The Devil Made Me Do It
The Devil Made Me Do It
A boy slipped away into the kitchen and straight to the cookie jar. As he was rattling and opened the jar, he did not know his mother was somewhere watching. He proceeded and put his hand into the cookie jar and at that point, his mother came. She asked him, Bill what are you doing? Bill replied I was trying to see if I will be tempted. This is funny, but true. We all at some point have been tempted and have given in to temptation. Jesus “was tempted in every way, just as we are –yet was without sin” (Hebrew: 4:15). What are the prime ingredients of our temptations and how can we like Jesus overcome them? Let’s learn from Jesus who is our example.
Luke 4: 1-13
“1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'[a]" 5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'[b]"
9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully; 11they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[c]"
12Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'[d]" 13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.”
We can make the make the following observations from Christ’s temptation in addition to others that you may have.
1. Who was doing the tempting – the Devil or another word for him is the “Accuser”. He is real and not an imagination. He will accuse you and I at the slightest chance.
2. Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit; was led by the Holy Spirit; he was in an isolated place (the desert) and was hungry after forty days of fasting. What a convergence of factors. I see from this that the Devil will tempt us at our strengths and when we are walking in the will of God. However, he will identify the weak point and an opportune time (our lowest point of resistance) to attack. The primary purpose of the devil is to talk us out of doing God’s Will. Just because you have discerned God’s will on a matter and working towards it does not exempt you from being tempted along the way.
3. “If you are the Son of God”. This was said to Jesus twice in this episode by the Devil. The proper Greek translation is “Since you are the Son of God”. The Devil was not questioning His Sonship but was actually declaring it. In other words since you are the Son of God and God, use your power to quickly short-cut the purpose of your mission on earth and avoid the cross. This was the real temptation of Jesus. This was a very attractive offer. It is the same for us today. The offer is always present for short cuts and for avoiding pain, hard work and suffering to achieve our ends. A fish does not bait on a stone but on worms and other edible items that promises initial satisfaction. Usually, when the offer is too good to be true, it is.
4. The first offer is always for a short cut for food and how to make a living. This is the “Subsistence” test. We have to keep our eyes focused on our true Source – God. Seek first His Kingdom and all these things (food and clothing) will be given you. (Matthew 6:33)
5. The second offer is for ownership, position and power. This is the “Status” test. Now that we seem comfortable that we can eat, we want more and want to be known by what we own. The issue is whether we will use our position to glorify God or ourselves? Who actually is on the throne of our heart? Satan wants self which promotes him over God. Notice that Satan is promising what is not his. Satan has been given some authority but “all authority and power” have been given to Jesus. Satan capitalizes in half truths and the things you and I will succumb to will be half truths that look like whole truth.
6. The third offer is for protection. This is the “Security” test. Have you noticed that we all crave for security and protection? The least un-identified noise/crackling in the house scares us. Security is the fastest growing business (house alarms, personal body guards, etc) all over the world. You and I will be tempted to be secure through many means without depending on God. “Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchmen stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1)
7. Jesus’ response was consistently based on the Word of God and prayer. Jesus made it very plain that He only gets His direction from His Father God. “It is written”. You and I can not deal with temptation any different way. We must study, meditate and live out the Word on a daily basis. When the moments of temptation come, you can only remember the Word you have already studied and hidden in your heart. “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). Garbage in, garbage out. Whose word have you hidden in your heart – soap operas, magazines or novels? Notice that Jesus was constantly praying and that is why he told us to pray “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”.
