Real-Time God

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 


Jesus’ answer to satan's temptation came from Moses' review of God's relationship with the Children of Israel in Deuteronomy chapter 8. 


God's methods in His relationship with Israel seemed designed to let Israel know He was involved in their lives “real-time”. Being the all-powerful God meant He could remain a cold, impersonal distance from Israel, but instead He purposed to be “hands on”. 


Understanding God is a real-time God is part of our growth as Christians. Sometimes God uses our struggles to teach us He knows what’s going on with us, He cares, and He is ever near. He may have inspired His Word centuries ago, but He is involved in our lives right now… real-time. This makes His Word alive... right now. 


Jesus was in a real-time relationship with His heavenly father who would provide for every need at just the right moment. He was feasting on that relationship, and had no hunger for a relationship with satan. Lord, let us live as Jesus did, by feasting on your Words. Open the Bible today and find bread for your soul.

The Primary Test

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Tempted : “to try to learn the nature or character of someone or something by submitting such to thorough and extensive testing” Louw-Nida Greek Lexicon

Jesus had just been baptized & declared to be the Son of God with the power of the Spirit and authority of Heaven. Now the devil wanted to learn about His character.

There are numerous aspects to temptation, but one primary test: Is my whole being submitted to the will of God, or can I be seduced by something or someone less?

Satan’s main task was to find if he could influence Jesus. Temptation may not always be a seductive call to open, active sin… it may just be a test to see if I can be influenced.

If I can be influenced by the devil then I have passed his test and failed God. Satan could never influence Jesus… it was impossible. He was influenced by His Father, and there was no room for another. Unlike Jesus, we can easily loose our focus on the Father. The first “sin” of the fall of Adam and Eve was the loss of this focus, and the submission to improper influence. They were tempted, satan found he could influence them, he took the advantage, they fell...

The War Of The Ages

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

After Jesus’ baptism the great war of all the ages began. It seems this was the appointed time for confrontation. Here we read of the arch-enemy of God facing the incarnate Son of God. Perhaps Jesus had been protected until this point, but now it was time for Him to know the fierce struggle.

The battles in this war continue to this day. Sound gospel preaching churches are in the devil’s crosshairs, because each is the body of Christ on earth. We must remember His struggle for at least three reasons: joining one of Christ’s churches puts us in harm’s way, He has felt the sting of battle, and He is on the battlefield with us. Oh… there is a forth reason: He won the war.

The devil's Despair, My Great Comfort

Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

The devil was a brutish amateur when facing Jesus. It seems unimaginable that satan would seriously entertain the notion that Christ Jesus would kneel before him, especially after satan’s previous failures. When we sum up all three of the devil’s temptations they seem feeble and desperate.

After reading this verse again I’m tempted to ask, “Is that all the devil had to throw at Jesus?” He offered a fallen, sin ravaged world to the one who watched with Adam as the sun first rose over Eden. It was so awkward, predictable, empty. This face-off with Jesus must have been the most horrifying experience yet in satan's forced descent from Zion's holy hill to hell’s dark dungeon. Hope, for him, was all gone…

Even his demons when facing Jesus said, “What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” Mt 8:29 Jesus, satan, and all spirit beings know how this will all end. The only blind ones are people who roam the earth deluding themselves that there is no accountability for their deeds, no ultimate justice to try their imperfections, no need for full atonement and forgiveness in Christ. Even the devil knows better.

I gain great comfort from these verses. Just to know Jesus. Just to point to Him and tell others, “I’m following Him!” By His choice we are eternally and inseparably linked. His destiny is my destiny. I’m glad I have no part with His opponents. I am so thankful I am kept by grace in his everlasting love.

Temptation...Over

Matthew 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

The word translated “Get thee hence,” is an intensive imperative verb. This means it was a firm, strong command. Jesus was finished with this conversation. Satan was banished. The temptation was over...

Oh that we could find such love for God that nothing could ever overwhelm our fidelity to Him. We are too easily tempted… too easily swayed by vanity… too inclined to listen and give time to the devil. May God steal our hearts! Even when offered the world may we see it as bankruptcy compared to the riches we have in Christ Jesus!

Pride... The Great Human Weakness

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The first approach the devil chose was to appeal to the potential weakness of pride. He expressed doubt that Jesus was the son of God. He tried to tempt Jesus to prove He was the Son of God by something that was, in itself, not a sinful act. It would have become sinful, however, the moment He gave in to satan. Sometimes we can be seduced by the pride-driven need to defend our status or reputation. This temptation was repeatedly thrown in Jesus' face all the way to the Cross... and especially the Cross...

Pride is a great human weakness that leads us to great sin. It is also the sin that caused the fall of satan. Isaiah 14:12-15

Proverbs speaks of pride:

“When pride cometh then cometh shame”

“Only by pride cometh contention”

“Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

“A man’s pride will bring him low”

What if satan asked you to do something that wasn’t necessarily wrong but challenged your pride… would you do it? Would it be sin?

If Jesus had done what the devil asked He would have proven that He was NOT the Son of God.

The Unseen Reality That Surrounds Us

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

There is a multi-dimensional reality that surrounds us, and within which Jesus waged war.

In chapter three we saw the spiritual world physically revealed so those present at the event would know that Jesus not only held supreme authority on earth, but He also rules in the spiritual realm. Throughout the Gospels we read of repeated attempts by spiritual forces to defeat the Christ, and His vigorous struggle against these enemies of heaven.

It is helpful for us to recognize that much of our opposition as Christians is beyond the perception of our physical senses. This is why prayer is so important. We cannot carry on the work of the Lord in our physical strength alone.

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.