The 3 favorite baits of Satan
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· 38 viewsTemptations in the areas of Provision, Peligro and Power
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INTRO
INTRO
The Bible says we have an archenemy: He is smart, He knows how Heaven operates, He does not sleep, He knows very well the Word of God, He doesn’t rest, He has a powerful army and He is restrained only by God;
His perversions, accusations and corruption don’t change, it has been the same since his expulsion from Heaven: pride, corruption, temptations, lies, extreme cruelty and anything that he can use in order to lure and completely destroy the sons and daughters of God. His name: LUCIFER.
Today we will examine the 3 of his favorite baits he uses the most in order to tempt us.
In Jesus’ case, it was probably not only these 3 attempts, because He was tempted for 40 days!
The temptation of Jesus happened right after a glorious moment - His baptism. It’s typical of Satan to show up right after something nice is going on...
In our study today, you will see that each suggestion of the Devil is rebutted by a text of Scripture, all of which come from Dt. 6–8. That passage relates Israel’s experience of testing in the desert.
In our study today, you will see that each suggestion of the Devil is rebutted by a text of Scripture, all of which come from Dt. 6–8. That passage relates Israel’s experience of testing in the desert.
Theme for today:
Theme for today:
LAS 3 CARNADAS FAVORITAS DE SATANÁS
LAS 3 CARNADAS FAVORITAS DE SATANÁS
(THE 3 FAVORITE BAITS OF SATAN)
(THE 3 FAVORITE BAITS OF SATAN)
MAIN TEXT
MAIN TEXT
Entonces Jesús fue llevado por el Espíritu al desierto para ser tentado por el diablo. Después de haber ayunado cuarenta días y cuarenta noches, sintió hambre. Se le acercó el tentador y le dijo:
—Si eres Hijo de Dios, di que estas piedras se conviertan en pan.
Él respondió y dijo:
—Escrito está: “No solo de pan vivirá el hombre, sino de toda palabra que sale de la boca de Dios”.
Entonces el diablo lo llevó a la santa ciudad, lo puso sobre el pináculo del Templo y le dijo:
—Si eres Hijo de Dios, tírate abajo, pues escrito está:
»“A sus ángeles mandará acerca de ti”,
»y
»“En sus manos te sostendrán,
para que no tropieces con tu pie en piedra”.
Jesús le dijo:
—Escrito está también: “No tentarás al Señor tu Dios”.
Otra vez lo llevó el diablo a un monte muy alto y le mostró todos los reinos del mundo y la gloria de ellos, y le dijo:
—Todo esto te daré, si postrado me adoras.
Entonces Jesús le dijo:
—Vete, Satanás, porque escrito está: “Al Señor tu Dios adorarás y solo a él servirás”.
El diablo entonces lo dejó, y vinieron ángeles y lo servían.
This text is very well known. Three Gospels contain this narrative on when the Lord Jesus was tempted by the Devil in the desert of Judea, right after His baptism.
As I said, He tempted Jesus using 3 baits, and we will examine each one of them today.
The first bait:
PROVISIÓN
PROVISIÓN
This is the bait intended to OUR BODY.
“If you are the Son of God… transform these stones in bread” - The Devil was trying to contest the joy experienced by Jesus when the Father affirmed Him during His baptism (“This is My beloved son, in whom I am well pleased”). He will always try this technique so we feel diminished;
The Enemy knew that few days earlier John the Baptist, (Jesus’ cousin), had said something about transforming stones into something else, so he used that...
y no penséis decir dentro de vosotros mismos: “A Abraham tenemos por padre”, porque yo os digo que Dios puede levantar hijos a Abraham aun de estas piedras.
One of the reasons we make things easy for the Devil is that we are always concerned with provision, a house, money, car, and the Devil knows that!
We are consumers by nature, and extremely worried about things; and Jesus advised us with exactly the contrary: “not be anxious for anything, and to observe the birds and the flowers...”
ILLUSTRATION: PABLO E A MAIOR LANGOSTA DEL MUNDO!
Jesus also said: “My food is to do the will of my Father...”
Even the manna of the desert was for that day only (except on the Shabbath)
We easily forget that the our real treasure is in Heaven.
THE ANSWER OF JESUS for this first temptation came from a Book of the Bible that was written exactly as a remembrance of 40 years in the desert:
THE ANSWER OF JESUS for this first temptation came from a Book of the Bible that was written exactly as a remembrance of 40 years in the desert:
Y te afligió, y te hizo tener hambre, y te sustentó con maná, comida que no conocías tú, ni tus padres la habían conocido, para hacerte saber que no sólo de pan vivirá el hombre, mas de todo lo que sale de la boca de Jehová vivirá el hombre.
So, the first temptation was related to his bodily needs, related to provision… But the Devil would try again...
So, the first temptation was related to his bodily needs, related to provision… But the Devil would try again...
The second bait...
POPULARIDAD
POPULARIDAD
This is the bait intended for our SOUL, our ego.
Again, Satan uses the “If you are the Son of God” card… but this time he also tries to “twist a Bible verse”. Let’s compare:
pues a sus ángeles mandará acerca de ti,
que te guarden en todos tus caminos.
En las manos te llevarán
para que tu pie no tropiece en piedra.
He uses a twisted version of the verse (like he lied about God’s words with Eve). In this psalm, the idea is that someone “stumbles”, whereas here the Devil gave the idea of a premeditated attempt of Jesus against His own life.
The Devil was now trying to appealing to His vanity;
Notice that the choice of taking Jesus to “the highest point of the temple” (450 feet above the Kidron Valley) urges a public display of messiahship;
“Look how important you are, how great you are! Nothing bad will ever happen to you, you are special!!”;
“Hey Jesus, just jump, do whatever you want and God will bail you out!”;
We cannot tempt God with our irresponsibilities. For example: Driving a car recklessly, having outbursts of anger or living irresponsibly and doing things that will put our body in risk IS TO TEMPT GOD!;
In this category we have those with suicidal thoughts;
Let’s be careful to not do things that will tempt God and exalt ourselves.
