Temptation-The Enemy's Strategy of Destruction

[tsth]

How to Recognize It


Matthew 4:1-11

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.



I began looking at each step and facet of the temptation of Christ. Here is what I saw in terms of the steps that Satan used to tempt.


#1 Take something else in place of God's Word, in order to satisfy your own desires. (This sounds like a description of adultery)

Jesus used Deut. 8 to rebuke.

1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

(Also encompasses humbleness as opposed to the next facet of Satan's temptation.)

#2 Use bold acts to claim God's power, in order to boast that you will not be harmed in the process. (Pride and Flaunting) - regardless of the fact that you are testing God.

Jesus used Deut. 6 to rebuke.

13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. 16 Do not test the Lord your God as you did at Massah.


#3 Love and desire the things of the world, rather than God. (Idolotry)

Jesus again used Deut. 6 to rebuke.

13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. 16 Do not test the Lord your God as you did at Massah.


I can see the progression of the apostasy today, it seemingly happened in just this way.

In His Love,
Suzanne

[tsth]

I was reminded of this very process as I read this other thread regarding Warren:

http://fulfilledprophecy.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=9439

In His Love,
Suzanne

[BeTheMoon]

Great post Tsth!

[tsth]

Thank you for commenting bethemoon,

I was afraid that maybe it was not understood.

In His Love,
Suzanne

[grace2all]

Thank you for putting togethor this post Suzanne...This is such an excellent reminder for us, especially in this day and age.

Aloha,
Janell

[tsth]

BUMP

In His Love,
Suzanne