Thomas Allan Smail, Founder of Fountain Trust, writes that: “Satan tries to cast doubt about His Sonship, the Lord used the Word of God to reaffirm His Sonship.” Satan is the accuser of the people of God. (Revelation 12:10) As the Lord was tempted, disciples who have received Jesus would also be tempted in three areas. (Matthew 4:1-11; John 1;12)
Presume on Sonship: Satan tempted the Lord to presume that, as the Son of God, he had the rights and privileges to do whatever he liked. Even if it could be personal gratification. Lord Jesus Christ never did miracles for his personal benefit, but for the Glory of God, the expansion of His Kingdom, and to assimilate people into the Family of God. Sadly, some prosperity preachers even say: “I am the son of King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and hence will live like an emperor.”
Abandon Sonship: Satan’s eternal, unfulfilled quest was to direct the worship of angels towards himself. When Adam and Eve were created, he seduced them to disregard God and His commandment. So, humanity indirectly became worshippers of Satan in the form of idols, money or other temporary things. The Son of God came to this world to redeem sinners. Satan dared to advise a shortcut to achieve his goal of redeeming the world by worshipping him in private, just once. Satan uses the same strategy, challenging and seducing believers to abandon the faith in Christ and get worldly possessions, power, prestige, and even popularity.
Prove Sonship: Satan took the Lord to the pinnacle of the Temple and wanted the Lord to prove that He was the Son of God, the Messiah. He challenged the Lord to jump, so that the promise of God that angels would hold him could be proved. The Lord said to Satan that He would not put the Lord to the test. Sadly, many disciples put the Lord to the test by praying or petitioning the Lord with selfish or foolish, or immature application of God’s promises.
Do I defeat Satan by His Word as the Lord Jesus did?