Facing the Triple-Headed Monster

Have you had experience with attacks from this monster?  If you’re human you have.  It starts at a very early age and never relents.  Many seemingly have overcome it, at least two of its heads, only to be taken by surprise by the third and carried away to its den.  No, this is not some wild beast or horror movie character, but a very real threat to our health, relationships and eternal destiny.  Sometimes it comes at us openly with an in-your-face approach, but other times it slips in with great stealth or in disguise.  In spite of its great power to destroy, however, it can be rendered harmless when opposed with the right strategy.


This is the monster of temptation.  So how is it three-headed?  In several ways…beginning with its levels of attack, which can be physical, mental/emotional and spiritual.  For example, in the physical realm big vulnerabilities include sex, food and drugs/alcohol.  In the mental and emotional realm are many, such as money, achievement, popularity, associations, praise and all sorts of visual entertainment.  But the spiritual, which tends to be the most deceptive, includes pride, power to control, an independent spirit and disregard for God.

Besides attacking on three different levels, body, soul and spirit, temptation also attacks from three different sources.  James 1:14 says that each of us is tempted when we are lured and enticed by our own desire, or lust.  Then in Chap 4:4 he says, “…Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”  Finally, he says to submit to God and to resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).  So, in summary we have our own nature (also called the “flesh” in other Scriptures), the world and the devil as active sources of temptation.

Now the devil can operate on all three levels of attack simultaneously.  Let’s look briefly at the Garden of Eden encounter.  When the devil spoke through the serpent to tempt Eve, the Scriptures describe her response as impacting all three levels (Genesis 3:6).  First she saw that the tree was good for food (body), then that it was a delight to the eyes (soul), and, finally, that it was desirable to make one wise, like God (spirit).

It was fitting, then, that Jesus at the outset of His earthly ministry, which was to establish Himself as the head (first born) of a new race of mankind and to erase the curse of sin, should have to face the tempter.  And how was He attacked?  First, Jesus was tempted to turn stones into bread after 40 days of fasting (body).  Then the devil told Him to jump from the top of the temple without being hurt so the people would follow Him as a miracle worker (soul) and finally to worship him to receive the devil’s kingdoms (spirit). 

Thankfully, Jesus was victorious in rejecting the devil’s temptations on all three levels, rebutting each attack by quoting Scripture.  Thus, he began to qualify Himself as worthy to die in our place.  In that victory He also set the stage for all who would become new creations in Christ to be able to overcome temptations in the same way, as well.

What lessons can we take away from all this?  How can we defend ourselves against this temptation troika?  First, we need to be alert to the many ways in which temptations can come to us.  We do not sin by being tempted, but rather when we yield to it.  Instead, as we yield our desires to the indwelling Holy Spirit, our lives will bear the fruit of the Spirit, which includes self control.  

Then, we need to remember that the principal offensive weapon, the “sword of the Spirit” that Jesus used against temptation was the Word of God.  By carrying the Word in our hearts through memorization we are strengthened and better equipped to overcome temptations at all levels and from our worst adversary.  “I have stored up Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11 ESV).  “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12a ESV).

Finally, we know that the devil has no power over us to cause us to sin.  If we resist him he will flee.  No matter how strong the temptation may be, we have this promise from the Scriptures:  “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (I Corinthians 10:18 ESV).

To recap, we can successfully defeat the temptation monster by being alert to its ways of attacking, being yielded to the Holy Spirit, knowing God's Word from memory and trusting Him for the deliverance He has promised.