Some Things We Learn from the Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness

By: Virgil Edwards, P. O. Box 501, Athens, GA

Luke 4:1–11

I. THERE IS A PERSONAL DEVIL

v. 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil.

1. Satan is more than a Myth.

2. Satan in the enemy of God and man.

II. THAT THE HOLIEST OF MEN ARE TEMPTED

1. No sin in being tempted: sin is in yielding to temptation.

2. The Devil questioned Christ’s Sonship.

v. 3… “If thou be the Son of God… ”

III. THAT TEMPTATIONS CLOSELY FOLLOW THE FILLING OF THE HOLY GHOST

1. After the Dove comes the Devil.

2. After Canaan comes the Giants.

3. After Pentecost comes the Persecutions.

4. After the Battle comes the Crown.

5. It is when you fully yield to God, that the Devil sets out to get you.

IV. THAT THE DEVIL STRIKES AT OUR WEAKEST SPOT

“Jesus had been without food forty days and nights, and the devil strikes with the bread question.”

vv. 2, 3.

V. WE LEARN HERE HOW THE DEVIL TEMPTS MEN

1. Lust of the flesh… vv. 3–4.

2. Lust of the eyes… vv. 5–7.

3. Pride of life… vv. 9–12

1 Jn. 2:15–16

VI. WE LEARN HOW THE DEVIL CAN BE DEFEATED

Weapons:

1. Word of God…

Lk 4:4… “It is written”

Ephe. 6:17 The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

2. By The Holy Spirit…

1 Jn. 4:4 He that is in you, is greater than he that is in the world.

VII. THAT THE DEVIL DEPARTS ONLY FOR A SEASON

Lk 4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

1. Then angels came to minister.

Matt. 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Virgil Edwards, “Some Things We Learn from the Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness,” ed. Maze Jackson, Golden Nuggets 4 (1968).