Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:

He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

7 Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”

10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve him.

1) Why was it necessary for Jesus to enter the wilderness for 40 days? (verse 1)

Temptation is never greater than when one makes a public declaration of faith. It has been so throughout biblical history. For example, Elijah won a great victory, then fell into depression. (1 Kings 18:20-19:18) Temptation happened to Jesus following His public baptism, and it can happen to us.

Sometimes, the wise approach is to retreat after a spiritual victory as the battle can leave us wearied and weak. We retreat to be renewed by the Lord. A retreat, however, differs from an unchosen wilderness.

I recently discovered that if Paul had never been in prison (his unchosen wilderness), he wouldn’t have had time to write letters to the churches. He would have preferred to be out preaching, instead through merit of his wilderness, he had time to write of the deep things He was learning like, “Be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. For this reason, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the day of evil, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.” (Ephesians 6:10-13)

From Machiavelli, to Churchill, to conventional wisdom, “never waste a good crisis.” Look for how the Lord is teaching and strengthening you as He faithfully leads through the wilderness. Listen for God’s direction! Years ago when I was driven into a wilderness, I preferred teaching children, but now I’m writing Bible studies, publishing devotions, and encouraging everywhere! On entering the wilderness, we cannot know how the Lord will mature and change us!

2) How did Jesus respond to Satan’s temptations? (verses 4, 7, and 10)

D.A. Carson commented, “Our Lord had to contend with the same invisible adversary whom we must encounter, but He had to meet him just as we have to meet him-not as God, but as man. The man Christ Jesus was tempted, and in His human nature He triumphed.”

Did you notice that Jesus responded to every attack with Scripture? Satan couldn’t battle the Word of God centuries ago, and he still can’t. God’s Word is the very best way to resist temptation and disarm Satan’s fiery darts. (Ephesians 6:16-17) Therefore, I strongly encourage Scripture memory when I teach and mentor others as well as for my own personal discipline training.

The Bible is our Sword to fight the enemy. If we meditate on it and memorize its truths, the Spirit of God will bring it to mind when we need it during battle. King David said, “I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11) Scripture memory isn’t just for kids. We, adults, need to practice it too. Are you treasuring His Word in your heart today? It could be your lifeline for an upcoming battle!

3) Did Satan truly possess the authority to give Jesus the “kingdoms of the world”? (verse 8)

Jesus’ resurrection defeated sin and death for eternity. When Jesus died and rose again, “all authority was given back to Him” and He gave that authority to us to accomplish His work on earth! (Matthew 28:18-19)

Satan now has no authority over believers in Christ, for Christ accomplished our victory through His death on the cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead. He has overcome the world! (John 16:33) Therefore, we have overcome the world! (1 John 5:4) His Spirit provides a way out from temptation so we can bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Christ has definitively won, but Satan still rules the kingdom of men upon earth and we live in a fallen world of sin. Paul indicates Satan is the “god of this age”. (1 Corinthians 4:4) Jesus told His disciples we would still have trouble on earth but to be encouraged for He has overcome! (John 16:33)

In the end, Christ will return to earth and defeat Satan and his demons. Finally, He will set up HIS Kingdom and rule the whole earth. (Revelation 21) (Bible Study Tools) Until then, let’s follow the Great Commission and tell the world that Satan has been defeated. We win when we trust our souls to the Final Victor, Christ!

This is an excerpt of Wilderness Day 5 Purposed Desolation: Digging Deeper at Gracefully Truthful. Click to go read to full article.

Wilderness