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Hell is no holiday resort vacation, nor does Satan take a sabbatical. He is always on the prowl looking to attack the next victim.

Hell is no holiday resort vacation, nor does Satan take a sabbatical. He is always on the prowl looking to attack the next victim… Satan’s temptations are always an assault on our identity as God’s child, and on the inerrancy of God’s word.

Today’s message will explore principles for how we can fight temptation and overcome Satan.

EXAMINE        Matthew 4:1-11
¹ Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” ⁴ But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” ⁵  Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple ⁶ and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
⁷ Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ⁸ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” ¹¹ Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

We fight temptation by preparing for battle (4:1-2)

The previous chapter describes the baptisms from John for repentance from sin. Jesus also is baptized by John with a divine announcement saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (3:17). Then, seemingly swift, Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit [deeper] into the wilderness for a season of preparation of His public ministry with fasting 40 days/nights. Matthew 4 is immersed in parallels and hyperlinks from the OT.^[1]

Jesus is full of the Spirit. At the genesis of the world the Father strategized, the Spirit hovered, and the Son created all things (cf. Jn 1:1-3; Col 1:16). Likewise, Matthew describes a new creation with the Trinity present at Jesus’ baptism and inspiring the public ministry of Jesus.

We also know in generations past, no person in human history has been recorded as the Holy Spirit fully resting on them. Yet, the Spirit is resting upon Jesus and directing His steps. 

Jesus is the greater Adam and the greater Israel. The OT describes the first humans of creation experiencing God’s blessings in a luscious garden. Yet, Jesus begins life in an impoverished town and His public ministry in a barren wilderness. Both parties are tempted to eat food apart from the Father’s will. Both receive a trick question from a serpent, “Did God really say…?” And both appear to have their sonship distrusted (cf. Mt 4:3, 6). Satan’s temptations are always an assault on our identity as God’s child – God our faithful and wise Father AND us as the beloved in God’s generous provision. However, where the first Adam compromised God’s standards, Jesus conquered Satan’s scams.

Further, the OT describes the people of God (Israel) as exiting slavery in Egypt to wander in the wilderness for forty years with frequent disobedience, and many never entering the Promised Land.

Yet, Jesus is called out of Egypt from childhood refuge (Mt 2:15), to eventually navigate the wilderness favorably. Jesus’ faithful obedience in the wilderness will bring blessing and eternal life for numerous generations. Jesus flourished where Israel failed.

It is fitting that every temptation Jesus faces from Satan is thwarted with quotes from Deuteronomy (8:3; 6:16; 6:13) – all passages that related to Israel’s wanderings through the wilderness those 40 years.

Ultimately, what we see is Jesus preparing for battle. He spends significant time fasting and praying to His Heavenly Father. He understands that the next few years of his life will be more challenging and excruciating than any in His life. To face this battle, He does so with the foundation of His relationship with God. He gains strength through seeking the Lord. Jesus left the comforts of family, friends, and worldly familiarity for the reality and urgency of God’s purpose for His life.

Every day of our life is a battle. Living the Christian life is counter-cultural. Thinking godly, having Christ-like conversations, and living under Jesus’ Lordship is not easy; in fact, it is a fight. The world seeks to live for the world of here and now, making much of the latest trends, new technology, winning athletic teams, etc. But living for God is different. Christians make much of Jesus and things that will last for eternity. It is what John Piper calls having a “wartime lifestyle.”[2] A Christian wartime lifestyle understand there is a real enemy looking to damage and destroy (1Pe 5:8), with real consequences of heaven and hell hanging in the balance, with a real scope of people from all nations, every community, and specifically family and friends we know.

If you are not alert to a real enemy with real consequences and a real scope, then you are on the verge of wrecking your life. There is an illustration from cattle ranchers that help us to understand this principle.[3] Until recent times, cattle workers would push and prod cows into the processing palace (slaughterhouse). Cows resisted being forced to do something they didn’t want – and became keen to the butchery methods. The entire operation was always one obstacle after another – that is until a person with exceptional abilities – one with autism – through a variety of experiences and an eventual education in animal psychology sought a more humane treatment for livestock. Mary Temple Grandin[4] helped create a restrainer system or “squeeze chute,” which mimicked a mother’s nuzzling touch for the livestock to advance down the ramp. The livestock would experience the sensation of warm embrace, and as they walked along the chute, a conveyor belt would gently move them forward, and in the twinkling of an eye, a blunt instrument leveled a surgical strike between the eyes. They’re transitioned from livestock to lunch meat, and they’re never aware to be alarmed at any point in the process.

