Temptation

Turn your Bibles to Matthew chapter 4 were continuing our series in Matthew and today we're looking at. The first 11 verses of Matthew four is a wonderful passage, one that I love showing the victory of the Lord over the devil. Matthew 44 then the verse one then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil and after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry and the tempter came and said to him, if you are the son of God command these stones to become loaves of bread. He answered it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God than the devil to come to the holy city, and said to him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, if you're the son of God. Show yourself time when it is written, you will command his angels concerning you, and on their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. Jesus said to him again. It is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test. Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory, and he said to him, all these I will give you if you'll fall down and worship me. And Jesus said to him, begone, Satan, for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.

Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

The devil is not yet destroyed there, but he has defeated here, the son of God defeats the God of this world. However, the devil's ultimate future is certain. Jesus said that the eternal fire of hell itself is prepared for the devil and his angels, and we know from the book of Revelation that the devil ultimately will be thrown into the lake of fire and will be tormented day and night forever and ever is very reassuring is because that means that if you're a follower of Jesus Christ. If you've trusted Christ of your united with Christ. You are on the winning side. John tells us in first John four verse four he who is in you is greater than he was in the world.

So this is a very encouraging passage for us shows the supremacy of our Lord Jesus Christ, and it also reminds us that we to try and resist our enemy.

When he attacks us. Yes, you can resist the devil. James says that explicitly resist the devil and he will flee from you and James four verse seven to the beginning of the service quoted the next verse from James which tells us draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Yes if you live a godly life. If you draw near to God and when the devil comes in when temptation comes when you resist the devil, he will flee from you.

Every single person here faces temptation that identity. I don't know what particular temptations come into your life but you are tempted pregnant. We responds. How can we defeat the devil. What about our sinful evil desires.

In this passage we see our magnificent Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, defeating the devil.

And as we see him in action, we learn how we follow him. We who are united with our Lord Jesus Christ are able to resist our enemy before we consider the specific temptations. The three of them that I've read. I want first to remind us of the uniqueness of our Lord. This is very very important.

There is none like him, nor will there ever be anyone like him. Someone has first of all to think again of the sinlessness of the son of God is received here Jesus is tempted by the devil last time we've dealt with Matthew was our Lord Jesus Christ, being baptized at the heavens opened and the father saying this is my beloved son in whom I am well please in the spirit the sands on our Savior and Matthew tells us then that now verse one Jesus is alive.

You don't mind this minute.

Notice that the Spirit who descended on our Savior leads him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Yes, son of God is tempted by the devil. Adam was tempted in the perfect dog in the garden of Eden, Lord Jesus is tempted, in a hostile environment in the wilderness, a place of loneliness, a place of danger to place where there were wild animals. Mark tells us in his account in Mark in Mark chapter 1 Adam in the garden of Eden when he was tempted fail the test, our Lord Jesus Christ meets the test as he is tempted by the devil, not in the garden but in the wilderness. The temptation we read in verse two lasted 40 days and 40 nights in Scripture for two years. The number of testing. The Israelites were 14 years in the wilderness. Elijah fasted for 40 days. Goliath taunted the army of Israel for 40 days in these verses here. Recall the time Moses received the tablets of the covenant, the 10 Commandments injured on May 9 verse nine. It is the Scripture Moses is saying when I went up the mountain to receive the tablets of stone. The tablets of the covenant that the Lord made with you.

I remained on the mountain.

40 days and 40 nights.

I neither ate bread nor drank water for Moses received the 10 Commandments are Lord Jesus is about to give the greatest sermon ever preached in Matthew five, six and seven and before he does that is in the wilderness 40 days and 40 nights being tempted. Notice how our enemy is described here in verse one is called the devil invest three.

He's called the tempter in verse 10 is called Satan, which means our adversary. He is the accuser is the deceiver.

He specializes in slandering divisions and accusations, Jesus describes them elsewhere as the father of lies. So when it comes to you while you listening to them. Why do you believe his promises when he says this is going to help you. You're going to enjoy this. Why don't you do this is the father of lies.

