Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:1-4)
After fasting for forty days and nights, Jesus was hungry, and in that moment of experiencing hunger pains, Satan tempted Him with the genuine need for food. However, when the enemy came against Jesus, Jesus didn’t debate with him. Jesus spoke the Word, and the enemy left.
Satan tempted Jesus by questioning His identity: If you are the Son of God. The enemy does this to believers all the time, trying to get us to second-guess who we are in Christ. If he can plant seeds of doubt, he can weaken our faith or cause us to try to prove our identity through our own power, wisdom, or strength rather than leaning on God.
The enemy's attack on Jesus should be a stark reminder of what we must do when the enemy attacks our mind, body, or those around us. Jesus didn’t answer the enemy’s attack by complaining or discussing His feelings. He simply said, “It is written,” and then spoke the Word.
Satan will try to attack your identity and make you question what God has spoken over your life. When these doubts arise, don’t entertain them. Say, “It is written,” and declare God’s Word as a fact against every lie of the enemy.
Practical Application
When the enemy plants ungodly thoughts or temptations in your mind, don’t try to reason with him. Attack his thoughts immediately with the truth of God’s Word: “It is written…” What are the thoughts that often attack you? Find Scriptures you can memorize that specifically attack those thoughts and have them ready when the enemy shows up.