AVOIDING LIFES CLIFFS Tackling Temptation Matthew 4:1-11 Jesus was tempted so that every creature in heaven, on earth, or under the earth might know that Jesus Christ is the Conqueror. He exposed Satan and his tactics, and He defeated Satan. Because of His victory, we can have victory over the tempter.
INTRODUCTION
I think that we all understand what temptation is.
There is a story told about A husband took his young daughter to the grocery store to help him buy groceries. In addition to the healthy items on his wife’s carefully prepared list, the two of them returned home with one of those big bags of M&Ms.
His wife said "Why did you buy this?" his wife asked. "You know M&Ms aren’t good for you!"
The husband said "don’t worry, honey, this bag of M&Ms has one-third less calories than usual."
The wife looks over the package. She says, "What makes you think that there are one-third less calories than usual?"
The husband says "Well, we ate about a third of the bag on the way home, so there’s one-third less calories than usual!"
We understand that temptation leads to trouble.
Such was the plight of man that I read about who was shopping in the mall with his wife when a shapely young woman in a short, form fitting dress walked by. He said as she walked by his eyes followed her, without looking up from the item she was examining his wife asked, “Was it worth the trouble that you are in? [Drew Anderson. (Tucson, Arizona) Reader’s Digest]
That’s the trouble with temptation.
This morning we are going to see Jesus meet and master temptation. In this passage we will see three general kinds of temptation that Satan is still using against us.
As we begin our study today it is necessary that we understand that these temptations were very much real. Mark Tells us that Jesus was THRUST into the wilderness by the spirit. Understand Jesus was consumed by MISSION. He was aware of what God had called him too. He was in the wilderness to futher strengthen His mission.
Just as Jesus was moved in the mission of God, every believer has been given a mission. You have a purpose and destiny from the Lord. The devil knows this as well, and so his plan is to distract you from that purpose and destiny. The tool he uses is by tempting you away from what God has for you.
But Jesus example tells us that we do not have to fall victm to temptations grip.
JESUS’ VICTORY OVER TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS SHOWS US HOW TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION IN DAILY LIVING.
This account from Jesus life is recorded in three of the gospels; Matthew, Mark and Luke. Mark is the shortes, and simply says Jesus was thrust into the desert. Luke adds Jesus being full of the Spirit was led into the wilderness for 40 days.
No matter who you are, temptation will always be present. However, you do not have to be a victim of it. As we look at Jesus’ in your face encounter with temptation, we learn four essential lessons as we face temptation.
1. Don’t DENY it: Matthew 4:1-2 James 1:13a
Temptation is universal. There is no one who does not deal with it. Even Jesus had to deal with temptation.
Notice with me when the testing of Jesus came about (vv. 1-2). “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.’
First, Matthew records that this temptation of Jesus came directly after He was baptized. It was here that God the Father spoke and said, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased!” What a spiritual high. You will discover that testing will often come on the heels of a spiritual high point in your life.
Secondly, it came at time of physical weakness; Jesus had not eaten in 40 days. Temptations often come when we are a weakened state physically or emotionally, when we are exhausted and emotionally spent.
“In a survey on temptation among readers of the “Discipleship Journal”, the respondents noted temptations were more potent when they had neglected their time with God (81 percent) and when they were physically tired (57 percent). Resisting temptation was accomplished by prayer (84 percent), avoiding compromising situations (76 percent), Bible study (66 percent), and being accountable to someone (52 percent.)” [Discipleship Journal, November / December, 1992.]
Third, this temptation came to Jesus when he was alone. We are the most susceptible to temptation when we are alone.
Here is the point, it does not matter how spiritual you are, you must always be on your guard against temptation. Luke says He was FULL of the Holy Spirit. While this did not exempt Jesus from the onslaught of temptation, I think an important lesson is we need to be filled with the spirit in order to be able to discern when the devil is trying to trip us up, and act accordingly.
The New Testament writers also affirm the universality of temptation.
In James 1 we are reminds us, ‘remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.
James says “WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED…’ In other words, temptation is universal, inevitable and personal. It happens to the saved, the unsaved alike. Temptation does not impact the young any more than those who are older. Temptation is a very real part of life that will last until the Lord returns or calls you home.
Someone has said, If you meet someone who is never tempted by anything, there is one conclusion you can draw about that person. He or she is DEAD! Only dead people are not tempted.”
