OlePappy - I pray in the name of Jesus, the Son sent to be born of the virgin, walked and taught on this earth, died and on the third day arose, ascended into Heaven. AMEN

Last time we talked about John the Baptist and his fiery sermons in Luke 3, then about Jesus baptism and His family tree. Tonight we are starting at Luke 4:1:

Now the Bible tells us in Luke 4:1-11 about Jesus being tempted. I may be wrong, but I don't recall anywhere in the Old Testament that anyone actively resisted the devil with the word of God the way Jesus did. There are plenty of references to this tactic in the New Testament, but Jesus seems to be the first.

In the Old Testament, the people were admonished to obey the law - their role was a passive one. Except for the command to do "go up and possess the land" of Canaan (which they failed to complete) all they were required to do was obey.

Now, in the New Testament, we are to be obedient to the Lord, of course, but we are also admonished to engage in spiritual warfare. We are soldiers, wearing God's armor, defending the faith and invading and capturing what satan's has stolen from us. Intercession is an offensive tactic, seen in this light.

Our first battle is in the area of temptations. As long as we are in the flesh, I believe temptations will come. But until we learn to handle them, satan will be more or less victorious in our lives and we will be unable to advance against him in any other area. Our Sword of the Spirit, the Word, is both a defensive and an offensive weapon - defensive when we pray the Word to defend ourselves against satan's attacks, offensive when we pray the Word in intercession for another.

Notice that when Jesus was tempted, he did not as yet have any disciples; he was alone. So he had to tell of these experiences with the devil to his disciples later, and they are recorded in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Why did he choose to share these experiences with us?

Savior's Servant - To show that Jesus went through the same thing that we go through

Imac - Because there is not a temptation that we have that Jesus did not have also. He overcame them and taught us how to also.

Savior's Servant - and to show us how to battle the temptations

Jesus was led or driven by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil 40 days. We aren't told exactly what happened during this time, except in Hebrews 4:15, where it is written that he "has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet without sin". Why do you think Jesus had to go through this temptation?

Hieremias - Why was Moses not the high priest of Israel? Because he had never tasted the slavery. Aaron had, and could therefore intercede for the people. Jesus is our High Priest, and as shown in Hebrews 4:15, He can do this because He has been in our situation.

Right, To be able to sympathize with our weaknesses "because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted" Hebrews 3:18.

He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness for 40 days. The Bible doesn't specify what these particular temptations were, but at the end of that time "He was hungry".

Dakes says that "Hunger always leaves after few days of a fast and returns after a long fast of about 40 days or when all the toxic poisons have been expelled from the body. The breath at this time becomes sweet as a baby's. Any normal healthy person can fast this long without any harm. Starvation only begins after hunger returns in such cases. One must use water in long fasts and break the fast gradually."

So Jesus, after his 40 days fast, was experiencing the extreme pangs that came with returning hunger and his body was in an extremely weak condition. The devil always tempts us at our weak points.

He rarely tempts us to sin or doubt when we are spiritually, physically, and mentally alert and strong, but comes in times of weakness, illness, discouragement, when circumstances are bad and we are at our worst. In fact, he sends circumstances to try to weaken us so he can tempt us to doubt or be offended or fall into lust. But praise God, that doesn't necessarily mean our defeat! If we can understand the process of temptation, and how to fight it, we can defeat the devil anyhow!

Notice that Jesus did not avoid temptation, he resisted it. Each time his weapon was the word: "It is written". Now Jesus had the power to overcome satan or to call angels to his defense; but he did not. Why the think he resisted temptation in this way?

The Greek word for temptations is peirazo {pi-rad'-zo}, meaning to try whether a thing can be done; to attempt, endeavor; to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quantity, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself in a good sense. In a bad sense, to test one maliciously, craftily to put to the proof his feelings or judgments; to try or test one's faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin; to solicit to sin, to tempt, the temptations of the devil

What was his example? Notice the first part of verse 22: "He committed no sin ". Do you think it was possible that Jesus could fail and succumb to temptation?

ron50 - I wonder he was flesh at this time

Yes, The temptation had to be something about which he could fail or the temptations would have not been real. The fact that he could be tempted showed that he was truly human.

John 3:34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit [to him].

Does this mean that God gives us the security that we are his children before the devil tempts us with precisely that issue? A common doubt of the Christian is "Am I really God's child?" The devil will bring up every dirty scrap of evidence he can that you really aren't saved, that God could never love you. When these doubts assail us, what can we do?

OlePappy - Get in the Word for one thing

ron50 - remember what the word says and speak it

Right ron, don't ever underestimate the power of our declarations of faith. Speak it out!

