Identity- Part 1: Know Who You Are in Trying Times
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 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. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” 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. For it is written:“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Luke 4:3-13 (New International Version, NIV)
In Luke 4, Jesus was tempted by the devil. Devil means slanderer or accuser. The devil said to Jesus, “If you are the son of God.” The devil attacked Jesus’ identity. Jesus knew who He was. The Father revealed it at his water baptism. As soon as it was revealed, the devil went to work to attack who He was.
The enemy first attacked Jesus through His flesh, which is man’s weakest part. Don’t fight his assaults with the flesh. Instead, speak forth the Sword of the Spirit. It defeats the devil and his slander every time. We must know who we are in Christ- a child of God.
Then, the devil said that he would give Jesus the world’s power and authority if He would worship the devil. This wouldn’t have been much of a temptation if the devil did not have the power and authority he claimed, but Adam had handed it over to him in Genesis 3, so it was a valid temptation. Many people sell out to the devil for authority, power, and position. We must worship the one true God, not satan, who is a false god. True worship of the Lord gives us authority over the devil- because Jesus went to hell and took the authority away from him. God has all we need, and as we worship Him, we acknowledge god as the true God. And God will release all the authority, power, and splendor of this world to us- in His time. First, we must pass the tests of life that prepare us to handle what God has for us- then He can trust us with it.
The third time the devil, the accuser and slanderer, tempted Jesus he once again challenged Jesus’ identity. He misquotes Scripture, telling Jesus that if he was the Son of God, He should prove it by throwing Himself off the highest point of the temple because the angels would keep Him from even striking His foot against a stone. The devil was trying to get Jesus to tempt God, to test God. Jesus refused. We claim the Lord’s protection to keep us from harm, but not to misuse God’s promises and power. Jesus said we are not to put God to the test. When tempted by the devil, we must know Scripture and how to rightly divide the word of Truth, interpreting it correctly and using it against the lies of the devil.
As we know Scripture, we come to know God. Then, He reveals who we are: His children. We are to know God, know truth, and use truth to overcome every lying temptation the devil throws at you. As you stand your ground against him and his temptations, the devil will finally give up and leave.
The Bible tells us that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted- so He could overcome the devil’s temptations. As we follow God and His Word, knowing who we are in Him, He will always lead us into the overcoming life.
