Before you pick a fight you ought to be sure you can win the war. President Roosevelt appeared before a joint session of Congress the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, and declared, “Yesterday, December 7, 1941–a date which will live in infamy–the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.”
The Japanese began the war with America just before 8:00a.m. Hawaii time; a swarm of 360 warplanes bearing the red symbol of Japan’s Rising Sun on their wings attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. The surprise attack struck a critical blow against the U.S. Pacific fleet. Five of eight battleships, three destroyers, and seven other ships were sunk or severely damaged; more than 200 aircraft were destroyed; 2,400 Americans were killed, and 1,200 were wounded in the attack. Japan’s losses that day were minimal: only 30 planes, five midget submarines, and fewer than 100 men.
The war however had only just begun who would stand as the victor when the fighting stopped? Six months after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor the three giant aircraft carriers of the Pacific fleet, which had fortunately been out at sea on training maneuvers, reversed the tide of the war with a spectacular victory against Japan at the Battle of Midway. Then nearly four years after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the U.S. dropped two atomic bombs on the island of Japan. The first was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and then three days later a second was dropped on Nagasaki. More than 100,000 Japanese were killed by these powerful atomic bombs and Japan soon surrendered. The United States of America endured the surprise attack at Pearl Harbor and nearly four years of war standing victorious when the fighting stopped.
Satan attacked Jesus in the wilderness. For forty days and nights the devil hit Jesus with all of hell’s furry, but Jesus would not falter. Satan’s attack concluded with three more temptations; however, Jesus stood strong. When finally the smoke clears in the Judean wilderness Luke lets us know that the war was not over; it had just started!
+ Luke 4:13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. (NIV)
Before you pick a fight you ought to know that you can win the war. Satan thought that he could be victorious over Christ. Three years later the devil believed that as Jesus was nailed to the cross that he had finally won the war; Christ was defeated, or was He? How many of you know the outcome of that battle? Jesus is alive and Satan is defeated!
Although the battles continue, the war has been won because of Christ’s ultimate victory over death, hell and the grave. Do you have the confidence that like Jesus you can face the attack of the enemy and have faith to stand. We don’t have to succumb to the assault of the enemy.
+ 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. (NIV)
Over the last four weeks we have been taking a closer look at Christ’s temptation by Satan in the wilderness. Today we are going to again look Christ’s temptation in order to discover Satan’s OPPORTUNE TIMES. Satan advances and he retreats. Why? Put simply if there are opportune times for Satan’s attack, then there are also inopportune times for an attack. As we look at Jesus’ experience in the wilderness we can uncover Satan’s OPPORTUNE TIMES: five times when the enemy will make his advance, and in turn we can then be ready with faith to stand against the onslaught of the enemy.
Opportune Time # 1: AFTER A SPIRITUAL VICTORY
This my surprise you, but Satan will hit you with a surprise attack almost immediately following a great spiritual victory! Do you remember the timing of Satan’s attack against Jesus in the wilderness? Christ’s temptation in the wilderness immediately follows His baptism at the Jordan (see Luke 3:21-22, 4:1). The devil will hit you too when you think you are the strongest!
Satan knows that after a spiritual victory, in those times when we sense God’s presence all around us, those are also the times when we feel confident and may not be conscious of our need be totally dependent upon the Lord. It’s when we have overcome and feel strong that we may least be aware of our need to continue to pray and study God’s Word.
Often following a spiritual victory are the occasions when we let our guard down and unknowingly put our soul at risk. The devil knows we don’t handle success very well.
VICTORY OFTEN ONLY LEADS TO DEFEAT!
+ Proverbs17-20 17The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life. 18Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. 19Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. 20Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. (NIV)
Be careful after a spiritual victory. It’s sometimes very easy to take some of the credit for the win even when we know that the victory was only made possible because of Christ our great Captain! Don’t steal the spotlight of God’s glory–it will give the devil just enough light to have a clear shot at you!
Opportune Time # 2: WHEN YOU’RE ALONE
Jesus was led into the wilderness where He was alone for forty days, a deadly opportunity for Satan to overtake Him. Alone in the wilderness Jesus had no watchful eye of the crowd; the disciples were not present to see what choices Jesus would make. Not even Jesus’ enemies the Pharisees were around to criticize every move He would make. Jesus was alone and the devil wanted to make the most of this opportunity.
God knew from the very beginning that it would not be good for man to be alone (and that goes for “woman” too –see Genesis 2:18). Jesus knew that it wasn’t good for the disciples to even go out to do the work of the ministry alone; Jesus sent them out with a partner in ministry–two by two (see Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1).
+ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 9Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (NIV)
We need the accountability of relationships with others to help keep us from sin. Don’t try to “go it alone” and leave yourself vulnerable to the devil’s attack.
Opportune Time # 3: WHEN YOU’RE PHYSICALLY DRAINED
Jesus was forty days in the wilderness–a barren wasteland that would evaporate the strength of anyone leaving them weak and vulnerable to attack. But Jesus was not just in the wilderness; He also fasted–that is He went without food the entire time also. Satan seized the opportunity to attack.
Lack of food and sleep; sickness; mental stress; hard work–any of these can bring on fatigue. We can find ourselves “sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
WHY ARE THESE TIMES SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ENEMY TO ATTACK? Satan knows that our physical condition often affects our spiritual condition; the two are intimately connected and what effects one can also effect the other.
Jesus urged the disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak” (Mark 14:38 NIV). All too often we are just like the disciples; spiritually we want to stand, but physically we are just want to sleep.
Are you tired–emotionally spent? Beware! Satan may take be standing nearby waiting to bring a deadly attack, BUT YOU CAN HAVE FAITH TO STAND EVEN WHEN YOU’RE TIRED!
