But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 TIMOTHY 3:14–17

When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left [Jesus] until an opportune time. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

LUKE 4:13–14

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The devil has finished all his tempting of Jesus and Jesus returns to Galilee, empowered by the Spirit, to begin his public ministry. His time in the wilderness had been deeply formative, and it’s not long before people take notice of who he is and what he’s doing.

Each time he was tempted, Jesus resisted the devil by anchoring himself in Scripture, reminding both himself and the devil of who God truly is and what he commands.

What can we take away from this?

First, Jesus demonstrates the truth of James 4:7: ‘Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’ The devil’s persistence has limits. Jesus’ unwavering reliance on God left the devil sidelined, with no choice but to retreat.

For followers of Jesus, this is an encouraging truth. When we stand firm in our trust in God and resist temptation, he equips us to overcome the enemy’s schemes. Like Jesus, we can continue to fulfil our calling in our everyday lives, empowered by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:13).

Second, while the devil left Jesus, he was not finished with him. Luke reminds us that the devil still had unfinished business with Jesus and intended to return ‘at an opportune time’ (Luke 4:13). Although Scripture does not specify every moment he returned, it’s reasonable to assume that the devil sought to undermine Jesus repeatedly throughout his ministry (Matthew 16:21–23).

In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed in anguish before his arrest. Finding his disciples asleep, he urged them: ‘Get up and pray so you will not fall into temptation’ (Luke 22:46). Even in his darkest hour, Jesus remained vigilant, fully aware of the devil’s schemes and the necessity of prayerful dependence on God.

If we’re serious about following Jesus in every part of life, we should expect opposition. The devil will try to derail us, but we’re not left defenceless. One of our greatest weapons against temptation is a deep, working knowledge of Scripture – and God’s Spirit is always with us to help us stand firm.

Jesus’ wilderness experience teaches us that by relying on God’s strength, we can do more than resist the devil – we can press on confidently in our calling, wherever we are and whoever we are, actively participating in God’s great work of reconciliation and renewal.

Paul Woolley
CEO, LICC

What Scriptures best help you resist temptation and stand firm in the Spirit’s power on your frontline?