How to Overcome: 3 Lessons From Jesus’ Temptations in the Wilderness
Have you ever experienced moments when a decision or idea appeared exciting and promising but quickly made you realize you may have just made the biggest mistake of your life?
I grew up in a family of six. Because my brother was the only boy out of four siblings, he and my dad had a special relationship and always wanted to do what dad was doing. One day, my dad was out back chopping wood, and my brother asked, “Hey, Dad, can I help?” Looking at my five-year-old brother, my dad agreed.
Moments later, my brother’s tiny hands picked up the axe just like my dad would have done, lifted it over his head, and immediately dropped it to the ground. Encouraging my brother not to give up, my dad told my brother to try again. This time, my brother carefully lifted the axe above his body, and his little arms gave out, dropping the axe right on top of his head. And very quickly, this father-son bonding moment turned into a moment of despair.
The Shift
Jesus experiences something similar.
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment, heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
Matthew 3:16-4:1, NIV
He embraces a monumental moment of recognition and celebration with his Father and is then launched into the wilderness.
One moment, Jesus is being baptized; the next, he is in total isolation.
One moment, Jesus hears from heaven; the next, he hears from hell.
One moment, Jesus is given a word from God, and the next, he is in a moment of warfare.
Can you relate?
We all will experience seasons of blessing and abundance that can quickly shift to what feels like abandonment and lack. In fact, the pathway to what God calls you to will almost always lead you to a season of wilderness.
But here is the good news – these times of isolation are the very places that will strengthen our character and faith. And we don’t have to endure them blindly. Jesus shows us how to press forward.
3 Wilderness Lessons From Jesus
The Test of Your Appetite
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
Luke 4:1-4, NIV
Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights, each day becoming weaker and more famished than the day before. (So there is no doubt in my mind that as Jesus’ stomach growled, he was thinking about a good, homecooked meal.)
Satan had been watching and waiting to tempt him, and when the perfect opportunity came, he chose the simplicity of bread. Often, Satan moves in paths of least resistance and tempts us with things that require little or no self-control. He also chooses things that aren’t necessarily harmful to us. God created food, and He called it good. However, the bread Jesus was tempted with was outside God’s will for him at that time. This was a test to distrust God.
Church, God will intentionally place you where your needs are unmet to see how you will respond to your hunger. Will you choose to fill that need with the bread of this world, or will you trust God to sustain you?
The Test to Distrust God’s Way
“Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are 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 foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Matthew 4:5-7, NIV
Satan takes Jesus to the highest point of the temple, in the middle of the city, and in full view, and tempts him to jump. This isn’t merely peer pressure to look bold in front of those watching; he tempts Jesus to step out of the alignment of God’s will.
Satan knows this location will hold many witnesses. People would be curious to see if Jesus would use his power to dramatically save himself, jumpstarting his ministry in which everyone would know his name. Satan was offering Jesus a shortcut, which ultimately would have cheated the process – God’s process for salvation.
The purpose God has for you will often require patience. Before He takes you to the place He purposed for you, He needs to know that you trust His plan and process without trying to do so in your own timing. Will you wait for Him?
The Test of Your Purpose and God’s Power
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” Then the devil left him, and the angels came and attended him.”
Matthew 4:8-11, NIV
The last temptation is the temptation of all temptations: ambition and power.
Satan once again takes Jesus to an exceedingly high place and promises him all the glory and kingdoms of this world in exchange for his worship. Satan’s temptation would allow Jesus to bypass the suffering, betrayal, and waiting and instantly take power. This enticement would cancel out God’s plan for His Son to die for us so we could enter into a relationship with Him.
Many of us claim we would never give our worship to the devil. However, many of us sacrifice our families for success, our friendships for gain, and holistic well-being for convenience. We have given up the very things we are called to step into for comfort and achievement.
So, how can we overcome the temptations before us and stand firm with our eyes fixed on Jesus?
How to Overcome in Your Wilderness Season
Anticipate the Wilderness
Anytime you partner with God in pursuing His will for your life, you can and should expect pushback. In these times, God tests our faith, character, and resolve.
James 1:2-3, NIV says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
Being aware of our wilderness seasons helps us stand firm and keep our eyes on Christ, the sustainer of all things. If you find yourself in a hard place, remember that God is faithful in the testing. He will cover you, and His grace and mercy will lead you through.
Know the Word of God
The word of God is your best weapon in the wilderness.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIV declares, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The truth is there will be many times in the wilderness when we will forget the promises of God and lose sight of His character and goodness. But when we prepare by immersing ourselves daily in His word and allowing it to realign our hearts and souls with Him, we will be equipped for anything that comes our way.
Submit Your Will to God’s Way
We all have dreams and aspirations, and if we aren’t careful, the very things that God has called us to can be birthed out of selfish ambition.
Looking back over the temptations of Christ, Satan offered him things that were already his – in God’s perfect way and timing.
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father.”
Philippians 2:9, NIV
When we submit to God and His plan, we can have confidence that we will flourish wherever and whenever God leads. Throughout our lives, God gives and takes away, but be encouraged; when we lay our hopes, dreams, and relationships before Him, He is able to do more with our lives than our grasp on it could ever do.
What are you holding on to that God is calling you to surrender?
Know What’s At Stake
Wilderness seasons are hard, and unless we know what is at stake, we may be tempted to give up.
Throughout his life, Jesus made decisions with our destiny in mind. He chose to endure betrayal and suffering while remaining faithful for you and for me. In every trial, Jesus knew what was at stake, and He trusted the Father.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1, NIV
Keep your eyes on the joy before you and continually remind yourself of what is at stake. Think about your family, your calling, and Jesus, who gave up everything for you.
He endured so that we could know Him in the wilderness. He persevered so we could stand firm and know that God is good and His plan is always better. And He embraced God’s leading, remembering that even in the silence, there is a sacred purpose for you there.
For more on how to embrace the wilderness, check out Pastor Jasmine’s sermon, How Will You Overcome?