"Then the devil came and said to him, 'if you are the Son of God, change these stones into loaves of bread.' But Jesus told him, 'no! The Scriptures say, 'people need more than break for their life; they must feed on every word of God.'' 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! For the Scriptures say 'He orders his angels to protect you. and they will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.' Jesus responded, 'the Scriptures also say, 'do not test the Lord your God.' Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory. 'I will give it all to you,' he said, 'if you will only kneel down and worship me.' 'Get out of here, satan,' Jesus told him. 'for the Scriptures say, 'you must worship the Lord your God; serve only him''"

Matthew 4:3-10 (NL)

   I had read these verses before, in fact, many times. But until God awakened my spirit through them one day I never realized exactly how powerful and revealing these scriptures are to the devices to the temptations that the evil one presents and the things that lead people away. These are all common to man and present the three different arenas in which satan will attack.

   The first temptation is to fill Jesus' hunger. This is the carnal, physical desires of the flesh. Our hungers, desires, and thirsts. The fulfillment of our bodily desires. This is the first avenue satan will use.

   The second temptation is a twisting of theology. Satan uses bible verses incorrectly for a basis' to tempt Jesus to do something against God's will for Him. This is both temptations to twist the word of God to our lifestyle instead of converting our lives to the Word and incorrect theology of every kind. This is the second avenue satan will use.

   The third temptation is satan's attempt to get Jesus to worship Him instead of God. This temptation is the temptation of idolatry, to make anything more important than God in our lives; to serve any other master but God. This is the third avenue satan will use.

   I have noticed that generally satan will not only use these same three temptations, but will use them in the same order! If he can't get a person to indulge in their physical desires, he will get them to believe false ideas about God or His desire. If he can't get a person to indulge in their physical desires or to believe major falsehoods about God, he will attempt to make anything in their lives the focus instead of God.

   The key to handling temptation is to follow Jesus example. When satan tempts us, use scripture! In order to do so one must get into the Word and know it. If we do not, how will we be prepared to say no, and how will we know when to say no?