Now When the Tempter Comes

‘Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' "

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' " Jesus said to him, ''it is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' "

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, "All these things I will give You if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "

Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

(Matthew 4:1-11 NKJV)

Now when the tempter comes, because of the Lord's testimony, we may understand and be strengthened: angels will come and minister to the body of Christ when they recognize and resist the tempter in the fast; when they tempt not God when the devil offers an unrighteous end to their calling; when they are unwilling to serve the world's things they see. The might and power of the hand must learn to be submitted, as Jesus was in His worship of God, the Father.