The Lord Jesus Christ was both human and divine (Philippians 2:5-9). This enabled Him to work out human redemption (Hebrews 2:10; 4:14-15; 5:8-9). One of the examples that he left us (1 Peter 2:21) is that of overcoming temptation. What are some of the lessons we learn from the temptation of Jesus?

I. THERE IS A PERSONAL DEVIL.
    A. He is not some mythical character (Genesis 3:1-5; Job 2:1-2).
    B. Did he come visibly and audibly to Jesus? Or spiritually?
        1. It is not a question of whether it happened; but how it happened.
        2. “Moment of time” seems to suggest a spiritual vision of things.
        3. Satan does not come bodily in red underwear! (Hebrews 4:15).
    C. He is the enemy of all righteousness and all men (1 Peter 5:8).

II. TEMPTATIONS CAN CLOSELY FOLLOW GREAT SPIRITUAL EVENTS.
    A. Jesus had just been baptized and anointed. “Then was...”
    B. It was after Pentecost that persecutions came upon the church (Acts 4:1-3).
    C. He wants you before you are rooted and grounded (Luke 8:12; Ephesians 4:14).

III. THE HOLIEST OF MEN CAN BE TEMPTED.
    A. Jesus was God in the flesh. “If thou be” means since your are!
    B. The case of the young man Joseph (Genesis 39:9).
    C. We should never deny the possibility of it happening (Matthew 6:13).

IV. THERE ARE THREE AVENUES OF TEMPTATION (see 1 John 2:15-17).
    A. We are always tempted with temporal concerns (Colossians 3:2).
        1. These are bodily necessities.
        2. The poor are always tempted to distrust God.
    B. We are always tempted with the idea we can’t fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).
        1. This is an appeal to spiritual pride.
        2. The righteous are tempted to presume on God.
    C. We are always tempted with selfish purposes (Matthew 6:33).
        1. There is always the love of things earthly and transitory.
        2. The rich are tempted to gain more by unlawful means.

V. THE DEVIL ALWAYS STRIKES AT OUR WEAKEST POINT.
    A. He came after Jesus fasted forty days and was hungry.
    B. He knows where our soft spots (desires) are (James 1:14).
    C. It should be kept in mind that what is an easy access to one person may not be to another for the devil (Hebrews 12:1-2).

VI. THE DEVIL CAN BE DEFEATED.
    A. How? By the word of God (Luke 4:4).
    B. Why? Because it is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17).
    C. When? It must be hid in the heart (Psalm 119:11; Colossians 3:16; 1 John 4:4).

VII. THE DEVIL WILL KEEP RETURNING.
    A. He came back to Jesus (Luke 4:13).
    B. He came back to Peter (Luke 22:31; Galatians 2:11).
    C. He will come again and again to us (Ephesians 6:10-12).
 
    There is a value to temptation (James 1:2-12). We know that man’s temptations are tempered to his strength (1 Corinthians 10:13). And I would have every person here to keep in mind that you can come out of Satan’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13; Revelation 22:17).—P.O. Box 2597, Sylacauga, AL 35150