Musings;08/16/08, Satan Versus Jesus, by John.

Satan versus Jesus
Matthew 4:1-11

1. All of us are tempted to sin now and again, aren't we? I Corinthians 10:13 says, "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."
2. The same Greek word was used for "temptation" in I Corinthians 10:13 and in Matthew 4:1.
(1) Jesus was tempted in every way just as we are, but without sin.
(2) I Corinthians emphasizes that temptations are able, and do, grab us like a trap snaps shut on a mouse!
(3) The word used in I Corinthians 10 is translated a number of different ways in the New Testament. It is "lambano".
(4) The word "seized" in Revelation 20:1 is different. It is "krateo". There, Satan is seized by an angel and bound for a 1,000 years.
(5) When we are seized by temptation, we have a way to escape. When Satan is seized, he is helpless!
(6) When Satan tempted Jesus, his temptations were useless! Jesus refused each one and used Scripture to rebuke Satan. He always did the Father's will! And He gives us the power to resist!
2. All temptation comes from Satan. He knows mankind. He knows what makes us tick and what will make us explode into sin unless we look to God to show us how to escape it.
3. Do you sometimes feel like confessing? When we were out to supper the other night, someone shared that tomatoes and potatoes aggravate arthritis. I decided to test that out, and I haven't had any of either until yesterday at McDonald's. Dolores got french-fries and she took a slice of tomato off of her sandwich and laid it on a napkin on the tray. I was immediately tempted! Those fries smelled so good! And that slice of tomato was just going to lie there and go to waste! I took two fries, but I turned the tomato down. It was still crying out, "Eat me!" when I dumped the tray into the garbage.
4. How does Satan tempt you?
5. Well, lets look at how Satan tempted Jesus.

I. His First Temptation Was to Misuse Power.

1. Satan timed his temptation to have the greatest possible effect.
2. V. 3. He knew how hungry and thirsty Jesus was. He appealed to Jesus' hunger, and tempted Him to use His power for personal satisfaction.
a. That might not be wrong for you and me, but it was for Him.
b. The Father intended for Jeus to use His power for others. Such misuse makes it easier to please yourself more and more. I don't think Satan realized how Jesus would accomplish the Father's will, but that was his goal.
3. V 4: His Father gave Him an escape, Deuteronomy 8:3; "Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
4. The Bible state's we have an escape route for every temptation! You may need the Holy Spirit to direct you to it, but it is already there.

II. His Second Temptation Was Designed to Put His Father on the Spot.

1. V 6; Satan appealed to His human desire to prove His Father doesn't lie.
2. When someone taunts us about our faith, don't we want to accept the challenge?
Satan knows, and he misused Psalm 91:11,12 to convince Jesus it was okay to accept the challenge.
(1) You can misuse the Scripture to prove anything!
(2) For instance, you can use the Bible to prove killing your brother is all right! Genesis 4:8 says, "Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him." In Luke 10: 37, Jesus says, "Go and do thou likewise." That's misuse of the Scripture! And Satan does that constantly!
3. When someone challenges God, don't you want to defend God? Satan knows we do.
4. Instead, Jesus looked for the escape route, and answered Satan with Deuteronomy 6:16, (v. 7), "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."
4. We don't need to protect or prove God. He is capable of handling every situation that rises.
4. We do need to avoid trying to put God on the spot. Remember Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? When Nebuchadnezzar challenged them with the fiery furnace, they did not put God on the spot. Daniel 3:16-18; "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand. O King. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

III. Satan's Third Temptation Is An Appeal to Take the Easy Way.

1. You Can Rule the World Now.
2. I like to get things done quickly, don't you? Take fasting for instance. I wouldn't mind fasting if it didn't go so slowly!
3. Jesus had to wait for the right time to die in order to accomplish His Father's will.
4. Satan lied! He has never owned God's creation, and he may rule the world, but he could not do what he was suggesting.
5. He may rule lost people, but he does not rule saved people, and creation belongs to the Creator!
6. Jesus answered him with Deuteronomy 6:13 (v 10); "Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."
7. With that quotation from the Old Testament, He also commanded, "Away from me, Satan!" and that proved He already controlled Satan!

Conclusion:

1. Satan will use every trick and resource he has to lead us into sin, and you may have noted all of these temptations were to self-gratification.
2. God has already made a way to escape! We do not have to sin!
3. Satan is powerful, but Jesus has always been and always will be more powerful by far.
4. Ordinarily I would say "we" right here, but I have to use the pronoun "you" because this is so personal. Can you overpower Satan? How?
5. James 4:7; "Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
(1) First, submit yourself to God.
(2) Second, Resist the devil.
(3) Look to God's Spirit to guide you as you resist Satan. Satn has no choice! He must leave you!
8. And God will make you the victor!
S