SUBJ: The reason of the temptation
and its importance to us in facing the wiles of the Devil and other
aspects of the believing life where dependence on God is essential.
AIM: That we should be
strengthened and encouraged in the power and example of our Lord.
INTR: Often those things which
seem a matter of mere history to us take on importance beyond measure
with regard to the fact of Christ engaged for us in coming into the
world. 1. This event was an essential event in the ministry of Christ
and leads us to ponder and pursue the question, “what was Jesus doing in
the wilderness?” 2. It marks the beginning of His public ministry and
certainly seems to have been an essential in that He was led of the
Spirit to do so (Mark says that He was driven by the Spirit). It was in
preparation for what He would face. 3. It is essential in that He was
representing His people and assuring that the evil one would not be able
to overcome them though his efforts would be great: For still our
ancient foe/Doth seek to work us woe/His craft and pow’r are great/And
armed with cruel hate/ On earth is not his equal.
THESIS: It is essential that we see
that Christ was in the wilderness on our behalf and that He stood as a
man before all that Satan could throw at Him and prevailed in order that
those for whom He came would prevail also.
I. If thou be the Son
of God (vv. 3, 6) 1. Consider that at the time this question was
asked Him that He was at a low point in physical and spiritual
suffering. 1) Son of God born in a stable 2) Fleeing from Herod
3) Raised in poverty 4) Introduced by the likes of John 5)
Declared to be so at Jordan 6) Now at the point of starvation. 2.
As the Son of God great power must be at your disposal – cast yourself
down! 3. We need great power to resist: Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8 AND Notwithstanding the Lord
stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be
fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered
out of the mouth of the lion. 2 Timothy 4:17
II. The temptations
(vv. 3, 6, 9) 1. The first temptation (v. 3) was to abandon His
dependence on the Father to care for Him and more importantly to do so
under Satan’s guidance 1) We are quickly reminded of another scene in
which one is bidden to eat – the Garden of Eden 2) Often the thought
of Satan is to present a justification for abandoning faith 3) The
power was there, but because we are not to abandon faith under any
circumstances, neither did He – Rather “It is written” -- Deuteronomy
8:3. 2. The second temptation was to presume on the power of God – to
create danger? 1) Consider scripture in the mouth of Satan 2) The
promise from Psalm 91 was addressed to the tender care of our Lord for
His own 3) But, it is written, (Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God
– Deuteronomy 6:16) 4) The place where he took Him overlooked the
Valley of Hinnom and the ravine of the Brook Kedron. i. An extremely
high tower built by Herod ii. The brook which carried away the waste
from the Temple and perhaps other places 5) Consider another time in
which He stood over a great abyss (at Calvary) and did not hesitate to
cast Himself down into the muck and mire of the sins of His people and
there to be abandoned and His foot more than dashed against a stone. –
Psalms 69:1-3 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. 2
I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep
waters, where the floods overflow me. 3 I am weary of my crying: my
throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. 3. The third
temptation finds no claim in scripture but simply asserts Satan as the
rival of God and claims the domain for himself. 1) Christ calls him
the prince of this world (John 12:31, et al) 2) Paul calls him the
god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) 3) Has power over death
(Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and
blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through
death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the
devil;) 4) In fact, they were not his kingdoms to give 5) For all
this it is only perceived because men submit themselves to his rule and
they in fact worship in this manner. The temptation is to blatant
idolatry. 6) The winner declares the confrontation over – Get thee
hence -- God alone to be worshiped and served.
III. The departure
of Satan 1. The man Christ Jesus prevails 2. He is ministered to
on God’s terms and as a result of faith not presumption 3. We may
know that the great enemy is felled by one little word – Jesus Christ is
Lord and has prevailed over death, hell and the grave!
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