DAY 3 – SAME TACTIC; DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS
Luke 4: 1-13 – Jesus & The Devil
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
LUST OF THE FLESH –
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
The temptation was to draw his focus from his assignment to his hunger. Jesus’ weapon was staying focused on the word, “It is written ….”
LUST OF THE EYES
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
The temptation was to cause the things that Jesus saw to stimulate cravings or desires that would draw his focus from his assignment. Jesus’ weapon was staying focused on the word, “It is written ….”
PRIDE OF LIFE
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
The temptation was to provoke a desire for Jesus to be seen as someone great in the eyes of men. Jesus’ weapon was staying focused on the word, “It is written ….”
TIME FOR ACTION
•A strategy is a plan of action to achieve a particular goal, usually over a long period of time.
Formulate a strategy for guarding your focus:
•List at least one specific temptation you have in each of the areas that our adversary presents.
•Write a plan of action as it pertains to your watching and praying to guard your focus from these temptations. •Make a commitment.
DIG DEEPER:
1. The Blog Post – It Might Just Be an Illusion!
2. Prayer Room – Lord, Please Guard My Focus! (1)