Sermon Central
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How To Defeat Temptation
Contributed by Michael Monica on Jun 5, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: Overcoming Temptation
How To Defeat Temptation
the lust of the eyes.
Appeals to what we can see.
ii. the lust of the flesh
a. Appeals to our physical needs.
iii. the pride of life
a. appeals to our selfishness.
The Human Response (Gen 3:1-
Satan tempted Eve while she was alone.
“Did God really say…” “You will not die.” “Something to be desired and gain” (SELFISHNESS)
The Jesus Response
The Lust of the Flesh (Matt. 4:1-4)
Satan attacked Christ’s weakness.
Satan cast doubt on God’s Goodness. (Why would he let you go hungry?)
The Jesus Response
Jesus Trusted the Word of God
Trust in God’s Plan, Purpose and Provision.
Live a life of commitment to the Word.
The Lust of the Eyes (Matt. 4:5-7)
Stan attacked Christ’s strength. (Satan attacked the context of Scripture and Christ’s understanding. (Satan was saying if you are going to live by the Word then I will use Psalm 91:11-12 which left out a portion of Scripture. “In all your ways…)
“We can prove almost anything in the Bible if we isolate texts from contexts and turn them into pretexts.” (Warren Wiresbe) Let me give you an example of this. “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” It’s a sin to believe that because that is resting on our own strength. The verse actually reads, “Submit yourselves to God therefore; resist the devil and he will flee from you.” We have to submit to God, we have to look to God.
Satan was attacking God’s Power!
The Jesus Response
Jesus obeyed the Word of God.
Know the Word of God!!
The Pride of Life (Matt. 4:8-11)
Satan attacked Christ’s anointing. (Psalm 2:6-8) Jesus is given the nations as an inheritance from the Father, not satan! Satan was however making an appeal to the glory of Christ that he had in heaven.
Satan was attacking God’s Plan??…. (He was attempting to divert the plan of salvation)
The Jesus Response
Jesus surrendered to the will of God.
The Key is to Remain Faithful to the Word of God.
Overcome (Revelation 12)
develop a life of Intimacy!
Rest on the Completed work of Christ. (By the Blood of the Lamb)
Remember your Identity!
The final test was that Satan appealed to Christ’s reign and God’s plan for his life. The devil made an appeal to the glory Christ had in heaven (his adoration and worship. Satan’s attempt here was to give Christ the kingdoms of the world prior to the appointed time. Notice that Jesus does not dispute Satan’s authority when said, “I will give you these kingdoms…” 2 Cor. 4:4 declares Satan as the “god of this age.” Satan wanted nothing more than to plant doubt in God’s plan and divert His plan. This really has to do with the PRIDE OF LIFE but Christ kept His focus on God. Christ did not play the “Who’s really in charge here” game but rather kept His focus on God. We need that as well in our own lives; we need to keep our focus on Christ.
In this scenario, Satan was essentially telling Christ, “Hey I can accomplish the will of God for your life.” But there are no short cuts to God’s will. Christ knew he had to suffer before he was glorified. Satan was trying to take the Father’s honor but Christ would have no part in that. Christ SURRENDERED TO THE WILL OF GOD. True worship is found in our Surrendering to God’s will and His plans for our lives.
By the blood of the Lamb. Trust in the Completed work of Christ! Sin is resistance to “It is finished.” Trust in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for your life.
Know who you belong to! I BELONG to Jesus!
Just prior to this temptation, Jesus was baptized and a voice from heaven said “This is my son, in whom I am well pleased.” The devils main goal is to attack our identity. Underneath all of his schemes and subtlest doubts is an attack on our identity. So the next time Satan comes at you, you tell him “I know you’re trying to make me believe that I’m not God’s child and I want to thank you for giving me your second opinion but the fact of the matter is I just had this conversation with my Father and he ensured me that I AM HIS CHILD. So I’m not backing down, I’m not giving up; I’m letting you because I am a child of God. I am blessed, I am loved, I am cared for, I have God on my side, He is for me, he is with me, he fights for me, he died for me, he rose again for me. He tells me I am his beloved all the time. I am in Christ and there is nothing you can do about that. I am in Christ and there is therefore now no condemnation because I am a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come.
