew 4:10

There is one area that is common to all of mankind! – that is the reality of “Temptation” It has many faces, it's all around us. Sometimes there is a lack of understanding as to its source. If temptation does not come from God, what is its source? Well, as we understand scripture, it is a tool of our adversary Satan. In recent months, there is a sense that our security with the world is being challenged or threatened. When our world moves away from Biblical foundations, the battle intensifies for the souls of mankind. Temptation has lured many away from truth and find themselves holding on to material possessions, wrong relationships, some even confess their need to find some measure of strength through substance abuse. But let me say this: though many challenges have already been experienced in this year, there is the reality that people are being prepared for the soon return of Christ. Unfortunately, this truth is not fully embraced by the majority of humanity. Nevertheless, Christians take note: you need to settle this truth by giving Christ your life totally! There are some needed adjustments to be made in our hearts! WHY? because we are to have a lifestyle of Kingdom living. We need to examine our posture before the Lord - God is challenging our thoughts, our words and priorities - amazingly, He does it so effectively – HOW? when we remain in His peace and enjoy His grace. Jesus is revealing how to live with purpose in the midst of His unmerited favour upon us.

In our passage, Jesus has just been baptized in Holy Spirit, the Father has approved of His Son in whom He is well pleased by identifying Jesus as royalty. So Jesus is launched into His mission. Further reading discloses that He will experience a battle, He will face His enemy and it will be based on the reality of temptation. This is a very mysterious and yet powerful confrontation between Jesus and Satan. But what is also mysterious is the fact that no one else is present, Jesus is in the wilderness alone with Satan. Your adversary Satan has a desire – that is to disable your spiritual service, to distract your spiritual attention, and disrupt your spiritual relationship with the Father. Simply stated, Satan has a quest to alter, defeat and break-up our relationship with God through temptation. Have you had some moments where Satan is subtly trying to distract you, or disrupt your alone time with Jesus during these days of social distancing? Realize what is happening in the spiritual atmosphere, discern what is the source of this disturbance. There may be another source of temptation – that could be the power of sin still abiding in many Christians.

Back to our passage: This is one of the most monumental and mysterious spiritual battles of all time, its a personal confrontation between Jesus Christ and Satan. Look at the setting - Jesus is about to embark on His greatest mission, 40 days fasting, wilderness, alone and hungry – no one present for encouragement or advice. We could know nothing of this experience unless Jesus Himself had told His disciples of it.

So the baptism of Jesus by John along with Father’s approval established Jesus’ royalty. Now His testing in the wilderness demonstrates that office. When Father said, “this is My Son in whom…….. - this proves Jesus is capable and worthy to receive from the Father and reign over the kingdom His Father would give Him. This wilderness setting speaks of a solitary and lonely place implying a dominion where Satan rules, a place of separation.

Think on this : Jesus entered into a world held captive under the curse of sin to free you and I from Satan’s grasp. Jesus would purchase freedom for us only by living a sinless life and then dying a sinner’s death! Jesus demonstrated victory as the King, to reject and then to resist Satan, the greatest ruler of this world. But as well, Jesus becomes our example as to how we not only speak about being an overcomer but really resisting the subtlety of temptation and crush Satan's advances - personally, in our relationships and in the church. You and I are called to live victoriously over sin.

A final comment, the world system is also a source of temptation - the system to which we are influenced each day has a prevailing philosophy of the age that is void of God’s wisdom. That is very evident when we look at the arts, the entertainment industry and our education system – they reveal an underlying value system that is ruled by ungodly appetites and reasoning. It is unfortunate that we have allowed this to creep into society especially when our nation was founded on the truth of God’s Word! Our hearts need to be ruled by the power and presence of God. Proverbs 29:2 says “when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people mourn”. Also, 25:28 “ He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls”.

Satan wanted Jesus to renounce the way of the Father in this third temptation and of course to be the substitute, referring to Worship and Servitude. What is in your life that might distract your allegiance as we worship the Father? We will continue this study next time, but let me ask you this: What are you devoted to in these days?. Temptations will yield to one thing only – what is that one powerful authority in your life?. Whatever the source of temptation, Jesus Christ can help you overcome it.