Hello dear ones!  

In Matthew 4:3-11, I want to point out a few things regarding how to overcome temptation.  It says,

  • Now when the tempter came to Him (Jesus), he said, “IF You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “IT IS WRITTEN, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”  Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “IF You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:  ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”  Jesus said to him, “IT IS WRITTEN again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”  Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”  Then Jesus said to him, “Get thee behind Me, Satan! For IT IS WRITTEN, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”  Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

First, notice that satan will always tempt you to doubt God and His Word and also doubt who God has made you to be.  He did this with Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:1,

  • “Has God said?…”

Secondly, satan is the tempter, not God.  James 1:13 (ESV) says,

  • Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted, (tested or tried) by God”, for God CANNOT be tempted with evil and HE HIMSELF TEMPTS NO ONE.

Thirdly, Jesus ALWAYS quoted the Word of God to the enemy.  Three (3) times, Jesus said, “IT IS WRITTEN“.  We can see this in verses 4, 7, and 10.

Fourth, after we do what Jesus did, the Scripture says in verse 11,

  • …THEN the devil left Him…

Now, I want to ask you a question please?  What’s up with verse 9?

  • And the devil said to Him, “All these things I WILL GIVE YOU…”

Wait a minute?  I, SATAN, WILL GIVE YOU…???  Where did satan acquire all the kingdoms of this world and their glory? (v. 8). 

You might be saying, “I thought GOD was in control?”  Well, let’s see what the Word of God has to say in 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT),

  • Satan, who is the god of this world…

WHAT???   You say, “I’ve always been taught that GOD was in control ?!?”

When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost the power and authority God gave them.  Genesis 1:26, 28 says,

  • God gave MAN dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over the cattle, over ALL the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

Then in Genesis 3, we can see man’s fall into sin through temptation and shows how man lost his power and authority.  TO WHOM???  The devil ~ he is now the god of this world (system).  He is the one who oppresses, causes people to be sick and diseased, tortures and torments, NOT GOD!!!

James 1:17 says,

  • Every GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, Who does not change.

Our God is a good God, full of mercy and lovingkindness.

John 10:10 says,

  • The thief comes ONLY to steal and kill and destroy.  I (Jesus) came that they might have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, til it overflows).

I pray this encourages you and helps you to understand who’s who and what’s up when things are going awry.

You are amazing and so loved by your Father!

Lisa Gordon

Gordon Ministries