True Story:
Right before Jesus was driven into the wilderness to be tested by Satan, something very dramatic happened. At his baptism, the sky opened up, and the voice of His Father said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him, I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). God, the Father publicly affirms His Son’s identity. After that dramatic event, He led Jesus into the wilderness to be tested. While in the wilderness Satan appears and the first words that come out of his mouth are, “If You are the Son of God…” (Matthew 4). The Father calls Jesus, “My Beloved Son” then here comes the hiss of satan the tempter. The Father anointed Jesus, then right after He experiences attacks. The heavens opened up and the Father validated His Son’s identity, then right after hell opened up to cause Jesus to have doubts about who He is.
Hell opened up, but that did not move Jesus. Jesus answered, and He didn’t do so silently. He answered him – and He answered him from the Word of God. To human logic, what satan suggested made sense, but what is written in the word of God makes even more sense. Jesus used scripture to battle satan’s hisses, not some elaborate spiritual power inaccessible to us. Jesus fought this battle as fully man, and He drew on no “special resources” unavailable to us.
What does this mean for us as Jesus’ disciples? Why was Jesus’ temptation recorded in the bible? Why did He need to share this event with His disciples? As disciples of Jesus Christ, we will be tested and tried just like He was. Satan hates God’s creation and he sets out daily to steal, kill and to destroy. He sets out every day with the intent to cause us to question God’s goodness towards us, and to even question our identity and purpose, which Christ has laid out for us. From Jesus’ temptation and the way He dealt with it, know that primarily, Satan is a deceiver, and for those who live in light of the cross, deception is his only tool. But deception is extremely effective at leading us into sin and effective enough to cause us to live lives of fear, doubt, and unbelief. Don’t you dare worry, though! Jesus shows us that the only effective counter to deception is God’s truth, not man’s wisdom. First, we must see the temptation for what it is – a lie. Then, we must combat temptation with the Word of God. We must always build ourselves up in the truth and have it in our heart. Hide the word of God in your heart [Ps. 119: 11] so that you are equipped to counter the lies and accusations of satan.
With that said, don’t be alarmed when satan comes with all of hell to cause you to doubt or question who God has called you to be. Once you have said yes to God, you will have trouble in this world. When Satan comes, use the word of God to counteract those lies, and don’t do so silently. Jesus did it, and He will give grace to you so you too can do it.
If you have been doubting and questioning who God has called you to be lately, no matter what the lies and the accusations are, God’s predestination of your purpose still stands. Whatever the lies and accusations of the enemy are in this moment, use the word of God to rebuke Him.
Respond:
Can you identify any lies and accusations you have been agreeing with? Write down those lies, and then go ahead and search God’s word for the truth that will counteract those lies! Remember that all the enemy does is lie, and you have God’s truth that never changes!
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Angelisa is a Jesus enthusiast, Worship leader & Christian youth leader. She considers herself to be the old-fashioned type of girl who loves spicy food and belly bottom laughter. Among her passions are singing, working with children, and encouraging others.