DEALING WITH THE DEVIL

LUKE 4:1-14

      The devil went after the first man, Adam, in the garden. The Son of Man, the Last Adam, went after the devil in the wilderness.

      Jesus entered the wilderness of temptation on the offensive (Mt. 16:18). G. Campbell Morgan wrote, “Jesus went into the wilderness under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to find the devil. My own conviction is that if the devil could have escaped that day, he would have done so.”

      Satan is not omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent. Jesus met the tempter face to face.

      The Scripture designated the tempter with many names.

•          Diabolos (Jn. 8:44; 1 Jn. 3:8-10)

•          Satan (Jn. 13:27)

•          Accuser (Rev. 12:10)

•          Ruler of this world (Jn. 12:31, 14:30, 16:11)

•          Evil one (Mt. 6:13, 13:19; Eph. 6:16; 1 Jn. 5:18)

•          Apollyon (Rev. 9:11)

•          Dragon, serpent, ruler, deceiver, destroyer (Rev. 12:9-10)

      God allowed the temptation in His sovereign plan. Temptation came immediately at the start of Jesus’ mission. The devil tested God’s statement to Jesus at the baptism.

      Temptation came at the height of spiritual experience (Eph. 6:12). Temptation returned to Christ again and again (Lk. 22:28).

      Temptation in itself does not constitute sin. Satan accuses believers to think that to be tempted means to sin (Rev. 12:10).

      Temptation is common to all (1 Cor. 10:13). Temptation comes to the purest, to try those closest to God. Charles H. Spurgeon said, “Satan never kicks a dead horse!”

      Hannah Whitall Smith said, “Strong temptations are generally a sign of great grace, rather than of little grace.” Smith wrote, “People seem to expect that, after the soul has entered into its rest in God, temptations will cease; and to think that the promised deliverance is not only to be from yielding to temptation, but even also from being tempted. Then, next they make the mistake of looking upon temptation as sin, and of blaming themselves for what in reality is the fault of the enemy only. This brings them into condemnation and discouragement; and discouragement, if continued in, always ends at last in actual sin. The enemy makes an easy prey of a discouraged soul; so that we fall often from the very fear of having fallen.”

      Temptation comes from three sources (Eph. 2:2-3). It comes from the world (1 Jn. 2:16), flesh (Rom. 7:25; Jas. 1:13-14; 1 Pet. 2:11), and the devil (1 Pet. 5:8).

      Temptation bears down with constant pressure and in some instances with intense pain. Satan attacks at a strategic time–in seasons (Lk. 4:13; Eph. 6:13) of strength (Job 1:8) and seasons of weakness (Mt. 4:3).

      Robertson explained, “He was here trying to thwart the purpose of Jesus to go on with his Messianic plans, to trip him at the start.”

Verse 1

•          Jesus entered the season of temptation after baptism with signs.

•          Jesus entered the season of temptation anointed by the Spirit.

Verse 2

•          Jesus fasted the days of temptation.

•          Jesus faced the devil in temptation.

Verse 3

•          Satan challenged the Messiahship of the Son of God.

•          Satan challenged the mission of the Son of God.

Verse 4

•          Jesus answered the devil with memorization.

•          Jesus answered the devil as Man.

Verses 5-6

•          Satan operates with limited authority for a limited time.

•          Jesus overruled with all authority for all of time.

Verses 7-8

•          Satan wants to overthrow the worship of God.

•          Satan’s work is overcome by the worship of God.

Verses 9-12

•          Satan wanted to subvert God by Scripture.

•          Christ would not see if God would save.

Verses 13-14

•          Satan never faced Jesus again in person.

•          Jesus never feared Satan’s authority or power.

Temptation

•          Jesus resisted temptation with the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13).

•          Jesus faced temptation after absolute surrender to God.

•          Jesus met temptation as the Son of Man, permitted by God to suffer (Mk. 1:12–Spirit cast Him into the wilderness).

•          Jesus encountered God’s affirmation and Satan’s condemnation at the same time (Job 1-2; 2 Cor. 12:7). In this dualism God tests, but Satan tempts (Rom. 7:15). While Satan tempts to evil, God tests for good (Gen. 50:20).

•          Jesus endured temptation so that God might perfect Him for the ultimate test (forty days–Ex. 34:28).

•          Jesus battled temptation in seasons of intensity, conscious only of the war with evil (Mk. 1:13–with the wild beasts; 1 Pet. 1:6).

•          Jesus overcame temptation by quotes from the Word applied to each trap (Dt. 8:3, 10:20, 6:16; Jas. 4:7).

•          Jesus left temptation in the wilderness empowered by the Spirit to witness (Mt. 4:11–angels strengthened Him; Lk. 4:18).

Tempter

•          In temptation the devil makes no truces, observes no rules, and withholds no schemes (1 Pet. 5:8).

•          In temptation the devil spoke as a fallen angel, a personal evil being (Mt. 4:9–Jesus rebuked verbally).

•          In temptation the devil studies propensities and attacks weaknesses.

•          In temptation the devil lies about the consequences and casts doubt that God cares (Mt. 27:40–if you are the Son of God). Just as with Adam, Satan tempted Jesus to doubt the watchcare of God and distrust the wisdom of God (Jn. 8:44). Satan wanted to disrupt contentment with God and confidence in God.

