Dull Sword, Sharp Sword Series

[Statements in brackets are for the preacher not the preaching. They are notes that reflect ideas based on the homiletics recommended in "Preach with No Pants" (https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/preach-with-no-pants-john-allen-sermon-on-inductive-250167) which proposes an inductive-deductive five-point outline: Trip, Tension, Twist, Truth, Triumph. (Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the NET Bible.)]

[EXEGETICAL Subject - The devil's temptations...]

[EXEGETICAL Complement - ... were completely defeated by Jesus by quoting Scripture.]

[APPLICATIONS]

[God may lead us into difficult situations.]

[The devil attacks you when you are weak.]

[The devil attacks you where you are weak.]

[The devil watches for opportune times to attack you.]

[We resist the temptations of the devil with Scripture.]

[We resist the temptations of the devil with our knowledge of Scripture.]

[We stand strong in trials with our knowledge of Scripture.]

[Our spiritual power is directly related to how well we know the Bible.]

[Three general areas of life hold temptations and trials.]

[We have the ability to drive the devil away.]

[HOMILETICAL Subject - The trials and temptations of life...]

[HOMILETICAL Complement - ... we find the way out through Scripture.]

[HOMILETICAL IDEA - Sharpen your Sword of Scripture to conquer the battles of life.]

[HOMILETICAL IDEA - The sharpness of you Sword of the Spirit (Eph 6:17) decides your battle against the devil.]

[HOMILETICAL IDEA - You need the sharp sword of the Word of God to fight the devil.]

[HOMILETICAL IDEA - You need the sharp sword of the Word of God to fight your way out of dark valleys.]

[HOMILETICAL IDEA - Your knowledge of Scripture enables you to win over trials and temptations.]

[TWIST - The Clue to the Idea, Most Startling Idea]

"It is written!"

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[TRIP/UPSET]

A most disturbing "promise" of Jesus is, "In the world you will have trouble and suffering" (John 16:33). Most days we forget that. I have said it before: "This ain't heaven yet. We live on a sin-cursed planet under the dominion of the utterly evil, powerful god that we call the devil" (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2; 1 John 4:4; 5:19).

[TENSION - Provoking the Questions, Opposites of the Truth]

The devil attacks us. If that scares you, just worry first about temptations that come from your own sinful nature. In some sense it doesn't matter which of our three enemies the trouble comes from, the world, the flesh, or the devil.

We face temptations to sin, temptations to stray from God, troubles that try our faith. And the devil knows our weaknesses better than we do. He will certainly take advantage of you in any situation.

(Vv. 1, 14-15) And why doesn't God protect us from the devil? Look at poor Job. We want to hunker down and hide, hoping the devil doesn't notice us.

But that means many people live in defeat. We don't want to be cowards. We don't want to be weak, helpless babies mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Do you know the Bible tells in 1 Cor 3:1 and Heb 5:13 not to be babies?

In the world we have trouble and suffering. I need to remind myself often of something C.S. Lewis said. It was very wise, like basically everything he said.

One of the things that surprised me when I first read the New Testament seriously was that it talked so much about a Dark Power in the universe -- a mighty evil spirit who was held to be the Power behind death and disease and sin. The difference is that Christianity thinks this Dark Power was created by God, and was good when he was created, and went wrong. Christianity agrees with Dualism that this universe is at war. But it does not think this is a war between independent powers. It thinks this is a civil war, a rebellion, and that we are living in a part of the universe occupied by the rebel.

Enemy-occupied territory -- that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.

("Mere Christianity," page 51)

Paul talks about this spiritual warfare in Eph 6, encouraging us to be strong in the Lord and in his power, to stand against his attacks.

[TWIST - The Clue to the Idea, Most Startling Idea]

Maybe Jesus can show us how. He came to live the perfect human life on earth, completely dependent on the Father. How did he defend himself against this powerful "Dark God"? He showed us how, three times in a row in case we miss it. The key is simple, your reading ability.

Turn to Luke 4 to see how to live life in victory. Read Luke 4:1-15.

[TRUTH - Preaching the Bible's Solution]