There was a huge difference between Eve’s response to Satan and Jesus’ response to Satan. And the enemy’s power is nothing compared to the freeing promises of God. Oh sweet sister, this is where we must stop and remind ourselves that we don’t have to be held hostage by Satan. This creates a need within our flesh to have people notice us, commend us, revere us and stroke our pride. We wrongly think we have to become something the world calls worthy. Likewise, Satan tempts us to try and elevate ourselves over others. (Matthew 4:5-7, NIV) This would be very impressive and raise Jesus’ status and significance in the eyes of the world. Satan tempted Jesus by telling Him to throw Himself off the highest point of the temple and command the angels to save Him. Satan tempted Eve by promising an increased awareness which would make her become more like God. Choke the life out of them using the tentacles of their own pride. Keep them distracted and obsessed with their status and significance. Make them boastful about what they have or do.
And then it wears out, breaks down, gets old and reveals just how temporary every material thing is.ģ. He tempts us to think: This will make me fulfilled. Satan flashes the newer, bigger and seemingly better things of this world in front of us, trying to lure us into thinking we must have it.
Satan showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world and told Him that He could have it all. Satan tempted Eve by drawing her attention to what was “pleasing to the eye” (Genesis 3:6c, NIV). Keep them distracted by making their eyes lust after more and more stuff. Make them want to acquire things to the point they bow down to the god of materialism. But venture outside God’s intention for them, and they become an attempt to get our needs met outside the will of God.Ģ. He gave them to us to enjoy within His boundaries. Satan tempts us with whatever physical sense we are too preoccupied by - be it taste, smell, sound, touch or sight. Satan tempted Jesus with bread while He was on a fast. Satan tempted Eve with fruit, which “was good for food” (Genesis 3:6b, NIV). Make them crave some sort of physical gratification to the point they become preoccupied with it. Let’s take a closer look at Satan’s plan as revealed in Eve’s story and Jesus’ story:ġ. And it’s the same plan we see him using while tempting Jesus in the desert in Matthew 4:1-11! A fact that tells me while the enemy may be powerful, he’s also predictable. These verses outline Satan’s 3-pronged plan of attack on our hearts. I believe part of His answer came one day as I studied the story of Satan tempting Eve (in Genesis 3) and our key verse: “For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - comes not from the Father but from the world” (1 John 2:16).Īs I compared these passages, I had a serious epiphany about how Satan goes after us. I want to be able to recognize his traps and avoid them. Something I pray on a regular basis is that God will give me a keen awareness of the enemy’s plans and schemes against me. “For everything in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life - comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16 (NIV)
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