Matthew 4:3,4 Jesus was able to resist all of the devil's temptations because He not only knew Scripture, but He also obeyed it. Ephesians 6:17 says that God's Word is a sword to use in spiritual combat. Knowing Bible verses is an important step in helping us resist the devil's attacks, but we must also obey the Bible. Note that satan had memorized Scripture, but he failed to obey it. Knowing and obeying the Bible helps us follow God's desires rather than the devil's.
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Matthew 4:5-7 God is not our magician in the sky ready to perform on request. In response to satan's temptations, Jesus said not to tempt God. You may want to ask God to do something to prove His existence or His love for you. Jesus once taught through a parable that people who don't believe what is written in the Bible won't believe even if someone were to come back from the dead to warn them (Luke 16:31). God wants us to live by faith, not by magic. Don't try to manipulate God by asking for signs.
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Matthew 4:6 The devil used Scripture to try to convince Jesus to sin. Sometimes friends or associates will present attractive and convincing reasons why you should try something you know is wrong. They may even find Bible verses that seem to support their viewpoint. Study the Bible carefully, especially the broader contents of specific verses, so that you understand God's principles for living and what He wants for your life. Only if you really understand what the whole Bible says will you be able to recognize errors of interpretation when people take verses out of context and twist them to say what they want them to say.
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Matthew 4:8,9 Did the devil have the power to give Jesus the kingdoms of the world? Didn't God the Creator of the world, have control over these kingdoms? The devil was lying, and he may have based his offer on his temporary control and free rein over the earth because of humanity's sinfulness. Jesus' temptation was to take the world as a political ruler right then, without carrying out His plan to save the world from sin. satan was trying to distort Jesus' perspective by making Him focus on worldly power and not on God's plans.
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Matthew 4:8-10 The devil offered the whole world to Jesus if Jesus would only bow down and worship him. Today the devil offers us the world by trying to entice us with materialism and power. We can resist temptations the same way Jesus did. If you find yourself craving something that the world offers, quote Jesus' words to the devil: "Worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve."
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