Tested
Invocabit – 3/9/2024
Matthew 4:1-11
Rev. Christopher W. Brademeyer
That portion of God’s holy Word for consideration this morning is our Gospel lesson from St. Matthew’s fourth chapter, with special emphasis on verses one through four which read as follows:
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”[1]
Thus far the Scriptures.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Introduction:
Today, we are going to look at a topic that affects all of us in our daily lives: temptation. Specifically, we will focus on the tactics of the Devil, how he works in our lives, and most importantly, how we, as followers of Christ, can overcome his attacks.
Let us begin by reflecting on our Lord's own experience of temptation.
1. Jesus Is Tempted
Jesus is tempted, but He does not sin.
In Matthew 4:1-11, we read about how Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. The Devil tried every tactic in the book to draw Jesus away from God’s will, but Jesus stood firm and resisted. This moment is crucial for us to understand. Jesus, though fully God, was also fully man. He experienced temptation, just like we do.
Jesus maintains perfect obedience to God.
While Jesus was tempted in every way we are (Hebrews 4:15), He did not give in. He perfectly obeyed the Father’s will, even when it was difficult. He did not yield to the desires or pressures that came His way.
His temptations mirror those of Israel and, indeed, us today.
Think about the Israelites. They too were tempted in the wilderness—grumbling, doubting God, worshiping false gods—and yet, Jesus shows us the way to overcome these temptations through trust and obedience to God. His victory over temptation is not just His victory, but it is ours as well. Through Him, we have the power to resist temptation and stand firm in the face of the Devil’s schemes.
2. Who Tempts Us?
As we turn our focus to ourselves, we must ask: Who tempts us? The answer is clear—there are three primary sources of temptation:
Our sinful hearts.
In our fallen nature, we have a sinful disposition that pulls us toward self-centeredness, pride, and disobedience. The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians 5:17, "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh." Our sinful hearts are a constant source of temptation, and we feel that battle every day.
The world.
The world around us constantly pressures us to conform to its standards—its values, its desires, and its lusts. We are surrounded by media, advertisements, peer influences, and cultural trends that promote sin and pull us away from God.
The Devil.
But the most sinister and powerful source of temptation comes from the Devil himself. He is real. He is active. And he is relentless in his desire to lead us away from God.
3. Today’s Focus: The Tactics of the Devil
Now, let’s focus on the tactics of the Devil, as he works to tempt, deceive, and destroy.
Who is the Devil?
The Devil is a personal, evil spirit. He was once an angel, but in his pride, he rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12-15, Revelation 12:7-9). He is now the enemy of God and all that is good, seeking to deceive and destroy the works of God’s Kingdom.
Who belongs to him?
Those who reject God and His Word are under the Devil’s influence. The Devil’s kingdom is one of darkness, and those who refuse the light of Christ are part of that kingdom.
Let’s now look at some of the specific tactics that the Devil uses to tempt and deceive us:
Deception:
The Devil is the master of deception. He uses lies to distort God’s Word and lead us away from the truth.
Enthusiasm: This is when we place our own feelings, reasoning, and experiences above God’s Word. We might think, “I know what feels right to me, so that must be true,” but in doing so, we elevate ourselves above the authority of Scripture.
Idle Speculation: The Devil leads us to waste time with meaningless thoughts or questions that lead nowhere, distracting us from God’s truth.
Pretends to be an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He often comes disguised as something good, something beautiful, but in reality, his intentions are always evil.
False Doctrine: He sows lies through false teachings and counterfeit gospels, leading people astray from the truth of Christ.
Blinding people to the truth: As 2 Corinthians 4:4 tells us, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” The Devil tries to keep people in spiritual darkness, preventing them from seeing the truth of the Gospel.
Temptation:
The Devil tries to draw us into sin, away from God. He uses our own weaknesses, desires, and lusts against us. Especially in the area of the lusts of the flesh (1 John 2:16), the Devil tempts us to pursue the fleeting pleasures of this world, ignoring the eternal joy found in Christ.
Accusation and Condemnation:
Once we’ve sinned, the Devil will accuse us, saying things like, “You’re worthless. God can never forgive you.” He tries to convince us that we are beyond hope and forgiveness (Revelation 12:10). But we know that in Christ, there is forgiveness and grace for all who repent.
Sowing Division and Discord:
The Devil loves to stir up conflict in relationships, whether in families, communities, or the church. He works through misunderstandings, grudges, and jealousy to cause division. This often leads to fighting, hatred, and even persecution.
Possession and Oppression:
In extreme cases, the Devil can possess or oppress individuals, leading them into deeper darkness and separation from God. We see this in the Gospels, where Jesus casts out demons from those who were under the Devil’s control.
4. How to Overcome the Devil
So, how do we overcome the Devil and his tactics? God has not left us defenseless. He has given us the weapons we need to resist and stand firm in the faith.
Resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7).
We are called to stand firm and resist the Devil’s temptations. When we do this in faith, trusting in God’s Word, the Devil has no power over us.
Put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).
The Apostle Paul gives us a picture of the armor of God, which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God). With this armor, we can stand firm against the Devil’s attacks.
Be alert and stand firm in the faith (1 Peter 5:8-9).
The Devil is constantly prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us. We must be alert, aware of his schemes, and stand firm in our faith.
The Devil is overcome by the Lamb and the word of His testimony (Revelation 12:11).
Finally, remember that Christ is the ultimate victory. The Lamb of God has already defeated the Devil through His death and resurrection. We overcome the Devil through the testimony of Christ’s work for us—His death, His resurrection, and the forgiveness He offers to all who believe.
Conclusion
Brothers and sisters, we are in a spiritual battle, but we are not without hope. The Devil may try to deceive us, tempt us, accuse us, and divide us, but we have victory in Jesus Christ. Stand firm in the faith, resist the Devil, and remember that the Lamb of God has already overcome him. In Christ, we are more than conquerors.
In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
[1] Matthew 4:1-4 English Standard Version
Comments