Savior's Servant - think about something else and bathe yourself in the spirit

Athie - Speak the Word to Satan and he will flee

Go to the word and reread the promises and assurances there. Speak the Word. And lean on the witness of the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

OlePappy - get on your knees and pray

Jesus desired to do the will of God, which was to be our Messiah, our Christ, our Savior, and our Deliverer. But He was very careful to wait on God's timing. The temptation here was to perform at satan's beck and call.

But Jesus was not to be rushed into doing what He knew God wanted Him to do when it was not yet time. In due time, it would be revealed that He was the Son of God and all things (the world, satan's "kingdom") would be put in subjection under His feet. How about us? Are we impatient to do something glorious for God NOW? Or are we willing to wait on God's timing?

In this incident, Jesus was not an active participant. The devil came to tempt Him, took Him to the holy city, and took Him to a mountain. Jesus passively allowed Himself to be tempted.

Let's look at the individual temptations. Keep in mind that satan had only "three shots" at Jesus and he had planned and schemed for a long time for this opportunity .

This is a common area of temptation; and if we are honest; this is where we get "caught" the most often! But Jesus refused to allow His sense of mission to be influenced by His physical needs. Now, remember Jesus did NOT fail, he did NOT commit sin. So how did he win this battle? What did Jesus say to the devil?

Isn't that magnificent? Jesus was meditating during His "wilderness" experience on the experience of Israel. Israel failed to learn her lesson in forty YEARS, but Jesus did not fail. Israel continued to complain and murmur and yearn for the "fleshpots of Egypt", but Jesus brought His flesh under control. And He did it without using any supernatural power, but with the very power still available to everyone today: the power of God's Word.

This also was an attempt by satan to force Jesus to resort to a magical type of behavior and not true faith that God would supply His needs. Another way of expressing it would be "Use your miraculous powers to supply ordinary and personal needs at my command."

Remember that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, "the house of bread", and that He knew that He was the Bread of Life. He knew that the bread eaten at Passover was symbolic of His Body that was to be broken for us. He said that He was the True Manna that came down from Heaven. He also was to multiply a small boy's lunch of bread and fish to feed a multitude. But if He had failed in the temptation concerning turning stones to bread at satan's command, none of this would have come to pass.

What can we learn from this temptation? Any ideas? How does this account help YOU fight satan?

ThunderQueen - When we give in to the devil and wrongly use our strengths we become proud and self reliant, trusting in our own powers we feel little need for god. We must realize our strengths are Gods gift to us and dedicate those strengths to His service

Savior's Servant - That we can't do it alone, only by His Spirit

Job 23:12 says, "I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread".

Do you believe that what the devil said was true? Did he own the kingdoms of the world and could he have given them to Jesus?

Faith - Was he given authority over this world, OldTimer?

ron50 - yes after Adam satan was made lord of this world

Right, the temptation was real. He is called the "prince of the power of the air" or the "ruler of the kingdom of the air" in Ephesians 2:2 "in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient."

Faith - Then would not have been in a position to give them to Jesus?

ron50 - was the intent of the heart toward self instead of God

Imac - The Bible says the devil is a liar!

ron50 - disobedience of Adam

Savior's Servant - we gave satan control

OlePappy - given over to him by the sin of Adam

Right. Adam committed an act of high treason when he rebelled against God's commands in the Garden of Eden, and he literally gave title deed of the earth to satan. This is one thing that the Lord came to redeem: His creation that had been forfeited to satan.

Daniel 2:20-22 " and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.

This temptation can be seen as a temptation of the soul to idolatry. Satan desired Jesus to worship him. To receive this worship, he offered Jesus a shortcut to power and glory. Did you know that satan's shortcuts are always detours to hell?

Imac - All through the Bible we find that the devil is a liar and the truth is not in him

How did Jesus answer this temptation?

Worship here is proskuneo {pros-koo-neh'-o} probable derivative of a word meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand;

1. to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence
2. among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence
3. in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank, to the Jewish high priests , to God, to Christ, to heavenly beings, and to demons.

Isaiah 14:12-14 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn!

[12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! (KJV)]

You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit.

In his arrogance, satan thought HE was and somehow one day will defeat God Himself! So satan failed in recognizing that God alone is worthy to be worshipped.

prodigal son - I get confused how can you tempt someone with something they have already

OlePappy - good ? ps, that's satan for ya! he lies, he cheats, he steals, he FAILS

Well PS, Jesus didn't have it yet. He had not yet gone to the cross and BOUGHT BACK man and all of creation. It was still under the dominion of the devil.

Right sista, he can disguise or masquerade as an angel of light, if possible to deceive the elect of God. And he makes his temptations look good too. That's why we walk by faith in God's word, not by sight or by our senses. They can easily be deceived.