If you are not alert to a real enemy with real consequences and a real scope, then you are on the verge of wrecking your life.

Likewise, we too can be lulled into thinking the world around us is cozy and there is no threat approaching. Personally, I’m keenly aware of this temptation all too often and “prone to wander, prone to leave the God I love.” Like a computer without anti-virus software, my thoughts are vulnerable to degenerate ideas; my eyes are attracted to lustful longings, my heart entertains prideful mentalities; my aims for success can be distorted to unhealthy competition against others. I frequently invite those close to me to keep me accountable if I am attempting to rob God of the glory that is only due to His name. And the reality is that we are all one unrestrained stare; one impulsive decision; one irresponsible encounter; one fleeting moment away from wreaking havoc on our life, our family, our church, and disgracing our faith in God. 

Christian wartime lifestyle is costly: commitment and focus are required; sacrifices are necessary to advance the mission of God. And often, the battle is not so much fighting over which is wrong/right but over that which is good/great. It is about avoiding things that are not essential to eternity.

• The wilderness represented solitude. Jesus spent time alone with God. We will never be in public more than what we are in private with God. Jesus expressed fasting was normative for His followers (Mt 6:16; 9:15) and modeled the practice for effective ministry to others. Therefore, what is your plan to fast ___ 1x week?

• Notice that Jesus is tempted after a spiritual high. This is the same for believers… after baptism / after church / Mondays / following a retreat, etc. Two ways we can prepare for the battle after a spiritual high is 1) Make your faith decisions public rather than private pinky swears to God (seldom stick). Then you become accountable. 2) Nourish your spirit and starve Satan; don’t do the opposite. Notice in beginning of the Bible that Satan is a serpent and at the end the Devil is a Dragon. Way too many people feed the devil. We nourish our spirit with spiritual disciplines.

Nourish your spirit and starve Satan; don’t do the opposite.

We fight temptation by recognizing our enemy (4:3-11)

Jesus converses with Satan over three different temptations to deter his mission of fulfilling God’s will as the sent Son of God. Their communication helps us to understand how to fight temptation.

Jesus knows Satan’s identity. Jesus is cognizant to an invisible, spiritual world. Scripture teaches there are myriads of angels that if we saw one, it would leave us speechless. Additionally, there are legions of demons that if we encountered one, it would disturb or deceive you.

When Satan or demons appear in the Bible, many people are deceived to entertain them (cf Gen 3; 1Chr 21:1; 2 Cor 2:11; 4:4; Rev 12:9). In this instance, there are no introductions for Jesus and Satan, yet they know who each other is and for what they stand. Their conversation skips pleasantries and leads to opposition. Jesus is not casual or conciliatory but quite confrontational.

Today, we must be alert to our enemy. C.S. Lewis said, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which [we can think] about devils. One is to disbelieve their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”[5]

While many unbelievers ignore Satan’s certainty, I’ve heard many Christians fall into the error of giving Satan too much credit. Christians say, “The devil is busy in my life.” The sad reality is that frequently Christians are lazy, and Satan isn’t paying them much attention. Look around – the kingdom of this world is focused on those who are vocal for Jesus. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2Tim 3:12).

This passage also reveals that our enemy knows and uses Scripture. Satan tempts Jesus with twisted biblical truth.

Temptation of Provision: change stones into bread.

Coming away from a 40-day fast, Jesus would have been hungry. Satan challenged Jesus to turn stones into bread. While Jesus’ power could have been used to meet His need of hunger, it would have showed His lack of dependence and trust upon His Heavenly Father to provide. 

