Temptations Series Part 2 - Aug. 23-27

5-7 For the second test he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. Then the Devil said, “They’re yours in all their splendor to serve your pleasure. I’m in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. Worship me and they’re yours, the whole works.”

8 Jesus refused, again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.”

Luke 4:5-8 NIV

Since the devil couldn’t tempt Jesus with what he needed, maybe he could tempt him with what he doesn't have and what feels good.

The man spent 40 days in the wilderness, the devil tells him, “Why not get a massage in Hawaii? Maybe some pizza in Italy after, and then some dessert in Greece.“

It’d be extremely difficult to say no. The devil’s tactics are also different this time, he doesn’t question Jesus’ identity, he questions his integrity.

It’s the same as saying, “Hey, no one’s watching, just smoke a little bit. It’s just a few drinks, what’s the big deal?”

Nobody would know if Jesus said yes to the devil’s offer, not Peter, not Paul and technically he could’ve started his ministry afterwards. But, he would’ve worshipped the devil, he would’ve said yes to pleasures he should’ve never been involved in. He wouldn’t have been eligible to die sinless on the cross for our sins.

Saying yes to the pleasures of the world doesn’t just destroy us, it destroys our future, our families even our hearts. Look at how Jesus responds:

“Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.”

Single-heartedness, meaning you’re not thinking twice about worshipping God and only God. This needs to be absolute. Choosing God one day and choosing sin the next is destroying the Christians of this generation. We have to reach a point where we can say no the temptations of the world because we know who’s in charge of those temptations.

If the Devil can’t attack your identity, he’ll attack your integrity.