Let’s be careful to not do things that will tempt God and exalt ourselves.
The answer of Jesus comes from Deuteronomy, again!
The answer of Jesus comes from Deuteronomy, again!
»No tentaréis a Jehová, vuestro Dios, como lo tentasteis en Masah.
Trying once again, Satan now comes with the third temptation... but this time, he removes his mask completely, and he cannot use Scripture any longer, and we come to the third bait:
Trying once again, Satan now comes with the third temptation... but this time, he removes his mask completely, and he cannot use Scripture any longer, and we come to the third bait:
PODER
PODER
This is the bait intended for our SPIRIT.
The reason is, our spirit is the place of communication with God;
CONTAMINATION OF THE SPIRIT?? Is that even possible?? Yes, our spirit can be affected by sin:
CONTAMINATION OF THE SPIRIT?? Is that even possible?? Yes, our spirit can be affected by sin:
Así que, amados, puesto que tenemos tales promesas, limpiémonos de toda contaminación de carne y de espíritu, perfeccionando la santidad en el temor de Dios.
Now, notice how Satan’s attempts escalated. Jesus was in the Jordan plains, He was led (with His permission, of course) to a higher ground in the temple in Jerusalem, and now He is taken to a very high mountain, where he could see all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory! This tactic is still used today: the escalation of the temptation.
Now, notice how Satan’s attempts escalated. Jesus was in the Jordan plains, He was led (with His permission, of course) to a higher ground in the temple in Jerusalem, and now He is taken to a very high mountain, where he could see all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory! This tactic is still used today: the escalation of the temptation.
In this particular temptation what Satan was proposing very subtly was: “You can still be the king of kings, without going through the cross, right now!! But first, you have to prostrate before me and adore me!”
In this particular temptation what Satan was proposing very subtly was: “You can still be the king of kings, without going through the cross, right now!! But first, you have to prostrate before me and adore me!”
What a blasphemy, what an audacity!!
What a blasphemy, what an audacity!!
But could the Devil, indeed, offer anything to Jesus?
But could the Devil, indeed, offer anything to Jesus?
In a certain way, the Devil could offer “something” to Jesus, because right now, he is the prince of this fallen world:
Ahora es el juicio de este mundo; ahora el príncipe de este mundo será echado fuera.
esto es, entre los incrédulos, a quienes el dios de este mundo les cegó el entendimiento, para que no les resplandezca la luz del evangelio de la gloria de Cristo, el cual es la imagen de Dios.
But what Satan didn’t know, is that Jesus already had ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND EARTH! (Because He says so after His resurrection):
Jesús se acercó y les habló diciendo: «Toda potestad me es dada en el cielo y en la tierra.
The reason Satan tempts men and get results is because men want power, we can observe easily that all the wars of the world come because men want to dominate, to enslave, to have control.
Someone may say: “Hey, you can still be a Christian, what is the problem in having power??”
In fact, the Jews tried to make Jesus their king many times, but He wasn’t lured by power, He already had it, He offered Himself, He could defend Himself and not take the cross (like He explained in the Gethsemane when being arrested).
However, Jesus wanted to King in their hearts, not on an earthly throne;
NOT EVERYONE is prepared to have power. Someone already said that “if you really want to know someone, give him power...”
NOT EVERYONE is prepared to have power. Someone already said that “if you really want to know someone, give him power...”
The position of power and authority at all cost is exactly how the Devil will use the Antichrist against the world.
Jesus’ answer in this temptation, for the third time, comes from the Book of Deuteronomy:
Jesus’ answer in this temptation, for the third time, comes from the Book of Deuteronomy:
A Jehová tu Dios temerás, y a él solo servirás, y por su nombre jurarás.
After that, Jesus sends the Devil away!
After that, Jesus sends the Devil away!
Now, after Satan was gone, the very help Jesus had rejected in the first temptation makes itself available as angels arrive to serve him. They apparently stay for some time, since Matthew uses the imperfect tense (“diēkonoun”, were serving) to describe their ministry.
Jesus has passed the test, recovers from his fast, and is ready to begin his public ministry!
Jesus has passed the test, recovers from his fast, and is ready to begin his public ministry!
FINAL APPLICATIONS
FINAL APPLICATIONS
The apostle John calls these dangerous temptations of “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and pride of life”:
porque nada de lo que hay en el mundo—los deseos de la carne, los deseos de los ojos y la vanagloria de la vida—proviene del Padre, sino del mundo.
Genesis 3 similarities - Of course, there are many other temptations (lust for example), but these 3 are incorporate all of them, and we have to be aware:
para que Satanás no saque ventaja alguna sobre nosotros, pues no ignoramos sus maquinaciones.
Temptations serve a purpose
Temptations serve a purpose
Te acordarás de todo el camino por donde te ha traído Jehová, tu Dios, estos cuarenta años en el desierto, para afligirte, para probarte, para saber lo que había en tu corazón, si habías de guardar o no sus mandamientos.
He has the ability to deceive:
Y esto no es sorprendente, porque el mismo Satanás se disfraza de ángel de luz.
The difference:
Adam was tempted in a paradise, and yet fell: Christ was tempted in a wilderness, and yet stood
Don’t deceive yourself: you cannot win this battle by ourselves, but we can certainly do it with the help of the Lord Jesus and His Word.
Don’t deceive yourself: you cannot win this battle by ourselves, but we can certainly do it with the help of the Lord Jesus and His Word.
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Let’s pray.
Let’s pray.