Sure, the devil made me do it. Not quite. “12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong,[c] and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” (James 1:12-15 NLT)
Let us understand what is at stake in every temptation. The Will of God being done in our lives is at stake and likewise the crown of life we will receive. Our desires trigger the temptation. Are you watching your desires though it may be legitimate? Really, the devil cannot make us do anything. Let’s HALT (hungry, angry, lonely and tired) because those are vulnerable times for the devil’s attack. “Lord lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
A boy slipped away into the kitchen and straight to the cookie jar. As he was rattling and opened the jar, he did not know his mother was somewhere watching. He proceeded and put his hand into the cookie jar and at that point, his mother came. She asked him, Bill what are you doing? Bill replied I was trying to see if I will be tempted. This is funny, but true. We all at some point have been tempted and have given in to temptation. Jesus “was tempted in every way, just as we are –yet was without sin” (Hebrew: 4:15). What are the prime ingredients of our temptations and how can we like Jesus overcome them? Let’s learn from Jesus who is our example.
Luke 4: 1-13
“1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'[a]" 5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'[b]"
9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written:
" 'He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully; 11they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'[c]"
12Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'[d]" 13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.”
We can make the make the following observations from Christ’s temptation in addition to others that you may have.
1. Who was doing the tempting – the Devil or another word for him is the “Accuser”. He is real and not an imagination. He will accuse you and I at the slightest chance.
2. Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit; was led by the Holy Spirit; he was in an isolated place (the desert) and was hungry after forty days of fasting. What a convergence of factors. I see from this that the Devil will tempt us at our strengths and when we are walking in the will of God. However, he will identify the weak point and an opportune time (our lowest point of resistance) to attack. The primary purpose of the devil is to talk us out of doing God’s Will. Just because you have discerned God’s will on a matter and working towards it does not exempt you from being tempted along the way.
3. “If you are the Son of God”. This was said to Jesus twice in this episode by the Devil. The proper Greek translation is “Since you are the Son of God”. The Devil was not questioning His Sonship but was actually declaring it. In other words since you are the Son of God and God, use your power to quickly short-cut the purpose of your mission on earth and avoid the cross. This was the real temptation of Jesus. This was a very attractive offer. It is the same for us today. The offer is always present for short cuts and for avoiding pain, hard work and suffering to achieve our ends. A fish does not bait on a stone but on worms and other edible items that promises initial satisfaction. Usually, when the offer is too good to be true, it is.
4. The first offer is always for a short cut for food and how to make a living. This is the “Subsistence” test. We have to keep our eyes focused on our true Source – God. Seek first His Kingdom and all these things (food and clothing) will be given you. (Matthew 6:33)
5. The second offer is for ownership, position and power. This is the “Status” test. Now that we seem comfortable that we can eat, we want more and want to be known by what we own. The issue is whether we will use our position to glorify God or ourselves? Who actually is on the throne of our heart? Satan wants self which promotes him over God. Notice that Satan is promising what is not his. Satan has been given some authority but “all authority and power” have been given to Jesus. Satan capitalizes in half truths and the things you and I will succumb to will be half truths that look like whole truth.
6. The third offer is for protection. This is the “Security” test. Have you noticed that we all crave for security and protection? The least un-identified noise/crackling in the house scares us. Security is the fastest growing business (house alarms, personal body guards, etc) all over the world. You and I will be tempted to be secure through many means without depending on God. “Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchmen stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1)
7. Jesus’ response was consistently based on the Word of God and prayer. Jesus made it very plain that He only gets His direction from His Father God. “It is written”. You and I can not deal with temptation any different way. We must study, meditate and live out the Word on a daily basis. When the moments of temptation come, you can only remember the Word you have already studied and hidden in your heart. “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). Garbage in, garbage out. Whose word have you hidden in your heart – soap operas, magazines or novels? Notice that Jesus was constantly praying and that is why he told us to pray “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”.
Sure, the devil made me do it. Not quite. “12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong,[c] and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.” (James 1:12-15 NLT)
Let us understand what is at stake in every temptation. The Will of God being done in our lives is at stake and likewise the crown of life we will receive. Our desires trigger the temptation. Are you watching your desires though it may be legitimate? Really, the devil cannot make us do anything. Let’s HALT (hungry, angry, lonely and tired) because those are vulnerable times for the devil’s attack. “Lord lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. Amen.
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