MATTHEW 4:10 4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Jesus responded to the devil's temptation by citing from the written Word of God. You ought to follow suit.
MATTHEW 4:2-11 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Our first observation is that the devil assaulted Jesus when He was fragile and starved. He was struck where he was most vulnerable.
The devil's original strategy focused primarily on creating doubt. "If!" The devil offered Jesus an apparently simpler way to accomplish His goal than by carrying out God's will after doubt failed to entice Jesus.
The only defense Jesus ever offered against any temptation from the devil was a quotation from the Bible. That was His sole justification.
The devil also made an attempt to use God's Word, but he misused it.
The first time Jesus responded to the devil, the devil did not instantly surrender. Jesus was frequently subjected to the devil's temptations.
The lures were compelling and genuine. In contrast to trusting and following God, the devil seemed to promise an easier path, though certainly the devil lies.
The devil eventually gave up as Jesus insisted in speaking God's written Word.
How can one tell when the demon is speaking to them in their minds?
Any idea that makes you question God's Word or his kindness comes from the devil.
Any idea that attempts to persuade you to do something against God's Word comes from the devil.
JAMES 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
So follow Jesus' lead. When the devil attacks you with uncertainty, respond to him by quoting Scripture.
SAY THIS: Like Jesus, I will respond to the devil's attempts to sow doubt in my thoughts by quoting Scripture.