Jesus also said he is a murderer from the beginning we seen that we saw how utterly alone in Matthew's gospel how Satan uses King had its to try and kill the infant Jesus. Now Satan is trying to divert our Savior from fulfilling his mission with Matthew in this passage is reminding us of the uniqueness of Jesus, who is Jesus is the he is God incarnate, he is the son of God.

Matthew has already told us of his unique conception in chapter 1 verse 23, a virgin shall conceive so that Jesus enters this world differently from everyone else conceived of a virgin, he enters the world guiltless of any said we are born in sin through our first parents we inherit this sinful nature not so our Lord Jesus Christ.

Father has already said this is my son, my well beloved, in whom I am well pleased he is that sinless Savior.

Matthew has told us he's a man you well God with us. Chapter 1 verse 23 and as God incarnate God incarnate. What does that mean that means that Jesus is truly God and he's truly man. He is the man Christ Jesus unique.

None like him and because he is God incarnate. He has two natures to perfect natures.

He has actually nature.

He's truly man. He has a divine nature.

He's truly God and his divine nature and human nature exist united in one person or there's only one person of the Lord Jesus Christ. One person, one unique person with two perfect natures a divine nature fully God and human nature truly man we call that for those of you who like theology.

Recall that the hypostatic union so when you go home and someone says what was what was Monroe preaching about the day you can see the hypostatic union that signs very profound, doesn't it. I did this for find it as mysterious as a work in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. When people saw him. It is God with us. And as they see them, they see a perfect man, truly human, truly divine in the blessed one person of our Lord Jesus Christ know why is that important is very important because the human nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. Fishermen will never acted independently of his divine will of his divine nature. Jesus said, as only he could say I always do the things that please the father Joe was do the things that please God. Of course you don't. Every single person from Adam Wright donning the human race through our Lord Jesus Christ. Every single person every man, woman, body, and child has come short has failed. But Jesus said, uniquely, he always always did the things that pleased his father now. James tells us in James one, that God cannot be tempted with evil. So the divine nature of Jesus is God. He could not say God can't say.

And obviously, and therefore the human nature wouldn't sin. And so as we read the Gospels we never read that Jesus confessed any sin. When John calls everyone to repent.

Jesus doesn't repent is nothing to repent of. He never has to ask for forgiveness. He is perfect. He's flawless from first to last as enemies would love to find some blemish, some accusation they could just lay put against our Lord. But from first to last in all of his ways and all of his words and all of these deeds in all of these thoughts is absolute perfection so that I did for Bruce Lacey's holy is innocent. He's unstained he is separated from sinners.

So what's happening here. When Jesus is being tempted by Satan was God's eternal plan of salvation in jeopardy when Jesus is being tempted I could. That eternal plan of our Lord of God the father which you devise from all of eternity that his son would come into this world to rescue us to save us to redeem us with that whole balancing on the brink so that our Lord Jesus Christ could've failed could have succumbed to the temptation of the enemy. Absolutely no our Lord Jesus Christ is appointed from all of eternity as the spotless sinless Lamb of God, what God promises he always accomplishes the forces of darkness. The forces of hell. This Satan. Satan and his forces. All of these games with all of his deviousness and evil and murderous attack cannot fault the purposes of God, because God is sovereign's pilot is invincible. His promises are unassailable and so as we ride by the Lord Jesus is victorious over Satan over the powers of darkness and sin, you fail you over and over again succumbed to temptation with our Lord Jesus Christ, our magnificent Savior, separate from all others use without sin.

No Adam think of other Adam was made perfect wasn't a you live in a perfect garden and as a perfect man, Adam was able not to send, but he chose to sin our Lord Jesus not only was able not to sin.

He was not able to sin.

That is, not only did Jesus not sin. He could not sin because he is God incarnate.

So one occasion the Lord said in John chapter 14 the ruler of this world is coming, and he is no claim on me. There was nothing in our Lord Jesus Christ, which could respond to sin that is here's another theological word. We believe in the impracticability day of our Lord Jesus Christ, you look at our Lord Jesus, and he is him back.

