He Relied On The Truth….

The Devil works in many ways, but his two must often, most effective ways are playing on your emotions, and questioning (or raising doubts) about the truth. Each are His way of deceiving us into sin. In Luke chapter 4 we read about Satan tempting Jesus in the desert. Each time he went after Jesus in His weakness. But each time, Jesus responded with what He knew to be true. Truth, as Jesus tells us in The Gospel of John, sets us free. Free from what? The power of sin. Feelings and emotions are legitimate and real, but they often lead us away from what we know to be true. Jesus knew this, and even in His weakness, He knew what to do in times of greatest temptation. He relied on the Truth to set Him free. We should do the same. He set us free from condemnation. Now allow His power to set you free from Satan’s deceptive practices. It’s not a magical formula, rather it’s a practice we all can use to deflect the flaming arrows of deception that the devil fires our way when he wants to put an end to God getting the glory He rightfully deserves. When temptation comes, recognize it, and respond like Jesus did. Go with what you know to be true. Your feelings may deceive you, but The Truth will never let you down. Ask God to protect you from the evil one. Besides fleeing, it’s the only way I know how to resist temptation.

1 Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where He was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.3 Then the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”5 Then the devil took Him up and revealed to Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 “I will give You the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7 I will give it all to You if You will worship me.”8 Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your Godand serve only Him.’” 9 Then the devil took Him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If You are the Son of God, jump off! 10 For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order His angels to protect and guard you.11 And they will hold you up with their handsso you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” 12 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”13 When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left Him until the next opportunity came. Luke 4:1-13