There is no doubt temptation will come to all of us. So we need to prepare for those moments. We need to be ready and expect it. We should never be surprised.
Secondly, Don’t DEFLECT it : Matthew 4:1b, James 1:13b-15 .
The next basic of temptation is to understand where it comes from. Some people like to lay the blame on God.
• If God hadn’t given me this wife, or
• if God hadn’t allowed this person to come into my life, or
• If God hadn’t allowed that circumstance.
My favorite excuse is,
• Well, God made me this way so I can’t help myself.’
The shifting of blame is as old as creation itself. Listen to what Gods word says n James 1:13 ,
‘ …no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
Do not blame God for temptation. The Bible tells us He is too holy to be tempted, and He is too loving to tempt others. God does test us, as He did Abraham (Gen_22:1-24); but He does not and cannot tempt us.
Chuck Swindoll maintains that literal translation would be, ‘Don’t even remotely suggest that God has anything to do with your temptation.”
If God is not to blame, who is? How about Satan? IS he to blame?
Matthew, Mark and Luke all write that Jesus, led by the Spirit into the wilderness was tempted by the devil.
Satan is the ultimate source and agent of temptation, but he is not responsible for our response of it.
At the end of the day, the Bible says, ‘ It is we who turn occasions of testing into temptations.
James reminds us that temptation is not so much an event as it is a process.
In verse 14 James explains,
‘but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.’
How many of us have shrugged and said, “The Devil made me do it!” and used that as an excuse when caught doing something we weren’t supposed to? It’s a convenient defense. But there’s one problem: the Devil can’t make us do anything. He may be clever, but he’s not all powerful. It may feel that way, however, when we’re dangling on temptation’s hook, because Satan has a tried-and-true strategy for luring us into his net.
Do you see the word, enticed? The literal meaning of the word is to be lured, like a fish on a hook.’ All the fishermen can understand this analogy. This is the devils strategy, to lure us away from Gods best for our lives.
First, Satan lays out the bait.
Satan knows people like a skilled angler knows fish. He notes our habits. He observes our hangouts. Then he prepares a tailor-made lure and drops it right in front of our noses.
Second comes the appeal. He can’t make us bite, but he does know what happens inside us when we catch a glimpse of that tantalizing bait. Our fleshly nature draws us to it. We linger over it. We toy with it. We roll it over in our minds until it consumes our imagination.
Third, the struggle begins. Immediately, our conscience jabs us in the ribs, warning us of the danger. We know it’s wrong to take a bite. We may even see the barbed consequences poking through the bait. But Satan’s invitation looks so delicious. What do we do?
Fourth, the temptation ends with the response. Either we resist or yield; swim away or swallow it whole. Anyone who has resisted knows the feeling of freedom that decision brings.
On the other hand, anyone who has yielded knows the feeling of emptiness that follows and the pain of the hook in your cheek.” [Charles Swindoll. The Origin of Something Glorious: Jesus Birth and the Beginning of Ministry - A Study of Luke 1:1-6:49. Bible Study Guide. (Anaheim, California: Insight for Living. 1994). p. 83]
At the end of the day, each person is responsible for how they respond to the temptations which bombard us each day.
So, when it comes to temptation, don’t deny it, don’t try to deflect it and thirdly,
Don’t be DECEIVED by it. 1 Cor.10:12-14
Satan does play a part in temptation. His role is to deceive us. His primary strategy is deception. And if you and I are not careful, we also can fall into his trap. Open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 10:12-14. The apostle Paul warns us of five lies which satan will use to ensnare us.
1. “It couldn’t happen to me.” - v. 12. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
Often we are the most vulnerable when we believe we are the strongest. We don’t take the proper precautions against sin and soon we find ourselves deeper into a mess than we ever imagined we would be.
Someone has observed, “He who stands wrongly is often he who thinks he stands strongly.”
It’s important that we don’t view ourselves as the exception to the rule. We are all capable of sin.
Every televangelist who ever fell will tell you that at the time of their temptation they were praying more, reading the bible more and preaching to more crowds. What caused them to fall was believing the lie it couldn’t happen to me.
2. “I’m the only one.”- v. 13a - “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man. . .”
Sometimes we think that no one has struggled with what we’re struggling with. Sometimes we think no one has felt such intense pressure to give into a particular temptation as we are right now. As we have already stated, there is no one here that has ever or will ever avoid the allure of temptation.