What can you do to defeat the enemy even when
you are tired? Let me give you three helpful strategies.
1. Live by the Spirit and not your flesh!
+ Romans 8:13-14 13For if you live according to the sinful nature [that is your flesh], you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (NIV)
+ Galatians 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (NIV)
Being tired is not an excuse for sin. Sickness or emotional stress is not a licence to have a bad day. You are not your own; you belong to Christ (see 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Therefore life according to His Spirit and not your flesh!
2. Discipline your body and make it your slave!
We need to set aside times to fast–to give up food or other pleasures and in turn be committed to seeking God. Jesus said that while He, the Bridegroom, was with His disciples they would not fast, but the time would come when they would fast (see Mark 2:19-20). As Christ’s followers we need to have special times set aside to be with our Lord.
3. Let the Lord renew your strength.
When you are emotionally spent and tired taking a nap or a vacation will help. But don’t forget it’s not just about refreshing your body; you need to renew your spirit as well.
+ Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV)
Opportune Time # 4: WHEN YOU’RE AT CHURCH
As we saw last week, Satan took Jesus to the temple for the third temptation and tempted the Lord. Do you find it surprising that Satan can bring an attack within the security of the church? Don’t be fooled! In any war both sides want to try to neutralize enemy strongholds. (Isn’t it good to know that the gates of hell cannot stand up against the church of Jesus Christ [see Matthew 16:18] !)
Nevertheless Satan still wants to try to render the church ineffective and destroy you and me within the very walls of the church. Let me just quickly share with you three reasons why being at church can be such a lethal opportunity for Satan to bring an effective attack against you and me.
1. Our hearts are open.
Our hearts are opened to God’s word; the scripture cut like a knife to expose the motives of their hearts. That’s good; without spiritual “open heart surgery” we would all die.
Yet when our hearts are open we are vulnerable to the attack to the enemy. Now understand that when you are seeking God He will not pull a fast one on you and suddenly destroy you with His Word. God is a loving Father who will provide for us–we are His children.
+ Matthew 7:9-11 9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (NIV)
Our problem is that we feel safe at church and therefore we let our guard down. We don’t expect Satan’s attack at the church. Think of it like this:
· Imagine a 50 year old man who has gone to the hospital to open heart surgery–a triple bypass surgery. The patient trust the doctor and surgical team to take good care of him. The risk of the surgery have been explained to the patient and he has been assured that every precaution has been taken to insure his safety. But now imagine that in the middle of the operation, the anistisiologist goes to sleep and doesn’t pay attention to the needs of the patient. Or worse yet imagine that one of the nurses pours salt into the man’s open chest cavity. Those who have been entrusted with saving this man’s live are suddenly putting his life at greater risk or even killing him.
As unimaginable as that may seem, that is sometimes just what happens in church! Those that we grow to love and trust sometimes do or say things that hurt us; instead of nurturing our lives they seem to be trying to kill us! The unfortunate reality is that not everyone will act like a Christian all the time.
So does that mean that we stop coming to church to protect ourselves from the possibility of an attack? No!
+ Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-- and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV)
The safest place from the dangers of love is in hell!
God will use someone to bring healing and life even from a wound inflicted within the church. God can heal us from the salt that may be poured into our wounds–but we have come to the hospital for treatment.
2. We are ready to defend the truth.
Defending the truth of scripture is a good thing. Paul told Timothy to guard carefully what had been entrusted to him (1 Timothy 6:21-22). Our problem comes when we confuse truth with tradition.
I’m confident that the Church or should I say more specifically our church Praise A/G is important to each and everyone of us here today. Each of us hold deep convictions about how the church should function, and guess what; when things don’t go as we want it hurts us. That’s when we have to be on guard against Satan’s attack.
Because the church is important to each of us we may sometimes be over-zealous in our defense of tradition or even of our expectations. Believe it or not folks within the church can become angry with one another over how to “do church.” That may or may not be wrong, but it is defiantly cause to be on your guard–not against one another or even the pastor, but on your guard against the schemes of the enemy.
+ Ephesians 4:26-27 26In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. (NIV)
I’m open to talking about things that are important to us concerning our church; we’ve even made some changes over the last few weeks in response to some discussions. Let’s just remember who the real enemy is and his desire to destroy us both!
3. We can have a God inspired vision.
God has said that in the last days He would give dreams and visions (See Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17). We should all be open to God’s plan and purpose for us individually and collectively as the church.
However, we must remember that the vison for the local church should produce unity. Without unity many visions create division. Vision like tradition is close to our hearts and therefore can produce strong emotions. That’s why it’s important that we remember who the real enemy is. Satan would like to use our passion to divide and conquer the church.
Opportune Time # 5: WHEN YOU BEGIN SOMETHING NEW FOR GOD
Christ’s temptation in the wilderness took place prior to His public ministry. Jesus was on the verge of doing a great work for God.
+ Luke 4:14-15 14Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. (NIV)
Satan will always try to sabotage any work for God; the devil will try to stop it before it even gets off the ground. To put it simply, that’s why we must be on guard against the attacks of the enemy. Together we are working together to rebuild and renew our church; God is giving us a vision to become a “thick church” fulfilling His purpose as we reach our community with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Satan would like us to be an ineffective church that resembles a social club or civic organization–anything except the Church of Jesus Christ!
In the wilderness Satan was defeated time and again by Jesus. With each and every attack Jesus was prepared with a counter attack. Jesus could not be defeated. When we look at the victorious Christ, what can we learn that will enable us to stand.
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Portions of the series "Faith to Stand" are drawn from the book: FAITH UNDER FIRE, Steven J. Lawson, 1995.
