Sword of the Spirit
Ephesians 6:17b
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/SwordOfSpirit.html
Romans 13:12
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
It has all been defensive gear thus far. Now, how about an offensive weapon...in more ways than one, for many are offended by the Word of God and consider it be offensive!
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
In Matthew 4 we see Jesus use His sword. It is the best illustration we could consider.
v. 1 The language of Mk. 1:12 is even stronger, “Immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness.”
God arranged for this temptation. Why?
1. To prepare Him to become our High Priest.
Hebrews 2:18
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
He's been there and not done that.
Hebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus has compassion and understanding for us, remembering we are made of dust, and because He knows exactly how it feels to be tempted! And yet without sin.
"Jesus knows all about our struggles..."
2. To expose Satan's devices.
The devil prefers to lurk in the darkness and spring out in a surprise attack. The devil doesn't want us to know his tactics and methods, but Jesus flushed them out on that day. "We are not ignorant of his devices", thanks to Jesus.
3. To teach us how our Sword works.
Just because Jesus was the Son of God doesn't mean His temptations weren't real. He had laid aside His divine powers. He faced Satan as a man in human in flesh...using the Sword of the Spirit!
And all His quotations that day were from Deuteronomy 6 and 8. Could it be that the Lord’s meditation that morning had been in this portion of God’s Word?
Good thing He didn't try to win using human reason, like we do. [debate thru intellect / willpower] Jesus used the same Sword that I can use!
Now, let's expose Satan's strategies:
1. To satisfy a right desire in a wrong way.
vv. 2-3 With a real body, He got very hungry in 40 days. He had a natural appetite. His taste buds would water with the thought of food. Jesus could have satisfied a legitimate desire, but in an illegitimate way.
So Satan tempted Him to use His power to produce instant food. That is something we are quite used to today. Put food in a microwave for a minute or two, and you have a hot meal. Or pull into the closest fast food place, and you can get a meal pretty quickly. And in the case of Jesus, He
could turn desert stones into bread. After all, John had said that God could turn stones into sons of Abraham, and if Jesus is God’s Son, then surely He could turn stones into bread, a lesser miracle.
Later He would demonstrate that He could change water into wine, and multiply a few loaves and fishes and feed thousands. Oh, He had the power. And why not use it? The desire for food was innocent but strong, the need was imperative, and He had the power to secure instant relief.
So, the bait is skillfully wound over the barbed hook.
Jesus' response: v. 4
There's power in the Word...it is a Sword that fights against Satan. It's sharp edges cut at him. It's blunt handle crushes his head. It's pointed tip runs him thru, and it matters not if you are right or left handed, highly trained or new to this, Satan cannot compete against God's offensive weapon!
How about you? You have God given desires.
Sexual desires: They are normal and natural. But God made them to be with the right species, right gender, and within the bounds of marriage. You're not just an animal, roaming the countryside sowing your seed where you may.
Satan attempts to turn that normal desire into adultery and fornication.
Ambition: I wish more expressed this natural desire to work and improve oneself.
Satan turns ambition into covetousness, greed, and selfishness.
Sleep and rest: I'm an addict...I do it every day!
Satan urges us to take it to the extreme of laziness and slothfulness.
Eat: Yes we need food, but we do not meet the need for food by stealing. That would be satisfying a right desire in a wrong way.
ill.--I heard that Walmart actually posted armed guards in the south yesterday to prevent looting!
Also, we eat to live. No problem.
Satan wants us to live to eat...that's gluttony. And you can't spot a glutton from the outside, necessarily!
Jesus could use His Sword because it was in His armory [memory]. Whatever your struggle, there are verses which apply. [examples] Will you hide them in your heart, so you can meditate upon them, and when needed, draw them from your sheath?!
2. To sin a sin of presumption.
vv. 5-7 Satan pulls a quote from Psalm 91:11, but left out half of the verse.
Psalm 91:11
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
The child of God has the protection of God...IN THE WILL OF GOD.