3. “God’s abandoned me.” - v. 13b - “. . . but God is faithful. . .”
We don’t always feel the closeness of God when we’re going through a time of temptation and some may construe that to mean that God is not with them, any more. Sometimes we are simply not as aware of God’s presence, but that doesn’t mean God is not with us.
Further, as we get deeper into temptation, we are moving away from God. Because of that, we may not sense His presence as clearly.
God does not abandon us. God is faithful to us even in our time of intense temptation.
4. “I didn’t have a choice.” - v. 13c - “. . . who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able. . .”
One of the most powerful lies is that the temptation overwhelmed us and we didn’t really have a choice in the matter. This is so enticing because it takes the responsibility from us.
This part of the verse is clear, though, that there is never a situation where we are forced into sin. It is always a choice on our part to concede to the enticement of the sin.
5. “It’s not my fault.” - v. 13d - “ . . . but with the temptation will also make the way of escape. . .”
Sometimes we will argue that we held up as long as we could, but there was no relief for us. We did the best we could, but God didn’t provide a way out.
Another way people say this is, THERE IS NO WAY OUT… EXCEPT TO GIVE IN!
A mother walked into the kitchen one day and interrupted her 3-year-old, who was on top of a chair eating cookies.
When she asked what he was doing, the toddler explained, "Mom, I just climbed up here to smell them but my tooth got caught."
The point is, you give in because you do not want to go through the escape God provides.
It’s interesting that Paul used the definite article “the” in writing about our way of escape. God will provide a specific means of escape from our temptation. This is not to say it may not be costly or painful, but there will be an opportunity to get out.
Temptation is all around us. It is universal, it is inevitable and it will be personal.
BUT!!!!!!!
4. Don’t Be Defeated by it: Matthew 4:4-12
From the climax of being baptized in the Jordon, Jesus was led into the wilderness for a time of testing and preparation.
Some have wondered, why did the Father allow his Son to expereince such temptations? What was the purpose behind the temptation of Jesus?
Firstly it was To identify with humanity
Heb. 4:15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
Secondly, To succeed where Adam failed thereby bringing victory over sin to those who believe on Him
Rom 5:18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone..
Thirdly, To show us how to overcome temptation
Warren Wiersbe states, Jesus was tempted so that every creature in heaven, on earth, or under the earth might know that Jesus Christ is the Conqueror. He exposed Satan and his tactics, and He defeated Satan. Because of His victory, we can have victory over the tempter.
Jesus was faced with three of the most common temptations ever person faces. And with each hook Satan dangled in front of Jesus, He resisted with the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
We often brag that we are “people of the Word.” But are we really? The question is not how much Bible do you know but how much of the Bible that you know are you applying in your life. Jesus lived by the word. The key phrase in each of his answers is, “it is written.” He did not allow the situation or the circumstances or even the enemy to dictate the truth. But the Bible also syas, Jesus was full of the Spirit and HE was led by the Spirit. He understood that in order to have victory I cannot face the enemy in my own strength or intellect. I need to constantly be walking in the fullness and awareness of the Holy Spirit in my life.
The answers to all three temptations came right out of Deuteronomy, the story of God’s people Isreal when they come out of bondage.
1. THE TEMPTATION TO DO IT YOURSELF (vv. 3-4)
The Devil Speaks (v. 3 ) During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”
Don’t be mislead by a false understanding of the Devil’s statement when he says, “If you are the Son of God” - this is not a supposition but an affirmation. It literally means “since you are” or “ in view of the fact that you are the Son of God.”
The first temptation would be no temptation at all if Jesus were not indeed the Son of God. The devil is well aware that God exists and I don’t think that he expends a great deal of effort trying to dissuade us from a belief in God.
His basic strategy is to make us believe that God can’t be trusted.
Satan entered into the Biblical picture at creation in the form of a serpent. He said to Adam and Eve, “Do you really believe that God is good? He has told you not to eat from that one tree because he knows that the moment you do so you will be as wise as He is? He is not your friend. He is holding out on you”(Gen. 3:4?).
The temptation sounds innocent enough, doesn’t it? You could almost sense the innocence in the devil’s presentation of this temptation – “just make these stones into bread” – what’s the big deal? You the Son of God – just do it! There is no law against turning stones into bread. It won’t hurt anything. Jesus had been without food for six weeks!
