OVERCOMING TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS OF THE WORLD

OVERCOMING TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS OF THE WORLD

Jesus was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He is our perfect example of how to overcome the devil and the world of temptations and troubles (John 16:33; Hebrews 12:2).

HOW JESUS OVERCAME TEMPTATIONS

The devil, who is the god of this world (Corinthians 4:4), tempted Jesus with the things of world, “All that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:16). Jesus overcame the devil and the world (John 16:33; Colossians 2:14-15).

The Bible shows: Jesus was tempted with the desire of the flesh, after he had fasted and prayed to God the Father for forty days and forty nights in the wilderness. In his state of great hunger, the devil tempted him saying, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” But Jesus respond by saying, “It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city where people would be gathered, and brought him to the pinnacle of the temple, and tempted him with pride of showing he is the Son of God: “If you be 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 food against a stone.’’ Jesus answered, “It is also written: ‘Do not put your God to the test.’” (Matthew 4:5-7).

After this, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and let his eyes see the glory of all the kingdoms of the world. The devil may have appealed to what he thought was Jesus desire to rule the world, without suffering and dying for the sins of the world (Job 2:4). The devil said, “All this will I give you…If you will fall down and worship me.” “Away from me, Satan!” Jesus commanded, “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” (Matthew 4:8-10).

Later Jesus was tempted to avoid the pain and shame of dying on the cross separated from God the Father. His love of the Father and the people of the world drove him to pray: “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Luke 22:42). Strengthened by the Father, he died on the cross and “finished” God’s plan of salvation for our sins (John 19:28-30). He “triumphed” over sin and the god of this world by dying on the cross (Colossians 2:15)

HOW WE MAY BE TEMPTED

Like our Lord was tempted with the things of the world, we will also be tempted. There are things of the world we need and desire. However, the Word of God says, “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33; Psalm 37:4).

Nevertheless, some people seek first what they feel they need and want. They evidently love the things of world more than they love God. They might become obsessed with things like money, positions of recognition, bling: expensive jewelry, clothes, houses, vehicles, pleasures, food, sex, alcohol, drugs…the list of things is almost endless. In having ungodly passions for such things, the devil may use these things to tempt them away from God who loves them enough to have died for them (John 3:16). The devil seeks to devour and destroy whom God loves (1 Peter 5:8).

HOW WE CAN OVERCOME TEMPTATIONS

We can learn from Jesus’ perfect example and the Word of God how to overcome troubles and temptations of the devil and the world.

Remember that the Lord loves you enough to leave heaven and come into a world that hates him to die for your sins (Philippians 2:5-8).
Be born again and filled with the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-6, 16; Acts 2:38)
Be conformed to the likeness of the Son of God (Romans 8:29)
Deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Jesus. (Matthew 16:24).
Live by every Word of God (Matthew 4:4)
Pray to our Father in the manner Jesus taught (Matthew 6:9-13).
Submit to God. Resist the devil (James 4:7-8)
Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things will be given to you (Matthew 6:33; Psalms 37:4)
Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is…not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2).

Jesus encourages us by reminding us: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). After he overcame the world and its temptations, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). And he lets us know he has gone to prepare a place in heaven for us, where there will be no more temptations or troubles—a place where we will live in glory with God forever (John 14:1-3; Revelation 21:4)