Those Temptations

  Those Temptations   Matt. 4:1-11

  EBC   9/16/07

  In these verses are recorded for us the greatest battle known to all men. It isn’t one that will be recorded in secular history books but it is one that is needful for us.

  In 1 John 2:16, scripture describes the three-fold scope of evil. The assaults on Christ deal with these three basic areas.

  Bread out of stone- lust of the flesh

 Exceeding high mountain- lust of the eyes

Jump from the pinnacle – pride of life

This temptation is not the last time Christ was assaulted by Satan. One thing that comes from these verses is that Christ has the power not to sin and that is what we most need today.

I. The Participants (1) here we see the two participants in this great battle – Jesus and the Devil (Satan)

  A. Jesus – the divine one, the Son of God, the savior of the world.

    1. Scripture tells us about two significant conditions of Jesus.

      a. Matt. 4:1- He was led of the Holy Spirit

        1. The word led speaks of divine appointments. The temptation was very important in the life of Jesus. This temptation was appointed by God just as our temptations and God appoints trials. This temptation was not because Christ had wandered away from the will of God.

      b. Luke 4:1- He as filled by the Holy Spirit.

        1. This speaks of divine power. John G. Butler- being led means compliance, being fed means capability; being led means submission, being filled means strength; being led means to consent, being fed means ability.

        2. When a person enters a tough battle he needs much strength and ability.

          a. The Bible exhorts believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit – Eph. 5:18.

            1. We need to be filled in order to live successfully for Him, how are we filled: 

              a. Supplication – we pray earnestly for God to fill us to the extent that we are able to follow Him

              b. Submission- we submit to God’s will which is allowing Him to led us in every direction of life.

              c. Scripture- we study scripture to fill our heart and mind with divine truth. Our conscience reacts to what it has been fed.

  B. Satan- Mark calls him “Satan”, Matthew and Luke call him “the devil”.

    1. His existence- he isn’t a figment of our imagination. Graham Scroggie- “the trick of Satan is to get people to deny his existence. He is most effective when he is denied”.

      a. Those who deny him will offer least resistance to him.

    2. His evil- the name Satan means adversary in both Greek and Hebrew. The word devil in OT and NT means “accuser” or slanderer”.

      a. John 8:44- he is a liar and the father of it.

      b. Matt. 4:3- the tempter

II. The Place (1b) wilderness. We ‘re not sure exactly where this place is – many mention north of the Dead Sea. But it was a place that was needed.

  A. A deserted place – a deserted place reveals that Christ is alone in regards to humans.

    1. The wilderness is a place of solitude. That’s where victories are won or lost. You are in public what you are in a desert.  

    2. We all need solitude in which we can be alone with God. Many of Christ’s most important prayers were alone.

    3. Those who are exciting about the will of God will often sit alone.

  B. A dedicated place –

    1. If you are going to do the will of God you will doubtless have to do many wilderness experiences.

    2. God sends us there for a specific purpose. 

III. The Purpose- we need to understand that Heaven has a purpose in temptations or trials but so does Hell.

  A. Divine purpose-

    1. Reveals power of God-

      a. Christ was the great victor over evil. No one has so completely defeated the temptations as Christ did.

       b. Christ overcame Satan best shots.

    2. Educate mankind-

      a. Man has received the greatest lesson available on how to defeat temptation.

       b. Christ has shown the way to defeat the power of Satan is to employ the word of God.

        1. No wonder Satan tries to de-emphasize the word in our churches and in our lives.

    3. Expose Satan-

      a. These temptations expose the methods of Satan. It shows us how the devil works.

      b. To know how Satan works is a great advantage in defeating him.

        1. 2 Cor. 2:11- For we are not ignorant of his devices.

        2. Many will be ignorant of his devices because we don’t study scripture.

      c. Satan is just opposed to the work of God.