Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry. 3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

5 And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I want. 7 Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” 8 Jesus replied to him, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

9 And he brought Him into Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; 10 for it is written:

‘He will give His angels orders concerning You, to protect You,’

11 and,

‘On their hands they will lift You up,

So that You do not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been stated, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

13 And so when the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.

Questions for Reflection:

What similarities do you see between the temptation of Jesus and the temptation of Adam and Eve?

What core desires is Satan tapping into? What is the temptation or deeper questions beneath the temptations?

Prayer of the Week:

My Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now to be restored in You to be renewed in You to receive your Life and Your Love and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor You as my sovereign Lord and I give over every aspect and dimension of my Life totally and completely to You. You are God – I am not and I love you and worship and trust You as my Lord and Savior.

I love you Jesus and receive by faith all the work and triumph of your cross, death, resurrection and ascension. Thank you Jesus for your complete victory over Satan and his kingdom and all forces of evil. I now take my place in your victory

over the devil. You are Truth and he is lies and the father of lies. You are the Way, the truth and the Life and You hold the everlasting victory over sin and evil. I take my place in You Jesus – I in You and You in me.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to you Jesus and You are worthy to receive all glory and honor and power and dominion now and forever more. I now take my place in You and in Your name Jesus I come against the devil

and all forms of evil that are coming against me this day. (Mention as specifically as you can how you sense evil is coming against you – tempting you – today and bring the authority of the name of Jesus against it.) I bind and banish all away from me in Jesus name.

Jesus, fill me with Your Spirit that I might see and resist every deceitful temptation the devil will present me today – not in my own strength but in the strength power and complete victory of Jesus Christ. In the Life and Power of His name I pray and I live. Amen