When we get out of God's will, His grace will forgive us, but His government will allow us to suffer the consequences.
ill.--If I jump off of 3rd floor, it is a mistake. If in mid-air I admit my mistake and ask God to forgive me, will He? Yes! But who will clean up the mess?
Jesus was tempted with the sin of presumption...purposefully putting yourself into a situation where God has to bail you out, and do a miracle in order to rescue you.
ill.--you'll see some TV preachers say, "Just mail me a check and I'll pray a prayer of debt relief for God to miraculously get your head above water." Will that help? I do believe God can work miracles, and help us recover from our past mistakes. But if it works, should you go out and ring up a bunch of new debts? After all, you can just pray for another miracle, right? "To him who knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
To be deceived into sin, like Eve, is one thing. To fall headlong into sin willfully, like Adam, is another.
Sunday we quoted 1 John 1:9 - I wonder how often we sin willfully, knowing that we can just confess it later. It's the sin of presumption.
Augustine: "God will grant forgiveness to every man that repents. But He may not grant repentance to every man that sins."
His point - that when you become a willful sinner, you start down a one way street that is difficult to return home on.
Christians today want God's promises without God's precepts and it doesn't work that way.
Shifting gears: We are sometimes tempted to demand a visible proof of God’s presence and care. For example, someone may say, “God, if you don’t heal me, I won’t believe in you.” [Give me a job / make that girl like me] That is not faith, but is putting God to the test.
If you have to have a miracle in order to believe what God has already said, then you lack true faith. True faith does not put God to the test. Jesus quotes Deut. 6:16
Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
That incident is found in Ex. 17:1-7. There they complained against Moses and God because there was no water. They demanded water and said, “Is the LORD among us or not?” If He is, then prove it by giving us water.” Instead of waiting on God’s provision, they put Him to the test. Putting God to the test is when you insist that God do something to prove Himself to you. True faith does not demand signs from heaven or miracles, but simply believes the Word of God.
3. To take a spiritual shortcut.
vv. 8-11 Satan promises Jesus the world. Problem: He has already been promised the kingdom of this world! [Psalm 2/Revelation]
Satan says, "You don't have to wait. I am currently the god of this world, but will hand you the title deed of this earth if you just worship me."
Jesus was a man. This means He had trouble with patience just like we do. But Jesus wouldn't take a spiritual shortcut. He had come this time for the cross, not the crown. I'm so glad Jesus had the discipline to wait and do it right!
Seekers today want the crown without the cross.
Satan's glory always leads to suffering.
God's suffering always leads to glory.
I can't promise your best life now. I won't lie to you and say that God has a wonderful plan for your life. If you give your life to Christ, it may mean a lifetime of suffering.
But if you pick up your cross, daily, and follow Him, I can promise you the end result will be and eternity of glory. If you don't repent, and live for self in this life, I can promise you an eternity of suffering.
Don't try to take a spiritual shortcut. Satan's way looks to be the easiest, but ends up being the hardest.
Proverbs 13:15
... the way of transgressors is hard.
God's way may look difficult at first, but in the end, it proves to have been the easiest way to blessing.
Oh, how Satan effectively uses that kind of temptation today. Satan is always offering instant gratification. The Bible admits there is temporary pleasure in sin. Too many are like Esau, who traded the value of his birthright for the temporary pleasure of a mess of pottage. Youth seem vulnerable to this temptation. For example, Satan will say, “Why wait until marriage to experience the pleasure of sexual intimacy. I will give it to you now. And many young people fall for such temptations of Satan!
But we need to follow the example of Christ. He maintained loyalty to God, and endured the cross and suffering, for He knew that beyond the cross, was a crown of glory.
Hebrews 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We can't just play defense with our armor...we need an offensive weapon. It offends Satan...cutting him down to size. We must read it, meditate upon it, study it, and hide it in our hearts.
Psalm 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
If you are a Christian, Satan has no authority over you. You can’t say, “The devil made me do it.”
1 Cor. 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
2 Peter 2:9
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
James 4:7
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We resist with the Sword of the Spirit!
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/SwordOfSpirit.html
