Temptation; The Devils Deceptive Devices Lk 4;1-13 021807
Temptation: The Devil’s Deceptive Devices (Luke 4:1-13)
Intro: “If you've never met the devil, it's because you and he have been going the same direction. You just change direction by turning to Jesus and start obeying him in life and you will meet the forces of hell head on! - Adrian Rogers SBC 1982
Once a person is saved by faith in Christ and comes to know God. An important step of growth is to understand that God has a purpose and plan for your life.
Today, we are not going to look so much at how you can know His plan for you life, but instead we are going to see how the enemy, Satan, is focused on leading us away from God’s plan. I hope that as you hear this message and apply it to your life you will not only see the importance of knowing God’s will for your life, but that you will see how Satan tries to tempt us away from God’s plan.
Read Luke 4:1-13 -- Background: Jesus’ baptism (3:21-22); 40days of temptation without food (4:1-2). We are only given the worst part of the temptation. The final and most brutal attempts by Satan to lead Christ our Lord into sin.
Just as Satan tried to lure Jesus away from God’s purpose and plan for His life as our Savior and Lord, Satan will try to lure us away from God’s plan for our lives.
How does Satan seek to Lure us away from God’s will/plan for our lives?
1. Satan tempts us to fulfill a natural desire On our own, Apart from God (4:3-4)
a. Test #1 – Would Jesus trust God to fulfill His most basic needs or would Jesus take things into His own hands?
b. Satan’s Trick #1 – He seduces our Senses and Desires – There was nothing sinful about Jesus hunger. Satan tempted Jesus to fulfill that desire or need without God. It is being tempted not to trust God and His promises.
App: How has Satan been tempting you to stop trusting God to provide as He has promised, and to fulfill a natural desire on your own? How can we stand strong when Satan tempts us?
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” A Humble Heart; The Word of God; The Courage to Stand/ RUN
2. Satan tempts us to make our own way thorugh life (4:5-8)
a. Test #2 – Would Jesus trust God’s plan for His life or would He make His own plan? Jesus would be King overall, that was part of why He came.
b. Satan’s Trick #2 – He entices our Ego – 1 John 2:16 – “pride of life”
1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV) 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
c. Satan’s Trick #3 – He offers passing power and glory – It looks real.
d. The temptation is to use all that God has given us for our own ends. We were created for worship. You personally were created in such away that no person can glorify God in exactly the same way that you can.
e. We can bring glory to God through our very lives. The most grievous sin is choosing to go our own way.
Pr 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
ILL: Satan's Beatitudes - If the Devil, whom we don't hear much about today, were to write his Beatitudes, they would possibly go something like this:
"Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, and too distracted to spend a couple of hours once a week with their fellow Christians in Church - they are my best workers.
Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked – they can be used by me.
Blessed are the touchy, with a bit of luck they may stop going to church --- they are my missionaries.
Blessed are those who are very religious and better than everyone else - they are mine forever.
Blessed are the troublemakers --- they shall be called my children.
Blessed are those who have no time to pray --- they are easy prey for me.
Blessed are the complainers - they shall cause division in the church.
Blessed are those who find their own way apart from God – I have a special place for them - Author unknown
App: Are you charting your own path through life? Or, have you learned that God’s way is the best way? Stop trying to make your own way through life. You will never find God’s special design for your life, until you let go of the reigns, and trust God completely with your life.
How can we stand strong when Satan tempts us? A Humble Heart; The Word of God; The Courage to Stand/ RUN
3. Satan tempts us to challenge God (4:9-12)
a. Test #3– Would Jesus trust God’s promises or challenge God’s promises by trying to manipulate God?
b. Satan’s Trick #4 – Distort God’s Word (by misusing the Word)
c. Faith waits patiently for the promise of God to be fulfilled
d. When we put God to the test, we demand immediate satisfaction from God. In that moment we stop trusting God, and make an ultimatum with God.
ILL: I heard a story about a lady who called a radio pastor some time ago. The pastor was a wise, grandfatherly gentleman who had a calm reassuring voice that could melt away fear and doubt. The lady, who was obviously crying, said, "Pastor, I was born blind, and I've been blind all my life. I don't mind being blind but I have some well meaning friends who tell me that if I had more faith I could be healed."
The pastor asked her, "Tell me, do you carry one of those white canes?"
"Yes I do," she replied.
"Then the next time someone says that, hit them over the head with the cane, and then tell them ' If you had more faith that wouldn't hurt!'" ILL: Snake Handlers
App: Don’t challenge God and tell Him what He must do. Trust God and He will meet you at your point of need. Be careful about saying to God, “If you do this, then I will do this.” How has Satan tempted you to doubt and challenge God’s precious promises? How can we stand strong when Satan tempts us? A Humble Heart; The Word of God; The Courage to Stand/ RUN
Conclusion: The Devil retreated, but only for a time (4:13). Even when we stand strong under temptation, remember that Satan will be back and he will be looking for an opportune time. He will look for a time of weakness. Will you yield or will you stand strong? Song: Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each victory will help you some other to win,
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue;
Look ever to Jesus--He'll carry you through. –Palmer
Invitation: The Lost: Are you looking for happiness today apart from God? You will never find it. Only Christ can bring peace with God and purpose for life. Believer, Are you looking for happiness today apart from God’s guidance and direction? Do you really think that you can find happiness without knowing God’s purpose for your life?