•          In temptation the devil speaks with persuasive subtlety, like an angel of light.

•          In temptation the devil operates over a hierarchy of evil (Jn. 12:31, 14:30, 16:11) as a ruler of darkness, the prince of the air (authority–Mt. 28:18; Mk. 6:7; Lk. 10:19; Acts 26:18; 1 Cor. 15:24; Eph. 1:21, 2:2, 3:10, 6:12; Col. 1:13, 2:15; 1 Pet. 3:22; Rev. 12:10). Robertson wrote, “Satan here claims possession of world power and Jesus does not deny it.”

•          In temptation the devil offers the lure of shared power for selfish gratification with no thought for its enslavement (2 Tim. 2:26).

•          In temptation the devil desires with jealousy the place only Holy God deserves (Is. 14:14; 2 Th. 2:4). Sin began in the prideful will of Satan for worship (Ezek. 28:12-17).

•          In temptation the devil twists the Scripture slightly to gain a foothold by compromise (Jas. 2:19). Satan misquoted this Scripture (Gen. 3:1) to Jesus (Ps. 91:11– en pasaiV taiV odoiV sou). Satan believed Scripture (Jas. 2:19) and tried to twist Scripture to tempt Christ.

      Alan Redpath wrote, “To compromise with Satan is to court disaster.”

“Satan is not only a roaring lion, he is also a subtle snake, and the roar of the lion is far less dangerous than the hiss of a the snake.”

 I. Satan devised temptations for Jesus to save His life rather than to lose His self.

2 Cor. 2:11 [ESV]. so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

      Herschel Hobbs wrote, “Jesus chose to follow God’s way, even though it led Him to a cross.”

      A. W. Tozer said, “The part of ourselves that we rescue from the cross may be a very little part of us, but it is likely to be the seat of our spiritual troubles and our defeats.”

1 Jn. 2:16 [GNB]. Everything that belongs to the world---what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of---none of this comes from the Father; it all comes from the world.

      A. Live for the pleasure of this world

      Satan tempted Jesus to gratify the flesh outside the will of God (Jas. 1:14).

      Morgan explained, “The evil of the temptation lies within the fact that he suggested that a legitimate craving should be satisfied in an illegitimate way.”

      B. Live for the priority of this world

      C. Live for the pride of this world

      Jesus chose not to be a self-serving Messiah, a sensational Messiah, or take the short-cut to be a Messiah. Jesus did not come as a philanthropist, patriot, or populist.

 II. Jesus defeated temptations by Satan to choose Man’s will rather than to obey God’s will.

Rom. 12:1-2 [ESV]. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

 2. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

      A. Present the body

      B. Renew the mind

2 Cor. 10:4-5. (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

 5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

      F. J. Perryman noted, “The mind has always been a citadel for which the devil has striven. To get a wrong thought, or impression, or idea lodged in the mind engages the tireless activity of the devil.”

      Satan fires sinful thoughts like darts toward the mind (Prov. 4:23, 23:6; 2 Cor. 4:4, 11:3).

      C. Surrender the will

Eph. 4:27 [J. B. Phillips]. “Don’t give the devil a beachhead.”

III. God delivered temptations from the godly who put on the armor of God rather than trust the arm of flesh.

      Jesus Himself related this forty day temptation to help the disciples (Heb. 2:18, 4:15).

      Jesus provides Himself as the whole armor of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and Word (Eph. 6:10-18).

•          Truth (Jn. 8:44)

•          Righteousness (Rom. 8:33-34)

•          Gospel (Rev. 12:11)

•          Faith (1 Jn. 5:4)

•          Salvation (2 Cor. 10:4-5)

•          Word (Mt. 4:4; 2 Pet. 1:4)

•          Prayer (Mt. 6:13)

      Hobbs said, “Jesus called upon no power that is not available to any man as he faces temptation.”

•          Word (Ps. 119:9-11).

•          Worship (Rev. 11:15). Missionary Richard A. Webster wrote, “The main thing about praise is that it exalts our God, and Satan simply cannot tolerate that.”

•          Walk (1 Cor. 10:9).

Rev. 12:11 (ESV) And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

      A. Overcome by Calvary

Col. 2:15 (GNB) And on that cross Christ freed himself from the power of the spiritual rulers and authorities; he made a public spectacle of them by leading them as captives in his victory procession.

      William R. Newell wrote, “Satan’s greatest device is to drive earnest souls back to beseeching God for what God says has already been done.”

      The victory of Jesus on the cross (Jn. 19:30) spoiled the authority of Satan over believers. Christ won this victory while in the flesh (Lk. 4:1-14; Rom. 8:3). Satan limps today as a defeated enemy (Mt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).

      B. Overcome by confession

Lk. 10:20 (ESV) Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.

      When Martin Luther was asked how he overcame the devil, he replied, ‘Well, when he comes knocking upon the door of my heart, and asks ‘Who lives here?’ The dear Lord Jesus goes to the door and says, “Martin Luther used to live here, but he has moved out. Now I live here.”

      C. Overcome by courage

2 Tim. 2:3 [MKJV]. Therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

1 Pet. 5:8-9 [ESV]. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

 9. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

1 Jn. 4:4. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

“Stand Up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the Cross!”