Sermon Illustrations

TEMPTATION DOESN'T ALWAYS END IN FAILURE

The same Spirit that came down from heaven like a dove now led Jesus into the desert so He could be tempted by Satan. Why?

Have you ever felt that you have been unjustly persecuted? Have you ever felt passed over, left behind, cast away or just can't seem to get ahead? All I can tell you is that God knows YOUR struggles. Why even put Jesus in a position where he would even interact with Satan? Satan was the head Angel who rebelled in heaven and was cast out. Why give him the time of day?

In the NIV Study Bible the commentary says this about Jesus being led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan.

"For Christ to accomplish God's will, He had to face Satan and prevail...The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by Satan, showing that temptation doesn't need to end in failure. That's an encouragement to all believers who find themselves the objects of Satan's schemes."

--NIV Quest Study Bible

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