Untitled Sermon (54)

Jesus receives His first assignment when the Holy Spirit leads him near the Oldest town in the world, Jericho, to what is known today at the Mt. of Temptation.

Show picture of Jericho and Mount of temptation

Matthew 4:1–11 ESV

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.

Satan incites God’s people to evil

Satan exploits human weaknesses

Genesis 3:1–5 ESV

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Rev 12:9 identifies the serpent with Satan.

See also Job 2:4–5; Eph 4:26–27

Satan will test your weakness just like he did Job. Satan told God, “stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.

In Ephesians 4:27 the bible tells us to not give any opportunity to the devil.

He tempts Christians to fall away

1 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV

5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

Paul is reminding the new believers in Thessalonica to stay strong and not be discouraged by satan’s attempts to destroy their faith. Satan knew that they were young believers and were vulnerable to his attacks.

Satan takes advantage of weakness.

See also Lk 22:31; 1 Ti 3:7; 2 Ti 2:26

Luke 22:31 ESV

31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,

illustration os sifting

In this text we see that Satan is attacking the disciples. the text says...”Satan demanded to have you” The Greek word translated “you” is plural here, referring to all of the faithfulness of the disciples.

In 1 Timothy there is a list of qualifications for Elders and Deacons.

1 Timothy 3:7 ESV

7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

1 Timothy 3:6 ESV

6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

He must be well thought of or proven, this is someone that has been faithful through trials.

2. He must not be a new believer, someone who is not easily persuaded by satan.

He inspires people to put God to the test

The early church was unified, one goal, to reach the lost. Acts 4 tells us that they had all things in common. They were selling their belongings and giving to the mission. Then, satan shows up. Hear the account of Ananias and Sapphira.

Acts 5:3–9 ESV

3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

Satan will do all he can to convince you that testing God is okay.

See also Ps 78:18; Ps 78:41; Ps 106:14; Ac 15:10; 1 Co 10:9

Psalm 78:15–19 ESV

15 He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep. 16 He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers. 17 Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. 18 They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved. 19 They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?

Satan will tempt you to test God.

He makes sin attractive

Lack of integrity:

Matthew 5:37 ESV

37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

This is a critical issue

Luke 16:10 ESV

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Sinful desires:

Pornography is a vessel used by satan to kill and destroy.

40 million U.S. adults regularly visit internet pornography

10% of U.S. adults admit to having an addiction to internet pornography

17% of all women struggle with porn addiction

20% of men and 13% of women admit to accessing porn while at work

70% of women admit to keeping their cyber activities secret

1 of 3 visitors of all adult websites is a woman

Women favor chat rooms twice as much as men

What about the Christians?

"If you think you can't fall into sexual sin, then you're godlier than David, stronger than Samson, and wiser than Soloman" (Pastor Bill Perkins).

47% of Christian homes report that pornography is a problem.

50% of Christian men and 20% of Christian women are addicted to porn.

Among churchgoing women:

60% struggle with lust.

40% have engaged in sexual sin in the past year.

20% regularly view pornography.

1 in 6 women, including Christians, are addicted to pornography.

Over 80% of women addicted to porn act out those behaviors offline (affairs, casual sex).

51% of pastors say cyberporn is a temptation; 37% say it’s a current struggle.

30–40% of pastors admit to viewing porn in the last month.

34% of Christian women report being addicted to pornography.

56% of divorces involve one spouse with an obsessive interest in porn.

63% of men at church integrity seminars struggle with porn—two-thirds are in leadership, 10% are pastors.

1 in 7 pastoral care calls relates to internet pornography.

Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan

In the wilderness

Through Simon Peter

Matthew 16:23 ESV

23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Jesus Christ identifies with believers

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

See also Heb 2:8

Satan tests Christians

Revelation 2:10 ESV

10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

See also Lk 22:31; Re 3:10

Satan’s temptations can be resisted

Seven Ways to Defeat Temptation

1. By The Word of God

Psalm 119:105 ESV

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

2. By Submitting to Christ

James 4:7 ESV

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

3. By Conforming to God

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

4. By being alert

1 Peter 5:8 ESV

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

5. By prayer

Matthew 26:41 ESV

41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

See also Mt 6:13; Lk 22:32; Lk 22:46

6. By relying on God’s faithfulness

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

See also 2 Pe 2:9; Re 3:10

7. By Jesus Christ’s service as high priest

Hebrews 2:18 ESV

18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

; Heb 4:15

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

8. By Crucifying the Flesh

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.