Resist the Devil
The Temptations of Christ and Our Temptations
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Temptations come all too easily when we have no sense of direction, or when we have no sense of purpose, or when we feel empty as if God is absent in our lives.
There’s the reason for this book. I want us to do an examination of temptation. In the Letter of James, we are told, “One is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and then sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14–15).
“Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to anyone by whom they come” (Luke 17:1). In the English Standard Version, instead of “stumbling,” they use the word “temptation.” Temptations are out there and are bound to meet us in our journeys. We need to resist them!
In the “wilderness,” Jesus was confronted by three very particular temptations. I intend to examine them and then study in depth His response to them. This sort of process can guide us when we are tempted. But first, let’s acknowledge that we do not have the fortitude that Jesus had. He is God incarnate, all powerful, and all knowing. We are human, fallen and much, much weaker. But I believe when we know where temptations are coming from, and we learn how to face them, we can resist them and overcome them … with Christ’s help!
So journey with me as we explore the idea of resisting the devil.
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
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About the Book
Resist the Devil (from James 4:7) takes a serious look at temptation by studying the temptations of Christ in the wilderness where the Spirit of God led Him after His baptism.
By examining how Jesus resisted these temptations, we can learn how we, too, can resist. Like Jesus, for example, we are tempted to serve our own needs. We may not be able to turn a stone into bread, but we know that we do not live by bread alone, but by the words that come from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
Tom Kingery, a retired United Methodist Pastor who has written more than a dozen books about Christian life, answers questions such as:
What do religious scholars mean when they speak of “the wilderness?”
When are we most likely to be confronted by temptation?
What do our longings, our yearnings, our desires, and our various hungers tell us about ourselves?
The author observes that to be tempted is to be pressured into doing something you otherwise might never do. To be tempted is to be baited, a fishing term. And that sort of bait is often a treat that disguises a hook—a sharp, barbed hook!
About the Author
Tom Kingery is a retired United Methodist Pastor who feels privileged to be the preacher at The Church by The Side of the Road in Rockton, Illinois. A widower since May 2019, he continues to preach God’s word and has written more than a dozen books about Christian life. He grew up in Winnetka, Illinois, and lives in Durand, Illinois.