The Temptations of Christ

Introduction

This morning I’d mentioned the Temptations of Christ (I some respect). The LORD directed me back here tonight to look at this passage of Scripture dealing w/ temptation.

This is an important topic to examine, as everyone experiences temptation. It’s important that we can recognize it & refute it when it comes our way.

I. Setting the Table

In noticing the order of things, we can glean some helpful understanding.

After the Spirit’s Lighting

The first thing that we need to notice is that these temptations happened AFTER the lighting of the Spirit upon Jesus.

Now we know that Jesus needed not salvation, but for illustrative purposes today, this represents those who have been born again & sealed with the Spirt of God.

This is important, as I want to make sure that you understand that being born again does not exclude you from problems nor temptations.

(Ill.) There’s been some who look at Jesus as though He’s a Genie in a bottle, and they expect that because they have placed trust in Him that they will not have any more troubles… that is not the case. The Bible tells us: Job 14:1 “Man that is born of a woman Is of few days, and full of trouble.”

This is no different whether you’ve been born again or not. Jesus didn’t come to take away all your problems, but He came to save your soul. He certainly is a ‘very present Help in times of trouble’ - but there’s still trouble that we deal with!

After the Spirit’s Lighting

Before His Laboring

The first thing that Jesus did after He publically announced His ministry was head into the wilderness.

This can be seen as a ‘Proving period’

Before Jesus would go about preaching & teaching, there needs be a proving period to make sure that He’s a worthy vessel to be charged with such a great work of God. And just as Jesus went through a proving period, it’s important that each of us goes through that as well.

Now I want to be clear - there is only one who was truly worthy, and His name is Jesus. However, just as like what was demonstrated in our text (that Jesus was endued with the Holy Spirit) you and I have been given that Spirit as well. AND WITH THAT SPIRIT COMES POWER! Jesus said: Act. 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Some churches look for any warm body that can fill a position and they stick them in there, whether they’ve proved themselves or not. I’m not like that. I would rather discontinue a ministry than put people in there who have proved themselves that they cannot overcome temptation.

We see that Jesus proved Himself before His Laboring

By the Spirit’s Leading (v1)

Jesus also endured temptation BY the Leading of the Spirit of God.

Do not let this fact escape you! The Sprit of God led Him to the very place Satan would tempt Him.

Now I want to make a specific distinction here. The Spirit did not tempt Christ, but the Spirit let Him to a place where He was tempted.

Jam. 1:12-13 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”

God Himself will not tempt you - but the Spirit of God may lead you to a point & place in your life where you most certainly will experience temptation.

(Ill.) Back many years ago, about 2009 I was faced with temptation. I had a good, high paying, high perk job in the midst of ‘the great recession’. I was faced with a decision to either move in Ohio and keep my job, or stay in NC and lose it. I prayed ‘for God’s Will’ out loud, but prayed ‘for God’s Liberty to go’ inside. God never gave me liberty, but I went anyway. I walked by sight instead of faith. A year later, I was faced with another decision - to continue on in that Job of follow the leading of the Spirit back to NC to a church that hadn’t extended an offer yet. I followed the leading of the Spirit and the rest is history.

God’s Spirit will most assuredly lead you to a place of temptation, but it’s not because God is tempting you - it’s because God is leading you the way He wants you to go, and Satan tempts you to go another direction.

So it was by the Leading of the Spirit

Now that we’ve Set the Table, let’s look at the Temptations of Christ

II. The Temptations of Christ

They came Faithfully

The first thing that we need to understand is that these temptations came faithfully. In other words, it wasn’t a ‘one-off’. Satan tempted Jesus again, and again, and again.

When we face temptations, we will face them multiple times - sometimes at the same time (or in rapid succession). Other times it might be the same temptation over and over.

(Ill.) Let me share with you a temptation that I face regularly. Question: How many of you have tried to instruct your children and yet they don’t listen? Time & again, you love them & want the best for them, yet they don’t see that and think that they know better than you? (Surely if you have teenagers, you have experienced this). That is the same type feeling I have oftentimes concerning you. You see the relationship you and I have is one of under shepherd & sheep. I am tasked with tending, feeding, protecting & watching over you. The closest human relationship that mimics this is not boss and employee, not brother & sister, not friendship, but one of parent & child. For I am to feed, lead & protect you the best I can as any good parent would do for their children. Now, just today as I sat in study & preparation for this evening, Satan comes by & says ‘Dude, why do you even bother? Half ain’t going to show up & half don’t listen anyway… ‘ And I am tempted to just ‘mail it in’. Don’t worry about it, don’t put much thought into what I present to you, just take a nap and worry about that later.

This is an example of a temptation that I face on a regular basis.

