Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, and Jesus in the desert. Guess what? Satan tempts you and I everyday too. Satan is nothing but a fallen angel gone bad. Satan is an evil spirit who disguises him self to us in deceiving ways. He tempts us into doing immoral things that make us want to live his way instead of God’s way.

1.)Satan likes to tempt people when they are at their most vulnerable, or when they are physically and emotionally overstressed.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but from every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:2-4

Satan tempted Jesus after fasting for forty days, and He was hungry and tired. This time of testing showed that Jesus really was the Son of God, because he overcame the temptations of the devil.

God will test all Christian’s sometime in their lives. Our convictions are only strong if they will hold up under the pressures of temptation.

Are you ready to be tested by Satan?

2.)Satan offered Jesus the whole world because he wanted Jesus to obey him.

“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in 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.” Matthew 4:8-11

Satan tempts you and I today in the same way by enticing us through the love of money (materialism) and power in the world, and by our desires and wants (physical).

What temptations have enticed you?

3.)Sin comes in alluring and persuasive forms.

“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 a foot against a stone.”

Jesus answered him and said, “It is also written, Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Matthew 4:6-7

Satan used scripture to try and get Jesus to do what he wanted, but Jesus did not falter. Satan made it sound so persuasive, and still Jesus did not sin!

When we are tempted, Satan will focus on 3 areas that he knows we are at our most vulnerable.

1.)Wants, desires (physical) having sex before marriage, immoral and lustful acts, adultery, prostitution, homosexuality, perverted acts, etc.

2.)Materialism, money, power (mental) greed, striving for more money and power makes us not want to get to know God. Striving for status in life makes us rebellious to the ways of God.

3.)Pride! Pride stands in the way of humbling down to tempting situations. Pride is the root of number two!

Have you ever been persuaded or convinced to sin? How has Satan persuaded you?

4.)God will never lead us into temptation, but He will TEST us.

…”And Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:13

All Christians struggle with temptations. Sometimes these tempting situations are so subtle that we don’t even know we are sinning. But God has PROMISED us that we won’t be tempted beyond what we can bear.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

5.)Married couples can resist temptation! (Sexual sin)

If we have faith enough, God will give us the strength and desire to want to overcome sin.

“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to the husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone, but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” 1 Corinthians 7:3-5

Spiritually we belong to God, but physically we belong to our spouse!