Thoughts On Temptation

“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.” (Luke 4:1-13 ESV)

• The Holy Spirit leads into wilderness situations where temptations happen.
• The devil is the tempter. This fits with Job.
• This happens to people who are ’full of the Holy Spirit.’
• The devil can speak words to us.
• The devil questions our identity. ’If you are…’
• Jesus endured temptation by solely quoting scripture.
• The devil can lead us into places. ’The devil took him up …’
• The devil can make promises and give earthly authority.
• The devil desires to be worshipped.
• The devil knows scripture, quotes it, and misuses it.
• The devil departs when truth is proclaimed.
• The devil may return at anytime.