The greatest trick the devil ever played is convincing the world he does not exist. Most people today, even Christians, overlook the very real existence of Satan and do not anticipate or prepare for his temptations and traps which can separate us from God and wreck our lives.

Matthew 4:1-11 seems like a quick series of verses and may be easy to overlook as a simplistic view that Jesus will triumph over the devil, but it is much more elegant than that. Jesus is communicating a key message regarding strategy that the devil employs. Let those who have ears hear…

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’

Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’

Some key points to the devil’s strategy?

• Satan does not start by introducing himself as the devil. Sometimes he comes disguised as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 7:14)
• Satan comes when we are weak and alone.
• Satan twists and misuses scripture. Yes he knows it well.
• Satan offers us an easy way, instead of God’s way.
• Satan lies, promising what sounds good but separates us from God.
• Satan comes more than once.

So how do we resist the devil? God could have just flicked the devil away if He wanted to.  I believe Jesus was showing us how to prepare.

• Jesus prepared Himself before the temptation came.
• Jesus committed Himself ahead of time to serve God.
• Jesus recognized and accepted He would be confronted by Satan.
• Jesus studied the scripture meticulously; not just a quick surface read. He recognized lies even though they were cloaked in scripture.
• Jesus had the courage and self-discipline to stand up to the devil when the temptation came.