Welcome to A Journey through the New Testament! In this series, we will systematically journey through every chapter in the New Testament, unveiling the marvelous insights that can be found in the scriptures.
My time in ministry has been like a big learning adventure, and one lesson that really stands out, especially when reading Matthew 4, is about how tricky the devil can be. Knowing his tricks can give you an upper hand when you're trying to figure out what's going on in your life.
Imagine Jesus, after fasting for 40 days and nights, feeling hungry. Even though He had been staying away from food, God's power was keeping Him going. And then, bam! Temptation shows up.
Now, think about those times when you're really connecting with God—like, you can feel His presence super strongly. Your spiritual fire is burning, and you're all set to do what God wants. But guess what? The devil doesn't take a break.
Let's get one thing straight: the devil can't control us, but he can try to mess with us. Right after Jesus finished fasting, that's when the devil decided to stir up trouble. I've noticed over the years that the devil often picks strategic moments to mess with us.
Before something spiritual: He tries to tempt you before you do something important for God.
After something spiritual: He wants to make you doubt whether God actually used you.
When you're physically off (hungry, tired, sick, stressed): He likes to strike when your guard is down. When you're not feeling your best, you might be more likely to do things you know you shouldn't. That's when the devil likes to sneak in.
When you're idle: If you're not doing much, especially in your spiritual life, the devil might throw some temptation your way.
During tough times: When life gets hard, and you're not sure what's going on, the devil tries to get you to turn away from God.
These are just some of the devil's tricks. But here's the main thing: don't let him win. The One in you is stronger than the devil. So, stay strong as you go through the tough times. You're not alone.
Written by Kareem Flowers, Sunrise with Jesus
Drop a comment below and tell us about a time when you figured out a tactic that the enemy was trying to use against you.
The above is a lesson on Overcoming Temptation