Because he was the Son of God he could invoke his supernatural powers, the temptation was very real. Jesus could have done it in an instant and his hunger was screaming, “Do it.” Satan is suggesting to Jesus that there must be something wrong with the Father’s love since “His beloved son” was hungry. Satan was tempting Jesus to disobey the Father’s will by using his divine power for his own purposes.
I read one commentator who says, that sin …"gets its power by persuading me to believe that I will be more happy if I follow it. The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier." [E. Lutzer, Putting Your Past Behind You, Here’s Life, 1990, p.54.]
Jesus Answers (v. 4) “But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
Jesus in his answer was saying, “ I will not complain. Neither will I take matters into my own hands. I will trust my Father and his word.”
Our temptation is not to turn stones into bread because the impossible does not tempt us. But the complaint behind the temptation is still very strong.
The devil’s ploy in this world is to make us believe that if we want something done we need to do it ourselves – not trust in God.
We regularly are tempted to go outside the confines of God’s will to satisfy our personal needs or desires. We often promote ourselves because we are sure that God will not do it. We scheme and we plan for our well-being, because we assume that God does not care or maybe does not know about our needs.
2. THE TEMPTATION TO NOT BELIEVE IT UNTIL YOU SEE IT (vv. 5-7)
The Devil Speaks (vv.5-6 )
The devil took Jesus to the point of the temple roof that overlooked the Kidron Valley, about a 450 ft. drop. Whether he took him there physically or in a vision we do not know. But once there he made Jesus very tempting offer.
Having seen Jesus defeat him by quoting Scripture, Satan now quotes it himself, for his own purposes (vv. 5-6).
“Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.”
Satan misquotes the promise of God, it was right as far as it went, but he did not quote it all. For Jesus to have supernaturally survived a fall from the pinnacle of the temple in the full view of the people would have immediately identified Him as the Messiah.
But it would have insisted that God “show” that you love me and is a test of God. This would be the equivalent of saying to God –“I won’t believe in you until I see you SHOW it to me by MY terms.”
Jesus Answers (v.7) “Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.
But Jesus understood to start His ministry by dramatically jumping from the pinnacle of the Temple would be completely contrary to the will of God. To do so would be to test God. Jesus refused to take this shortcut.
There are many subtle ways that we can put God to the test. We may not jump from the top of the church – but we do it in other ways. We do it when we not put the worship of God and attendance at church as a priority – and yet we expect God to keep our children on the right path – that is putting God to the test. We do it when we dive into a path of our own choosing and then cry out to God to bail us out. We do it when we are careless with our finances and wonder why we are experiencing so much lack. We do it when we test the boundaries of known sin.
God says, “Here is the line,” and see how close we can get to that line. Then we are surprised when we fall off the cliff, and cry out for God to get us out of the trouble we got ourselves in. Then we blame God when our lives get messed up. But it happened because we tested God.
3. THE TEMPTATION TO TAKE THE EASY WAY (vv. 8-11)
The Devil Speaks (vv.8-9 )
“Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”
The devil was offering Jesus a kingdom without the cross. Why go to all the trouble and pain to win the world when it can be handed to you on a silver platter. No suffering, No Struggling, No Sacrifice. But a crown without the cross would mean that there would be no forgiveness for our sins.
Instead of enduring the long, bitter, humiliating, and painful road to the cross-and the even longer wait in heaven for God’s time to be completed-Jesus could rule the world now!
Satan always comes at us in that way. He suggests that the world of business, the world of politics, the world of fame, or the world of whatever our heart desires can be ours-if only…! We can get what we want; we can fulfill our lusts and our fantasies; we can be somebody. All we must do to get those things of the world is to go after them in the way of the world-which is Satan’s way.
He tempts each of us in the same way. “Why set your standards so high? What’s the use? You can get what you want by cutting a corner here and shading the truth there. Why wait for heavenly reward, when you can have what you want now?” When we set our hearts on money, prestige, popularity, power, or selfish happiness, we are doing exactly what Satan wanted Jesus to do-put self first
Had Jesus fallen for satan’s temptation the statement of those who mocked at the foot of the cross would have had to have been reversed: “He saved Himself; others He cannot save” (Mt. 27:42). Instead of redeeming the world He would have joined the world. Instead of inheriting the world, He would have lost the world.
Jesus answers: “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.”
There is no shortcut, Jesus is saying. There is only one way and one answer, AND I AM IT.
