Kingdom Incarnate Part 10
At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Incarnate,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.
We continue in our series ‘Kingdom Incarnate,’ which endeavors to teach us to ‘see’ and ‘know’ Jesus in the gospels. Last week we talked about the seventh sign in the Gospel of John, the raising of Lazarus. This week we are moving into the gospel of Luke and will look at the temptation in the wilderness and how Jesus deals with it through the Bible.
Jesus faced the same kinds of temptations that we encounter in life. He experienced hunger, fatigue, and the pressure to take shortcuts rather than trust God’s timing. Yet, unlike us, Jesus never sinned. He always did the next right thing. His response to temptation provides a model for us in our spiritual battles.
One of the most powerful examples is the account of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, recorded in Luke 4. After fasting for forty days, Jesus was physically weak and hungry. At this moment of vulnerability, the devil came to tempt Him, seeking to lure Him away from His mission and dependence on God.
Luke 4:3-4 (NIV)
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 does not live on bread alone.'”
The first temptation targeted Jesus’ immediate physical need. The devil wanted Him to focus on His hunger rather than trust God’s provision. Jesus could turn stones into bread, but doing so would have meant prioritizing His desires over God’s will.
The enemy often attacks us in our areas of weakness, trying to make us doubt God’s goodness. He whispers, “Take care of yourself first. Why wait on God?” But Jesus responded with Scripture, quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3, reminding us that life is about more than just satisfying our physical needs—it is about dependence on God.
Luke 4:5-7 (NIV)
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, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Satan tempted Jesus with power and influence. He offered a shortcut to ruling the world—without the suffering of the cross. All Jesus had to do was bow to him.
But Jesus refused.
Luke 4:8 (NIV)
8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'”
Jesus knew that God alone is worthy of worship. Compromise with evil is never the right choice, even for a seemingly good outcome. He stood firm, again using Scripture to resist temptation.
Luke 4:9-11 (NIV)
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.'”
This time, Satan twisted Scripture, urging Jesus to test God’s protection. If Jesus performed a dramatic miracle by jumping off the temple and being saved by angels, He could instantly gain followers. Why spend years teaching and suffering when He could prove His divinity in a single moment?
But Jesus saw through the deception.
Luke 4:12 (NIV)
12 Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'”
Jesus refused to manipulate God’s power for His gain. Instead, He remained committed to God’s plan, knowing that true faith does not demand signs or tests.
At every turn, Jesus resisted temptation by relying on God’s Word. He didn’t take shortcuts. He didn’t compromise. He didn’t choose the easy or popular way. He did the next right thing.
His example teaches us how to respond to temptation in our own lives. We, too, are tempted to prioritize our needs over God’s will, to compromise for success, or to demand signs from God. But like Jesus, we can stand firm by grounding ourselves in Scripture and trusting in God’s plan.
When faced with temptation, let us follow Jesus’ example: turn to God’s Word, resist the enemy, and do the next right thing.
This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.
Steve Lawes is a pastor at Keys Vineyard Church and also the founder of the Online Bible Institute Network.
