When Jesus Builds The Church

Picture Jesus, freshly baptized, water still drying on his shoulders, the voice of the Father ringing in his soul. “You are my beloved Son.” The dove has barely taken flight. That is exactly when the devil comes calling.

Nobody gets a free victory lap after baptism. The real fight often starts right after the celebration.

We preach infrequently about this moment, but this is not just history. Luke 4 is a blueprint for spiritual warfare. It reveals the devil’s favorite lies and Jesus’ unstoppable freedom plan. It shows us how Jesus wins his church. Not with PR. Not with smoke machines. Not with religious theater. He wins by truth, Spirit, Scripture, and unwavering loyalty to his Father.

A church that follows that Jesus becomes a nightmare for hell.

A church that forgets that Jesus becomes a comfortable place for the snake to take a nap.

Our prayer tonight is simple: “Lord, make us a church hell cannot stand.”

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>>Temptation 1

The Church of Comfort

Satan points to the stones and whispers, “Turn these into bread.”

Translation: “Be useful. Be practical. Meet needs. Focus on comfort.”

We should care about hunger. Jesus fed the five thousand. Christians ought to be the hands and feet of compassion in every neighborhood. Yet physical comfort without spiritual renewal is a cruel trick. People can walk out with a bag of groceries and still feel lost when they get home. A full pantry does not heal an empty heart.

Hell does not mind a church that is busy running programs that do not lead anyone to Jesus.

It does not fear a church that becomes a community center with a cross out front.

“Man shall not live by bread alone,” Jesus says.

There is always a hunger deeper than the stomach.

Here is what the Spirit is saying to the church tonight:

Meet needs with love. Heal hurts with compassion. Then keep going until souls find hope, forgiveness, belonging, and a Savior who will never leave.

A church that meets people in their mess and introduces them to Jesus? Hell hates that kind of church.

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>>Temptation 2

The Church of Silence

The devil flashes kingdoms before Jesus’ eyes. Every city. Every crowd. Every throne. “Worship me and you can have influence, status, numbers. The world will love you.”

Satan never minds a church that is popular as long as it is silent about the cross.

There is a modern pressure to soften the message.

To be careful. To be agreeable. To avoid offending anyone.

To preach a Jesus who is a life coach, but not a Savior.

To talk about hope without talking about repentance.

To preach heaven while skipping the way there.

The enemy whispers:

“Just lower the volume on truth. Talk about God’s love, but leave out his call to surrender. Preach kindness, but avoid holiness. Keep Jesus safe and respectable.”

If the devil can get the church to say nothing, he does not need to fight us. He simply applauds from the back row.

Jesus responds: “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only.”

He refuses a crown without a cross. He refuses applause without allegiance.

The Advent message never apologizes for the truth that sets people free.

We preach Christ crucified. We preach resurrection power.

We preach the Sabbath as God’s gift of rest rooted in creation and redemption.

We preach that Jesus is coming again because he intends to gather every son and daughter who will trust him.

We are not afraid of that story. We are not ashamed of that news.

The church that clearly lifts up Jesus becomes a church hell cannot endure.

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>> Temptation 3

The Church of Spectacle

Satan takes Jesus to the temple height.

“Jump. Make them gasp. Be impressive.”

Modern translation:

Give them goosebumps instead of grace.

Wow them instead of winning them.

Trade discipleship for entertainment.

There is room for excitement in worship. We can clap. We can weep. We can praise with our whole hearts. Pentecost had fire. Sinai had thunder. Revelation has trumpets. Emotion belongs in the house of God.

The danger is when feelings take the throne and Christ gets pushed to the edges.

A church obsessed with reaction often forgets transformation.

A church that craves applause eventually replaces truth with theatrics.

Satan smiles at a show.

Jesus says, “Do not put God to the test.”

He chooses the quiet path of faithfulness over fireworks.

He knows revival is not what happens on a stage. Revival is what happens in a heart surrendered to him.

Authenticity scares hell a lot more than a spotlight.

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>>A Turning Point

Right here is where most sermons would stop.

“Three bad roads. Try to avoid them.”

Luke 4 is far better than that.

It does not just diagnose the disease.