I could selected at random and a one of you and bring you up here and within the space of a minute or two I could demonstrate that you are not impeccable set with your husband or wife were here to ponder your faults, your friends or colleagues that would quickly say he's a good person will like him is my friend but possesses such occasion. He did this she said that he thought this Lord Jesus Christ. After all of the examination of his life by the devil by the demons by the religious establishment by Romans by his critics, none of them could find fault in him. Satan himself comes and has to leave because of the impact ability of our Lord Jesus Christ know someone says John with a minute but does that mean that the temptation the day. Wilderness was unreal.

Not a tall. It was very real and invincible arm. Amy still be attacked.

See when you and I are tempted, we succumb to the temptation. Oscar Wilde said I can deal with everything but temptation to get rid of it by succumbing to its but think of this. The Bible says that our Savior in every respect has been tempted as we have yet without sin. In fact, think of this Jesus face temptation in a way that none of us have ever experienced. Because we all succumb to temptation. I don't mean we succumb to every temptation, but all of us of sin, but however strong the temptation of Lord resist that temptation. It is a tree that stands in the hurricane that food that fills the full full force of the Arctic. The tree that collapses doesn't feel the filled forests transcend the full force.

It is the tree that stands in the storm that is the strongest and their sinless Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ as hell itself as darkness itself is the devil himself tries in these threefold temptations to attack our Lord Jesus Christ. He stands supreme, but is none like him, nor will it ever be like him to understand why we who follow Jesus love them is the sinless Savior now at the temptation. Then we see the sinlessness of the son of God, but we also see his strategy. What is his strategy when these tempted when he quotes Scripture and the wonderful thing is that the Lord would not God. We can use the same strategy.

Look again at verse one. Jesus let is laid out by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil tempted and the programs thinking everything could be a nice be nice if there someplace you could escape to get away from temptation in the history of the church. Some of thought that will will go to him on the street will go to high Hill will go to a remote place will go to the desert will withdraw from the evil world kind of live in a little ecclesiastical bubbler kind of a Christian bubble and keep out all the bad things are possible. The devil is in the wilderness, and whatever you go you could never escape temptation. You will never escape temptation by going to a particular place by trying to cut yourself off from the just doesn't work. And hero Lord Jesus is tempted in the wilderness to look at the first temptation verse three. This is description the tempter. Can you see him. He comes and says if you are the son of God, command the stones to become loaves of bread and he answered it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Adam is tempted by fruits. We rated in Genesis 3, which was pleasing to their eyes the devil times, Jesus in terms of these very real hungry Jesus is hungry. Only thing Brad doesn't sinful. But Jesus never uses his miraculous powers in a self-serving way. We have a nurse on the evening study seen this that when Israel was hungry in the wilderness. What did God do supplied bread from heaven, the fruit of angels dropped from heaven to all God the father is well able to supply Brad for his son. But how does Jesus respond because Deuteronomy 8 verse three was written to Israel.

You got to understand that we don't live by bread alone yes it is true we need Brad to live. It's true that we need foods but we don't live by that alone. Our lives are not just on the physical sense, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. In order to live fully. Let me remind you, you need more than physical and material things you need the word of God things on add, never, never bring you everlasting joy will think of that this evening as we think of the children of Israel, drinking from the water from the rock was the second temptation while the devil verse five takes our Lord to the holy city Jerusalem and set them on the pinnacle of the temple and said to measure the son of God, throw yourself dying 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, the son of God, God will catch you written Scripture find it surprising that the devil knows the Bible and he's referring to Psalm 91 which is a wonderful sound is courting. In fact, some 91 verses 11 and 12 listen to it in some 91 for he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways something the devil leaves out on their hands they will bear you up. Bless you strike your foot against a stone. He doesn't include the fact that words at the end of verse 11 and Psalm 91 in all your ways and notice the Lord's perfect response in verse seven.

