Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus Tempted (3)

The temptations in the wilderness were the testimony of Jesus’ earthly ministry.  He showed us how to face temptation.

First, note the dark ways of the devil.  How he attacked Jesus is how he attacks us.

1.  He introduces doubt in our relationship with God or the clarity of His Word.  With Adam and Eve the question was, “Did God say?”  With Jesus it’s “If You are the Son of God.” 

2.  He hits us at perceived points of weakness.  Jesus had been forty days without food.  Satan’s first move is to go for the stomach.

3.  He offers good things at the wrong time.  The Father has promised all the nations to be the inheritance for His Son (Psalm 2:6-9).  Now is not the time.

4.  He offers the right things in the wrong way.  Christ is worthy of all exaltation, but not before the cross and resurrection.  And not by forcing the Father’s hand.

5.  He encourages an earthly, temporal focus.  Life is all about our relationship with the One to Whom we belong.  He made us.  We are His.  Satan wants to make it all about today, about me right now. 

But now consider the Light shown through our Lord.  He did not throw up a supernatural shield around Himself so as to thwart the wicked one’s powerful darts.  Rather notice how He used what is available to us today.

·        He was FILLED with the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit had control of Him.  He led Him into the wilderness but obviously led Him while He was in the wilderness as well.  Jesus did not fight alone; the Spirit of God was working in Him.

·        He practiced spiritual DISCIPLINE.  Fasting and prayer must be a normal part of life as it was for Jesus.  The battle was fierce but Jesus was not ill-prepared.  The armor was in place (Eph. 6:10-20).

·        He did not ARGUE with Satan.  When Satan said “If” Jesus did not respond with the theology of the Incarnation and the explanation of the glory He had in heaven with the Father.  Instead …

·        He knew and used SCRIPTURE.  If this battle took place in Heaven the Lord would have rebuked Satan as only God can do.  But the Christ was made a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8; Heb. 2:5-9).  Thus He speaks the word of His God and Father!  The power is drained from the “if” by “IT IS WRITTEN!”

·        He had an exalted view of GOD.  God was His Portion, v4. He was living by every word of God.  God was His Provision, v7. He was willing to wait for the fame to come, in God's way, in God's time. He was not willing to test God.  God was His Sovereign, 10. He would worship no one else!

Believe in the integrity of the sinless, righteous life of Jesus Christ.  Believe in the power of His ministry.  The way Jesus lived His life is the way we live ours.  He is our example, yes.  But more, I am crucified with Christ.  Nevertheless I live, yet not I but CHRIST LIVES IN ME!