Break-up Attempts

Today we talked through Luke 4:1-13

In this passage, Jesus suffers through 40 days of temptations. Following his example can help us as we face similar temptations.


Knowing the temptor's (or "the weasel's") strategy helps us. His ultimate goal is to try to break-up our relationship with God. Here are the ways he tempted Jesus:

Temptation 1 The temptation to meet a legitimate desire, illegitimately. Jesus was hungry, and he tempted Jesus to make bread from stones. Hunger is a legitimate desire. We all have real desires given to us from God. The desire for sex, happiness, acceptance, etc.. However, the weasel says - you need to meet those desires "my way". Jesus said, "Man needs more than bread for life." In other words - the only way those legit desires are going to be fulfilled is God's way.

Temptation 2 The temptation to take a shortcut to get a blessing. Jesus was offered authority over everything now - if he would worship the weasel. That meant no beatings, no suffering. Take the shortcut. We get the same temptation. "Take the shortcut - just cheat a little, just lie a little." You deserve that blessing, why wait for it - when you can have it now. All you have to do is compromise a little. Jesus said, You must worship God only - no shortcuts.

Temptation 3 The temptation to manipulate God to do what you want. Jesus was challenged to jump off a building because "surely God will save you." This is a sneaky temptation and looks like this: "God, I will do this, if you do that. It is deal making with God. Trying to force his hand. Jesus said, Do not test the Lord your God.

So, what can we do? We have to recognize and "rebuke". Recognize when we are being tempted. What situations do we usually get tempted in? Where are our weak spots? Recognizing when and where we usually get tempted is a good first step.

Then, if we just take a second in the heat of the temptation to say a quick prayer, or quote a principle, or even a verse - that is an enormous step in beating the temptation. We developed this prayer:

"Weasel, you will not break-up my relationship with God. God will meet my desires his way. God will give me his blessing in his time. God will deliver."

Remember 1 Corinthians 10:13, "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."