The greatest deception Satan uses to distract people from a relationship with God is, THERE IS ANOTHER WAY, AN EASIER WAY. AND IT ALSO LEADS TO GOD. IT’S A SHORT CUT AND DOESN’T INVOLVE ANY SWEAT< BLOOD OR PAIN.
In Proverbs 14:12 it says, There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
A man was watching the news one night when it was reported that a car was going the wrong direction on the freeway. He knew his wife was on that freeway. He was concerned and called her cell phone. She answered.
He said, "Sweetheart, there’s one car going in the wrong direction on the freeway."
She said, "One! There are hundreds!"
When it comes to Gods will concerning salvation and your life, you cannot afford to get it wrong. There is no easy way. There are preachers even who will try to tell you that you don’t need the cross or the blood. But there is only one way that we can be saved, and that is through Jesus and His blood shed on the cross.
You can have all the sincereity in the world, but sincerity cannot save you. Only faith in Christ can set you free.
Freedom from sin and satan begins by humbling ourselves before God, turning to him and receiving His forgiveness for our sins.
Then He gives us His Holy Spirit, empowering us to live for God and resist the devil.
The one thing common to all three temptations is that they attempted to distract Jesus from his mission or destroy his relationship with His heavenly Father. Jesus was fully submitted to do the will of the Father. He had a purpose in front of Him, and that purpose had a face, it was YOURS AND MINE. He dare not fail this critical test.
I am glad he passed the test, aren’t you?
Matthew concludes by saying, Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
The devil wants you to believe that you are all alone in your struggle. But Gods word promises us that we are never alone. When Jesus started this journey He was full of the Spirit. When it was complete, he was strengthened.
The same Holy spirit who fills you will also strengthen and comfort you when you need Him the most. You arenot alone.
Conclusion
Temptation is common to every person, DON’T DENY IT
When you are faced with temptation, don’t play the blame game. DON’T DEFLECT IT
The devils purpose is to derail you from Gods plan for your life. DON’T BE DECEIVED
Finally, as strong as the pull of temptation is DON’T BE DEFEATED by it.
The key to your victory is, your attitude and response to God. The Lord promises a way of escape, but will you take it?
What is the WAY GOD WOULD HAVE ME TAKE TO ESCAPE THE TEMPTATION?
James 4:7 (NLT) So humble yourselves before God. The first step is to surrender my life to God. Another translation says, SUBMIT yourself to God. IN other words ring yourself under His lordship and authority. Don’t try in your own power, you will fail. Yield yourself to God first and foremost.
Before you can ever expect to win the war against satan, you must settle the Lordship issue. The only way that we have the ability to resist him and the authority to make him flee, is when we are living lives totally submitted to God!
The second step is to resist the devil! Resist him! Peter says Watch out! Stay focused! Stay on the Alert! Beware! B/C your adversary, the enemy of your soul, the one whom Jesus says has come to steal, kill and destroy you...is always on the prowl! Resist the devil,
To resist means to not give in. To stand firm on the truth of Gods word and do not waver. We do this by walking in humble obedience to Gods word, by filling ourselves up with His word and Holy Spirit. As we stand upon the Word and live in humble obedience to Gods will, then the Devil has no other choice but to FLEE FROM YOU
This means his pull and influence is released. He has no influence over the person who is diligently living in humblke obedience to Jesus.
We may feel overpowered by temptation. This is not something we do on our own. This is with the help of God.
There is a little bird in Kentucky that is called a Killdeer bird. It builds it nest beside the road in the gravel. The eggs look gray and white speckles like the gravel on the roads. Children love to try to get them. The fun part is when you get close to her nest she will move off and ack like her wing is broke so you will try to grab her. she will flutter the wing and look like it is broken. Each time you get close she will move a little further off until you are away from the nest. Then she will just fly off. This is what the devil does. He shows you things that you think sparkle and things you can achieve if you just go a little piece and receive it, but he keeps moving farther and farther away from God's plan for you. Then when you are away from the God nugget that God had for you to receive he will just fly off and leave you all alone. Don't follow the temptation of Satin and loose the prize egg that was at your feet, Go back to where he started tempting you and look around for the the nest egg that God has in store for you.
When Martin Luther was asked how he overcame the devil, he replied, “Well, when he comes knocking at the door of my heart, and asks ‘Who lives here?’ the dear Lord Jesus goes to the door and says, “Martin Luther used to live here, but he has moved out. Now I live here.”
When Christ fills our lives Satan has no entrance.
