But put together with the temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4, we see how it actually works.

Ephesians 6:1, we have been given armor to stand against Satan's plot. And, Satan had a plan for Jesus in the wilderness. Worship, submit. But Jesus was fully armed. He did not worship, he did not submit in any way.

6:2. The key principle here is not to wrestle against flesh and blood (mine or anyone else's), but against the real enemy, as Jesus did. Yes, there was bodily denial involved, but He was not fasting to crucify his flesh, or lose weight, or try to get something from God, or to show off to his disciples how long He could go without eating. The Spirit led Him to fast. He was being asked to demonstrate His own teachings, that a man shall not live by physical food alone, but by revealed Word. That's what Jesus did. He was in a perfect place to have that word and the word about his Son-ship and all words, tested. If you listen to God he will occasionally call you to fast. Not to fight the flesh but to obey the Spirit.

t6:3 As to the armor itself and how it was demonstrated in the wilderness temptation:

6:14. Truth. "Man lives by the word of God," said the tempted One.

6:14. Righteousness. "Don't tempt God," shows His holy separation to God.

6:15. Readiness. Immediate response to Satan's temptations.

6:16. Faith. Demonstrated by His willingness to go into the wilderness in the first place.

6:17. Salvation/deliverance. Satan quoted Psalm 91. Jesus already knew and believed that chapter that talks about the God of His salvation. He knew His source.

6:17. Words of God. All 3 temptations were answered by Scripture.

6:18. Prayer. 40 days preparation through prayer.