What would have been the consequences for Jesus, according to this passage, if He had worshipped the devil? He would have incurred God's wrath and destruction and we would have had no Savior!

satan is behind every other false god that is worshipped in this world. If anything besides God has first place in your heart, you are committing idolatry, whether it be Self, Money, Possessions, Philosophies, Persons, or even if you think you are an atheist. In the final analysis, if you are not worshipping God, if He does not have first place in your life, then you are worshipping satan.

Faith - OT, what a horrible thought.

ThunderQueen - We must need to be constantly on guard against the devils ongoing attacks.

tugs - satan does work overtime doesn't he?

sista - The devil tries it all the time, but we do need to try to remember Who has saved us from the devil when He died on the cross.

tugs - that's true thunder, we must put on the armor of God everyday

Faith - Tugs, if Christians were on the job as much as he is, what a world this would be, huh?

The key to overcoming this temptation is to continually worship God and serve Him. If we are walking in the light of God's Spirit, we can overcome the flesh. If we are looking steadfastly at Jesus, we won't be waylaid by the lust of the eyes.

It's interesting to note that what satan thought Jesus purpose was - to get power or authority over men. Another way of phrasing this temptation would be: "Use my power, influence, wordily organization and kingdoms and become great among those you seek power over". satan saw Jesus' motives as being the same as his. He could not understand that Jesus came to be a servant.

Also realize that this is a portrait of the motives and desires of a good portion of mankind: to achieve power over other men, and stature and glory. The concept of servanthood goes contrary to the basic will of man, and we must experience crucifixion to overcome our self-will.

ThunderQueen - Satan may tempt us to doubt Christ's true identity. He knows that once we begin to question, its far easier for us to do what he wants. We must meditate on the true meaning of the unshakable truths of God's word

Faith - OT, is there any reference to what he thinks will happen or just out to get company? Is there any reference in the bible as to what satan thinks will happen in the end, or is he just out to get company for the lake of fire?

Faith, not directly, but why would he keep on trying if he thought he couldn't win? Then the devil decides to play the game by Jesus rules"

Luke 4:9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here.

Does it surprise you that the devil can quote scripture?

ThunderQueen - The intention of Psalm 91 is to show God's protection of His people, not to incite them to use God's power for sensational or foolish displays. the devil misinterpreted the scripture to suit his need

He actually misquotes Psalm 91:11-12. He says "guard you carefully" instead of "guard you in all your ways". Many false cults today "hide behind" scriptures, but they are always taken out of context and coupled by lies.

That is why it is important to study the Bible in context, and not just rely on someone else's interpretation or on "proof texts". Do you know what "proof texts" are? "Proof texts" are taking scriptures here and there, and stringing them together to prove a "doctrine" usually false, without regard to the rest of the Scriptures. The people that come "knocking at your door" to try to get you to join one group or another, always have a "scripture to share", but out of context, and bent to prove that their "religion" is true.

OK, we'll stop here tonight, and finish the third temptation next time. Remember, when you are tempted, look into the Word and find a scripture to fight what the devil is bringing against you. You, too, can declare, "IT IS WRITTEN" and run the devil off.

ThunderQueen - Jesus knew the real Word and could not be swayed

Suebq said, "Don't tell God how big your problems are, tell your problems how BIG your GOD IS!

The only way to get victory over the flesh is to CONSTANTLY get in the Word. Faith comes by hearing the WORD. You can't get it any other way! If you are filling your mind with other things, you are blocking Jesus from helping you. It IS a struggle, but one we all go through. But without the WORD in your heart, you will doubt. You gotta get into the Word to learn how to fight the enemy. And the devil will do ANYTHING to make you stay away from God's Word.

Temptation will always be there, to have power over sin we have to crucify - kill - our old nature, and walk in the Spirit. The Bible says that there is not temptation that has taken you but that which is common to man, BUT that Jesus will make a way of escape that you can bear up under it.

Father God we come against the strongholds that satan has erected in our minds and cast them out in Jesus Name. We pray that every thought be brought into the captivity of the Lord Jesus Christ. satan we command you to take your hands off us, we bind you and rebuke you and cast you out in Jesus Name.

We declare that we are victorious in Jesus over the flesh. We are crucified with Christ. We nail this temptation to the cross with you Jesus and let it die. For we walk by faith, not by sight. It doesn't matter WHAT we feel about it, the WORD is true!

When you have thoughts of doubt, where do they come from? Faith comes from God and hearing the Word. Doubt comes from satan. satan is sneaky though. He'll slip those thoughts in as "I" statements, like "I don't think this is the right religion "- so you won't know they're from the devil.

In Jesus we have power over ALL the works of satan, including doubt. So when doubt comes, PRAY THIS: Doubt, I know you are from satan. I bind you and rebuke you and cast you out! I refuse this thought because it's from the devil, not my Jesus!

We have several voices yelling at us - the world, our flesh, and the devil. But Jesus speaks in a small, still voice, and what He says always honors God and lines up with God's Word.