God has given us an example and the power to be overcomers. The genuine follower of Christ will always face temptation. It's always been a part of life, dating back all the way to the Garden of Eden. Adam was tempted. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Peter, Paul, and John have all faced temptation. It's impossible to go through life without temptation. However, the Bible says that with every temptation, God has provided a way of escape.

There's one great example in the Scriptures where we see absolute victory over temptation. Jesus was tempted in every manner in which you and I have been tempted. There are three fundamental areas in which Satan tempts the believer - 1) the lust of the flesh; 2) the lust of the eyes; and 3) the boastful pride of life. It's recorded in Matthew (chapter 4 verses 1-11) that Jesus was tempted in all three of these areas. He was first tempted with the lust of the flesh. Satan enticed Him to turn a stone into bread (he appealed to the lust of the flesh). He then attempted to lure Jesus into a prideful attitude about who He is. Satan reasoned that if Jesus was the Son of God, then He could cast Himself off the pinnacle of the temple and nothing would happen. That was the epitome of the boastful pride of life. Finally, Jesus was tempted with the lust of the eyes. He was shown and offered the kingdoms of the world.

But Jesus refused to yield to the temptations of Satan. He overcame the snares of the evil one. Therefore, Jesus offers us an example and the Source to overcome temptation. First, Jesus offers us an example. In each instance, Jesus countered the temptation with the Word of God. When Satan lured Him, Jesus stood upon the Scriptures. He quoted the Bible. He obeyed the Bible. The Bible was a mighty sword in the hands of the Son of Man. With it, He tore down every rationalization that the enemy would throw His way. When Satan then tried to deceive Jesus by also quoting Scripture (out of its proper context), Jesus simply quoted Scripture in its proper context. Jesus is our example of how to overcome temptation. We have the same weapon that Jesus used to overcome temptation.

But as we look at the temptation of Jesus in its proper context, we also find the Source of our victory. Immediately before Jesus was tempted, He had been baptized. During that time the Holy Spirit descended upon Him as a dove. The earthly ministry of Jesus did not begin until after He had publicly positioned Himself in obedience through His baptism and after the anointing of the Holy Spirit came upon His life. It was this empowering of the Holy Spirit that was the secret to the victory of Jesus.

Although Jesus was, is, and always will be God, He left His throne of glory and took upon Himself the clothes of humanity. He lived as we lived. He walked and struggled just as we do. Yet, He was without sin. As a man, He was completely dependant upon the Holy Spirit. Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit just as we must be empowered by the Holy Spirit in order to experience victory. Overcoming temptation is a matter of yielding to and abiding in the Holy Spirit. That's our source of victory. Jesus is our example and the Holy Spirit is our Resource. As we look unto Jesus, we emerge from temptation as "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37).