September 2025 - Brenda H. Price

Scripture: Matthew Chapter 4

Have you ever stepped back and asked yourself what is temptation so great in today’s world?

What exactly is temptation? It is adversity allowed by God who purpose is to test or prove one’s character, faith and holiness. It is the trial of mankind’s fidelity, integrity, and virtue.

The book of Matthew Chapter 4 begins with the great duel between the seed of the Woman (Jesus) and the serpent himself (Satan). The tempter comes immediately after the heavens have been open unto Jesus. Right away we see that Jesus himself was tempted, so let us not think we can escape it.

Today, let us look at some of the subtle ways Satan came at Jesus, the Son of God…

· knowing exactly who He was, and

· knowing that He is who God has called him to be.

When we study this chapter, we can see the strategy of the enemy, understand his purpose, which can help us be better prepared when he comes our way.

#1 – The tempter came after Jesus was in communion with God. When we are private fellowship and communion with God, we must be watchful so that we do not lose what we received in communion with the Father.

· We are not fit to speak of the things of God in public until we have conversed with Him in private.

· As young ministers and Prophets, when we set out to do the work of the Lord, we must know what to expect so we can arm ourselves accordingly.

#2 – Temptations are our trials. We should not think it’s strange to be tempted. Instead, we must double our strength in constant prayer that we do not yield to them. Temptations not yielded to are afflictions.

Christ allowed Satan to do his worse temptation because He knew He had the power to conquer him, and to demonstrate to us that we have been given that same power to overcome all this temptations’ also. Since Christ lives in us, we also have the power to conquer any temptation Satan throws at us.

Jesus was confident in God’s care for Him in every temptation and in every trial.

#3 – The Purpose of Temptation. The main purpose of temptation is to get us to sin and turn our hearts from Christ. We ourselves can unknowingly tempt God by distrusting Him and complaining to Him.

When Jesus tells us to pray in the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ not to be led into temptation, He is referring to those enticements to sin that we might not be able to resist in our present state of spiritual growth and development.

Let’s take a moment to review Satan’s Tactics to Temptation:

a. Firstly, the sin began in the eye (Gen. 3:6) – Eve’s temptation:

Gen. 3:6 - "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat".

We must make a covenant with our eyes and pray that God will turn them away from the vanities of this world, and anything vain and empty.

b. Secondly, the sin of worldly things. It’s easy for Satan to deceive and destroy through the dangerous snare of pride and other shadows and false colors.

c. High development and achievements. Pinnacles of the temple (our bodies) are places for some of the greatest temptations imaginable.

Let us stay in communion with Christ so we will not lapse from the faith and holiness. Now that we know the tactics and schemes of Satan, the better we can arm ourselves and avoid his traps.