They came though He was Faint

The Bible tells us here that Jesus after fasting 40 days was hungered… yeah, I’d say so.

(Ill.) Have any of you gone without food for a good deal of time? Anyone fasted multiple days? It’s physically draining as you are literally denying your body the physical food it needs to go. Jesus physically was very faint.

Satan will certainly bring temptation at all points in your life - when you’re on the mountaintop, but especially when you’re in the valley.

We need to be especially careful when we’re going through trials as that’s when Satan will most try to utilize your weakness to His benefit

They came though He was faint

They all had Different Focus

One thing to consider as we look at these temptations is that none of them were just alike. That’s not to say that he will not bring the same temptation time & again, but it’s to say that Satan is not a one-trick pony.

Let’s examine the different aspects of Christ that He tempted.

One appealed to His Distress (v3-4)

This one appealed to the physical / fleshly aspect of Christ.

As mentioned, Jesus’ was struggling physically - and Satan’s mode of temptation here was to try and appease the fleshly desires.

Satan brings these temptations as well. (Ill.) The easiest illustration would regard church attendance. It’s a whole lot easier to lay on the couch & watch March Madness then get up, get dressed & drive to church and listen to the preacher. There’s something about reclining around the house on our day off that is certainly appealing to the flesh.

One appealed to His Distress

One appealed to His Doubt (v6)

The next one is that Satan was prodding Christ to seek a sign.

This is something that Satan tempts us with. When we are going to do something or want to know something, we seek after a sign. We want to walk by sight and not by faith.

But I must remind you that Jesus said; Mat. 16:4 “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.”

Satan will tell you ‘Don’t you think that God should SHOW you something if it be His Will?’

Satan will appeal to your Doubts

One appealed to His Dignity (v8-9)

Lastly Satan used one of the greatest foes of mankind - Pride. He took Him and showed Him all these kingdoms and said ‘They’ll all be yours now - if you just bow to me.’ This is the same deal that Satan has made unto multiple politicians. The contrast that Satan offers appeals much more to man’s pride than what Jesus has to offer.

Satan says ‘Bow to me & lord over everyone else’. Jesus says ‘Bow to me & wash the feet of everyone else’.

But the Bible warns us concerning pride:

Pro. 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.”

Pro. 21:4 “An high look, and a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked, is sin.”

We see the Temptations of Christ

We’ve Set the Table, Saw the Temptations of Christ, Next the Testimonies of Christ

III. The Testimonies of Christ

How did Jesus respond?

First: If Jesus responded this way, we should to

Secondly: If Jesus needed the Word, how could we do without?

The Preparation

I’ve spoken as to how Jesus was physically frail - He had fasted 40 days & nights & was hungered. However, though He was physically frail, He was Spiritually prepared. Jesus had starved the flesh to take away it’s power so that the Spirit could reign in the times of trial & tribulation.

If you want to overcome the temptations of Satan, you must prepare yourselves. You must feed the Spirit & starve the flesh.

The Bible tells us of the importance of Fasting:

Mar. 8:17-29

Mar. 9:29 “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”

We see the Preparation

The Pronouncements

What we must recognize is that Jesus overcame the temptations of Satan by the Word of God.

A couple things to note:

If Jesus responded to temptations this way, shouldn’t we as well?

If Jesus needed the Word in His time of Temptation, do you think we will fare better without?

Jesus didn’t have (best we know) a Bible in hand - but He had the Word in His heart. The Scripture says: Psa. 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.”

The Word of God is Powerful: Heb. 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The Word of God is absolutely essential to our lives and in not succumbing to temptation: 1Cor. 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

God has made a way of escape - THROUGH HIS WORD!

Temptations were Overcome by the Word

Satan was Rebuked by the Word

Victory was Enjoyed by the Word

We see the Testimonies of Christ

IV. The Treasures that Followed

A Period of Peace

Once Satan’s temptations were overcome - Satan fled.

Understand that this did not extend forever - but certainly was for a period.

When we escape temptation through God’s Word, the rebuke Satan with God’s Word, He will eventually flee - at least for a time. That is IF you overcome him by the Word of God.

There are a couple instances where we see that the Word of God was rejected & Satan’s temptations brought men to their destructions. (Saul & Judas for two of them)

God grants us a period of Peace

A Heavenly Provision

We see that angels came down & ministered unto Him.

Church notice this:

Satan tempted Jesus with bread from a stone - God gave Him manna from Heaven

Satan tempted Jesus with the Kingdoms of the world - yet God granted Him a Kingdom of His own

Satan tempted Jesus with pride, yet Jesus showed humility to be exalted in due time

1Pet. 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”

Pro. 15:33 “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; And before honour is humility.”

Anything that Satan tempts you with is second rate compared to what God has for you. Know that!

Conclusion