Rumble in the WildernessPart 2 (2)

Rumble in the Wilderness

Part 2

“Satan Attacks God’s Protection”

Matt. 4: 1-7

Last time we saw how Satan attacked Jesus opportunistically—When he was hungry.”

It was an attack against God’s Provision in His life.

We saw that his intent was to persuade Jesus to satisfy a right hunger in a wrong way by using His power independently of God’s will, rather than trusting in God’s provision.

We called this first temptation the “HUNGER TEST.”

But Jesus passed the “hunger test” with flying colors, defeating Satan with the truth found in Scripture.

The lesson for us was: Trust God with your hungers, and be willing to wait on His timing to meet your right needs in a right way—within the framework of His will.

Now today we want to look at the second temptation Satan brought to Jesus. It was in the arena of God’s Protection.

We will call this one the “TRUST TEST.”

The first temptation was physical.

The second temptation was psychological.

The first temptation was private.

The second temptation was public.

Scripture records that Satan transported Jesus to “a pinnacle of the temple”—probably the top of what was known as Herod’s royal portico at the southeast corner of the temple.

This pinnacle overlooked the Kidron valley, 450 feet below.

A normal height for one story is 10 feet, so this placed Jesus around 45 stories high.

As Jesus stood there, the people down below seemed like ants walking around.

The first temptation had involved instant food.

This second temptation involved instant fame.

The devil essentially said to Him,

“You aren’t getting anywhere! Here You are, thirty years old and You have no audience, no followers, no acclaim, no applause.

If you will do what I say, you can have instant fame!

And after all, isn’t that what you deserve as God’s Son?

I will make you a celebrity overnight.

Your name will be the talk of the town.

You will be front page news on the Jerusalem Post.

Haven’t you waited long enough to be recognized for Who you really are?

Isn’t it time that your extraordinary talents receive the attention they deserve?

Why wait any longer? I’ll get you the crowds, the attention, the fame and the fortune if you’ll do one simple thing!

“…throw Yourself down!”

And right on the heels of this absurd suggestion, Satan attempted to justify it by putting a scriptural spin on it:

“For it is written: He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”

Don’t think Satan can’t quote scripture. He can and does.

I see many people today falling for this same kind of temptation. Here’s what was happening:

Satan was suggesting to Jesus:

“Your time has come and God hasn’t done anything for you. You have dreams, ambitions, desires and aspirations. But time is marching on!

“Why wait on God? Make your move! Grab your destiny by the tail! Make things happen! You deserve better than this! The world is waiting for You!”

Then Satan cleverly inserts the spiritual spin:

By jumping, you’re not doing anything wrong.

You’re actually showing that you have great faith!

So, “Go ahead! Exercise your faith. Show your faith by casting yourself down. Take your stand on the Word of God.”

“He promises to hold you up! You won’t crash. The promise is right there in Scripture!—‘He will bear you up so that not even your foot will be dashed against a stone.’”

“Go ahead, make your dreams come true!”

What Satan was urging Jesus to do was to be PRESUMPTUOUS, not trusting.

There is a fine line between trusting God and tempting God.

Presumption is when we make a decision without a clear directive from God, expecting Him to bless it anyway.

It was incredible faith on Peter’s part to step out of the boat into the rolling sea and walk on water. But it was at the Lord’s beckoning that he did it.

If he had stepped out of the boat without the Lord’s clear call to do so, he would have immediately sunk through the sin of presumption.

David the Psalmist prayed, “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression.”

In the Book of Acts we read of seven Jewish men called “the sons of Sceva” who took it upon themselves to call on the name of the Lord Jesus over a man who had evil spirits, saying, “We cast you out by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”

They were immediately overcome by the demon possessed man who drove them from the house naked and terrified.

They had wrongly presumed that if Paul could cast out devils, so could they. But they had no divine directive!

So here’s the way the same temptation works with us:

Satan whispers in our ear:

“Go ahead and buy that beautiful, new luxury car. You don’t have any money, but you have a promise; “God will give you the desires of your heart!”—Ps.37:4 “So go ahead, JUMP!”

Or he may suggest, “Cut a few corners in your integrity to get where you really want to be. You can afford a little compromise on your convictions. Don’t be so legalistic! God understands your situation. JUMP!”

Or, as a pastor I’ve seen this one a lot: “You can go ahead and marry that unbeliever; The Lord doesn’t want you living in loneliness any more. He said in the Garden, “It’s not good that man should be alone.”

Besides, you’re getting older! Don’t worry, you have the faith and love to lead them into salvation down the road. Jump while the jumping is good!”

I can’t tell you how many times as a pastor I’ve seen well-meaning, zealous Christians presume to do something “by faith” with no directive from the Lord.

I’ve watched them sell businesses, move to other cities, leave unhappy marriages, or jump into ministries that they had no ANOINTING or DIVINE DIRECTIVE for.

The result is always regrettable and disillusioning.

Remember, PRESUMPTUOUS SIN is when we make a decision without a clear directive from God, expecting Him to bless it anyway.

So how can we avoid the kind of PRESUMPTUOUS SIN Jesus was tempted to?

ILLUS: The story is told of a ship’s captain who had to navigate into a treacherous harbor filled with underwater coral reefs and huge, dangerous rocks several times a year.

Due to the danger, three harbor lights had been erected in such a way that you were safe entering the harbor only if all three lights lined up in your field of vision where the three became one.

To avoid the SIN OF PRESUMPTION, I always look for three harbor lights of guidance. I will not take a jump of faith until they all agree and come together in a united, “Amen!”

The FIRST and PREMIER HARBOR LIGHT is:

GOD’S WORD: “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path,” said David.

LISTEN CAREFULLY: God will never, ever contradict His own Word!

He will never lead you to take a step that His Word cannot agree with!

Period, Ever.

One of Satan’s most successful tactics is to make you believe that God will make an exception with you.

That His Word in your situation somehow doesn’t apply.

That you are somehow special.

Was David special when it came to Bathsheba?

Or was Jonah special when he ran from God?

The SECOND HARBOR LIGHT is:

GOD’S PEACE: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”—Phil 4:6-7

The word “guard” refers to what we might call a “bodyguard.”

When you are walking in the will of God, this “bodyguard” called “God’s peace” will stand at the doorway to your heart and mind with a sword by his side.

When worry tries to enter, he holds out the sword and says, “Not here!”

Should fear try to get through, the “Bodyguard of God’s peace” draws the sword and says, “Back off!”

But if we start to step out of God’s will for us, the “bodyguard” withdraws saying, “I can’t give you my peace about this decision.”

THINK ABOUT THIS: If you’re making decisions that have caused you to feel unsettled, uneasy, un-peaceful, pay close attention to what God might be saying to you.

It’s probably a decision you should revisit.

So we have GOD’S WORD, GOD’S PEACE, and the THIRD HARBOR LIGHT is:

GODLY COUNSEL: “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.”—Prov.12:15

There are people around you who love the Lord who can see what you can’t see.

It is wise, says God, to consider what they say.

You may not like their advice, but it may save you a world of tears, heartache, and regret.

I have always found that when I am moving in the will of God, those who love me most can say, “I have peace about this for you.”

The harbor lights of GOD’S WORD, GOD’S PEACE, and GODLY COUNSEL will protect you from the sin of presumption.

Jesus, of course, saw right through Satan’s attack and said:

“It is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God.”

And He passed the TRUST TEST with flying colors. Two down, one to go.

Next time we will look at how Satan Attacked God’s Program.

LET’S PRAY