URBAN LEGENDS
The Devil Made Me Do It

The Temptation of Jesus
Luke 4:1-13 NLT

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15 NLT

THE DEVIL ​IS REAL​.

8 ​Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ​9 ​Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. 1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT

42 ​Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent
me. ​43 ​Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me! ​44 ​For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:42-44 NLT

GOD’S ​SPIRIT IS GREATER​.
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4 NLT

world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. ​16 ​For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 1 John 2:15-16 NLT

HOW DO WE OVERCOME THE DEVILS TEMPTATIONS?
Every temptation that Jesus had fits into these three categories:

● Desires of ​the flesh
● Desires of ​the eyes
● Pride in ​possessions

TAKE CONTROL OF ​YOUR PASSIONS​.
1 ​Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, ​2 ​where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.​ ​3 ​Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Luke 4:1-3 NLT

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’” Luke 4:4 NLT

3 ​God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. ​4 ​Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— ​5 ​not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 NLT

BE CONTENT WITH ​YOUR POSSESSIONS​.
5 ​Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ​6 ​“I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. ​7 ​I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” Luke 4:5-7 NLT

Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Luke 4:8 NLT

BE CAUTIOUS OF ​YOUR POSITION​.
9 ​Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! ​10 ​For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. ​11 ​And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Luke 4:9-11 NLT

Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Luke 4:12 NLT

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 NLT

Every day I have to be filled with and empowered by ​the Holy Spirit​.

Next steps for me today…

● Give Jesus my life and be filled with ​God’s Spirit​.
● Through the power of the Spirit ​take control of my passions​.
● Choose to ​be thankful​ and ​content with my possessions​.
● Crucify pride​.