Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness
Luke 4:1-13
How many us this week were tempted?
If the truth were known - each one of us experienced some sort of temptation this week.
From incidences we may not be aware of, to major struggles that cause us to search our heart and soul.
Temptations that blow briskly by and are weathered by our faith.
And others that cause us to waiver and push us to the brink. And sadly sometimes push us over the edge. We give in. Our resistance fails. And we fall victim to temptation.
There’s a lot for us to learn from the temptation of Christ.
I. THERE IS A PERSONAL DEVIL
Take for granted the fact that Satan is real. This passage portrays him as being very real.
A. Not a myth.
B. Satan is the enemy of God and man.
Ephes. 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
No one escapes temptation.
II. THE HOLIEST OF MEN ARE TEMPTED
A. No sin in being tempted; sin is in yielding to temptation.
B. The devil did not question Christ’s sonship Knowing that this was THE son of God he tempted him anyway. Christ had just experienced a high point in his earthly life and Satan was going to try to ruin it.
III. TEMPTATIONS CLOSELY FOLLOW THE FILLING OF THE HOLY GHOST
A. After the Dove comes the Devil.
B. After Canaan comes the Giants.
C. After Pentecost comes the Persecutions.
It is when you fully yield to God, that the devil sets out to get you.
IV. HE ALWAYS STRIKES AT OUR WEAKEST SPOT
Jesus had been without food for forty days and nights, and the devil struck first with the question of the bread.
Movie: Star Wars. Battle star was supposedly indestructible, but the rebels found a small point in its defense where if they fired they could disarm or possible destroy it.
Satan finds the weakest point in our armor. Told to put on the FULL armor of God. Why? Because if we leave ourselves open in any fashion that’s where we are going to be attacked.
V. WE LEARN HERE HOW THE DEVIL TEMPTS MEN
A. Lust of the flesh... vs. 3-4 Physical Needs
B. Lust of the eyes.... vs. 5-7 Material Wants.
**Man who returned his lottery winnings.
C. Pride of life... vs. 9-12 Pride - Personal Power
1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
VI. THE DEVIL CAN BE DEFEATED
Weapons
A. The Word of God...
It is written..... It is said.....
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
It is important to hide the word of God in our hearts. To use as a defense when we do not have our Bibles with us.
B. Holy Spirit.
1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Often neglect the Holy Spirit.
VII. THE DEVIL DEPARTS ONLY FOR A SEASON
A. Luke 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
This WAS NOT an isolated incident. How many times have we read this and looked at it as a one time occurrence.
There was the Garden. There was the cross.
Our temptations can come at any time and we must be ready for them.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