Again, there is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test. That would be manipulating God that would be creating an unnecessary emergency forcing God is at work to act in a certain way. Scripture says devil dog boots the Lord God. The test Jesus doesn't need assigning from the father to prove the father's care, the son of God's total and quite trust is in his father.

Don't put God to the test and then the third temptation verse eight devil takes him to very high monitoring and shows him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory and system all these I will give you if you fall down and worship me.

Think of the city of the devil was think of his boldness. Think of his absolute pertinence.

The devil to come to talk in such a way, enter try and tempt the Lord in such a way that all of the these kingdoms of the world and he just fall down and worship me. Of course would mean the renal cross suffering no atonement for sins with large brilliant answer is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and him only noticeable word only him on the way.

Shall you serve only saw one person you can only have one top priority. The first commandment. No you don't worship anyone or anything other than the Lord God, and in fact Jesus has a greater authority a greater power than anything that David that Satan could give them much is going to tell us the words of our Lord in Matthew chapter 28 all authority in heaven and on earth is given to what was the Lord strategy in dealing with the devil's temptation verse four it is written verse seven. Again, it is written. Verse 10 for it is written is not very instructive for us. Our Lord quotes the word of God to resist the testing and the temptation coming from the devil. Yes, our Lord, you obeyed and submitted to the holy Scriptures. The three scriptures that our Lord quotes all come from Deuteronomy 6 and Deuteronomy 8 where Israel is being tested in the wilderness, Israel failed a test of the wilderness God son, our Lord Jesus triumphs in the wilderness and then the devil leaves him and says interesting that the Angels came and were ministry to him verse 11. Do you understand and resisting the devil the word of God is crucial. The devil false teachers, false religions and cults. All quote Scripture. Invariably they take Scripture right of his context, they misquoted, they misapply it. And even those of us who are followers of Jesus need to be careful that we handle the word of God accurately. Sometimes followers of Jesus claim a promise from Scripture thinking that the promise of Scripture must be fulfilled by God. Right at this time is if we are in the sense manipulating God or demanding something of God. For example, is it true that God protects his people.

Of course it is. That said over and over again in Scripture is Psalm 91.

True, of course it's true that doesn't mean that you jump off a bridge and then say that God will protect you and all of your weights that we foolish that we testing God whether our strategies for dealing with temptation. Have you been tempted this week did you succumb what what strategy did you use. This time with me to Ephesians 6 as we bring this to a conclusion before we break bread this morning. Ephesians 6 is a great chapter on spiritual warfare. Yes, this is spiritual warfare. I was the weapons.

How do we handle this and I find is so encouraging and I spell it out temptation in your life can be resisted. You're going to be tempted today. Tomorrow, Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday you to be tempted with something I don't know what it is but you yes if you know Jesus Christ that temptation can be resisted was a divine strategy.

Ephesians 6 verse 10 finally, be strong in the Lord and the strength of his might know on your drawing that you will have your no match against the enemy is far more intelligent than you are. And he sadly found were devious and he said plenty plenty of experience that is no contest between you by yourself and the devil he will demolish her every single time. So what might you do I'm to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might not them rights the education the gifts and abilities and experience of John Monroe. I'm to be strong in his might. God's mind. That means that each day you to draw on the Lord's strength, knowing that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you notice that God strengthens you and God will help you when you do this through Christ who strengthens me.

Isaiah 40 verse 31 you should know this verse by not that it is those who wait on the Lord shall be reviewed and strength which are among top with week with wings like eagles will run and not be weary, who will walk and not faint why were you going to receive the spiritual strength answer waiting on the Lord. The joy of the Lord is your strength. So daily wait on the Lord daily asked God for strength really get on your knees and ask God for his strength because today could be the one of the days that you face the fiercest temptation of your life and when that temptation comes you want to be strong in the Lord daily pray the Lord taught us lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil. A good prayer for every day. Our Savior said in the garden watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. Are you watching are you praying are you strong in the Lord today.

