In this episode, Steve teaches on how to defeat the devil. You have to get the devil out the way in order to be revived—so he cannot hinder, steal, kill, and destroy. In Luke 4:1-13, Jesus defeated the devil in the wilderness. You can, too, but how?
First, Jesus was “full of the Spirit” and “led by the Spirit” (verse 1). Being led by the Spirit means to be strongly compelled, as if grabbed by the back of the neck and strongly pushed forward. Jesus was led to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Jesus had to be victorious over the devil before he could start his ministry.
“The devil starts out strong but gives up easy if you stay with him.”
Jesus ate nothing for forty days and was hungry (verse 2). Jesus’ hunger shows the human side of his divine nature. In verses 3 and 4, when the devil tells Jesus to turn a stone to bread, Jesus as the Son of God could have used divine power to do what the devil asked but resisted. Jesus defeats the devil in his human body, showing us that we can, too.
Make The Devil Flee
Jesus teaches us these principles so that we can be victorious and make the devil flee:
1. Answer Satan with the Word of God.
You must know and use the living Word of God. Jesus responds to the devil with Scripture. So why do some people try to quote the Bible, but they remain powerless and unable to beat the devil?
2. Do the Word of God.
This goes beyond quoting Bible verses. Jesus is quoting his life, the Word that he lives and that is a part of his life. “Man shall not live on bread alone” is not just Jesus quoting Scripture; Jesus lives not live by bread alone but by every word proceeding out of the mouth of God. If you do not live and do Scripture, quoting it has no power and cannot defeat the devil. Note that the devil quotes Scripture, but he does not live it and believe it. That’s why the devil quoting the Bible against Jesus did not work.
3. What Are You Doing Right?
Look at your life. What you’re doing right in your life with the Word of God is your weapon that will work against and defeat the devil.
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.
10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Questions:
How will you defeat the devil in your life?
Identify areas in your life where you live the Word versus the areas where you need to become stronger in living and believe the Word.