Instead, Jesus responded, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3)

Likewise, when we are faced with temptation to doubt God’s provision, we must remember the past. God is always faithful. And even if we have not recognized God’s faithfulness, we can trust His steadfast love because of God sending Jesus to take our punishment on the cross. The cross stands as an eternal symbol of God’s unwavering and widespread faithfulness.

Temptation of Protection: leap from Temple mount

Satan leads Jesus up to the temple mount, ~likely 200’ elevation, and again challenges his sonship. Interestingly, Satan uses Scripture in his challenge quoting Ps 91:11-12 “God will command angels to guard all your ways.” Satan attempted to trick Jesus into an unnecessary risk and foolish decision.

Today, we celebrate our freedom of choice but quickly become aggravated when the consequences of our choices lead to unintended results. We take unnecessary risks and make foolish decisions, presuming upon the grace of God. Yet, we misunderstand that God’s grace will protect against ourself by allowing us to experience hardship or pain so that we learn to follow His ways and not our own.

Jesus wisely responded to Satan’s temptation, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Deut 6:16).

Temptation of Power: testing to avoid suffering but receive splendor.

Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. Satan offered power and prestige if Jesus would bow away from God’s mission. The opportunity would avoid dissatisfaction, personal grief, and physical suffering.

But Jesus does not concede. He responded, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only you shall serve” (Dt. 6:13).

We need to realize our enemy is not unwanted circumstances or even choices that God forces us to make. Instead, our enemy is the belief that we deserve more than God’s mercy; but it’s also believing that we deserve less than what God’s grace is offered in Christ. We were once far off but have been brought near by the blood of Jesus Christ (Ep 2:14). In Christ, we are God’s child, citizens of a new kingdom, and growing in the strength of God’s Holy Spirit.

We fight temptation by breathing biblical truth.

As you consider Jesus’ victorious response to each temptation you will notice a repeating phrase: “It is written.” Jesus fought Satan with the sword of the Spirit – the Word of God (Eph 6:17; Heb 4:12). The psalmist agreed saying, “Thy word have I treasured in my heart that I may not sin against Thee” (119:11).

When we look around, we see the wicked winning and the god of this age as popular and prevailing. But, the Bible reminds us to see the world with eyes of faith.

• The gates of hell will not prevail against Jesus (Mt 16:18). Gates are not an offensive weapon. And hell’s gates cannot stand the weight and uncovering that will be disclosed at the Lord’s return.
• Jesus disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame from the triumph over the cross with an empty tomb (Col 1:14). Jesus has already won. Therefore, we do not need to hide our convictions in this world. Instead, let your light shine… because…
• The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (Rom 16:20).

While Satan tries to mark our life with stains and scars, God has engraved His love for us on the palms of His hands, which can never be undone (Isa 49:16). The gospel calls us to breathe in biblical truth so we think clearly and move forward in God’s purposes for our life.

APPLY/THINK

The great Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther was significantly challenged with spiritual warfare and demonic oppression. He had many interesting quotes about dealing with the devil, and a couple stands out to conclude the message today:

“When I awoke last night, the Devil came and wanted to debate with me; he rebuked and reproached me, arguing that I was a sinner.
To this I replied: Tell me something new, Devil!
I already knew that perfectly well; I have committed many a solid and real sin. Indeed there must be good honest sins, not fabricated and invented ones for God to forgive for His beloved Son’s sake, who took all my sins upon Him so that now the sins I have committed are no longer mine but belong to Christ.”

“No man should be alone when he opposes Satan.  The church and the ministry of the Word were instituted for this purpose, that hands may be joined together and one may help another. If the prayer of one doesn’t help, the prayer of another will.”

In whatever temptation you face, you are not alone.

God’s gospel will defend you. – – – turn to Jesus today.

God’s presence will fight for you.

God’s promises will focus you. – – – commit to word.

God’s people will encourage you. – – – connect with SP

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^[1] Some thoughts inspired and adapted from David Platt, Exalting Jesus in Matthew, ed. Daniel L. Akin, David Platt, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2013), 65-66.

[2] https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/is-wartime-living-the-same-as-minimalism

[3] Illustration from Russel Moore, Tempted and Tried, p.26.

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Grandin

[5] C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, 1944; p.9.