First, be strong in the Lord secondly puts on the full armor of God. Verse 11 of Ephesians 6 put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. The strategies of the devil. He sought deviance is the day. If you find that the way he comes to you and tries to harass you, what might you do put on the full armor of God, God supplies me with all of the armor is described in detail herein.

Ephesians chapter 6 recommended to you, but every day I'm to put it on. I need protection against the attacks of the tempted of the devil of the Satan of the accuser of the father of lies dimension to importance parts of the armor are mentioned in Ephesians, the shield of faith shield which is faith. It extinguishes the fiery missiles of the NMA. Paul says picture of the Roman soldier. His body shield the enemy is attacking.

He needs protection. Was he going to put up he puts up the shield of faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. So as you go into the spiritual warfare as your attacked the devil attacks usually are aware of your own sinful desires goal strong in the Lord go believing that the Lord is going to give you the victory because this shield of faith extinguishes his fiery darts and of course very important way. Take up the sword of the Spirit. Ephesians 6 verse 17 take the helmet of salvation protecting I had on the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God is with the Lord Jesus that was going to be successful against the devil. The sword of the spirit.

It is written again, it is written, it is written, for it is written. Psalm 119 verse 11.

Your word I've stored up. I treasured in my heart that I might not sin against you is why it's wonderful.

Their children are students are learning the word of God. That's why it's so important that you study this book that you know the word of God. So when the devil comes and deceives you with his lies and he's a master of deception you can send with truth. The truth of the word of God, so study the word of God. So first, be strong in the Lord. Secondly, put on the full armor of God, third stand firm against the devil. Verse 13 therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm stand therefore one retreat.

Don't be afraid to go hunting. I hope some people say Robert find the devil and his demons. No no no don't do that. But when I come to you and when they come one retreat stand firm picture of warfare is stands resist the devil and he will flee from you. That's the promise of God.

I guarantee it. Try it this week strong in the Lord armor of God, quitting the shield of faith in the word of God and to stand fast. This is the promise of gorging on the victory side and if God is for us who can be against us.

Yes, the devil is strong, but God Almighty is with us. The photosystem we praise God with a ready-made is defeated by arson the Savior in the future. He's going to be absolutely destroyed, but meantime Peter tells us he prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour Lakeside over this congregation is about who who who who remember to get after this week.

Think of the picture of the lion prowling around just waiting to pounce. So when he comes in the pros arranger stand firm. Don't be fearful that that shield of faith.

Ask God for his help know the word of God and stand firm. Always keep your eyes on the Savior always have your ears open to his word and rejoice that the victory has been won by our Lord Jesus Christ. I am to know the word I'm to study the word of God and to obey it and anything contrary to the word of God must be resisted, he will secure the word of God, he will deceive you with these lines.

Here is the invariable truth. Anything doesn't matter who's saying it when it is the government when it is your parents with and ensure why your schoolteacher someone you admire anything or anyone. Contrary to the word of God must be resisted this as absolute truth. This is where I take my stand on the devil will twist the things stand firm repents the life of humility turn from that sinful practice. Resist the devil and when the devil tempts you quote Scripture as we come to the Lord's table, replace our Lord Jesus Christ.

Not only that he's the holy one, but he's a forgiving God and when we fail is fail.

We do but is forgiveness of the cross and you come to the Lord's table. If you're a follower of Christ, can you ask God to forgive that sin can you repent of that sin.

Can you ask God for his help and you take the bread and the wine to live a holy life. No we only only worship the Lord.

We only serve the Lord. Trust and love the Savior with all of your heart. Father, we thank you for the Savior, we thank you for his magnificent sinlessness. We thank you for this strategy that he adopted that we also can adopt to stand firm against the enemy and I pray father as we prepare our hearts that you will cleanse us from all sin and all unrighteousness. As we come to the cross. We thank you that the devil is defeated because our Savior conquered time of the cross and is alive forevermore and we know that ultimately he will be thrown into the lake of fire.

Help us. Meantime, to resist and to stand firm and live life humbly to your glory in Christ