Satan shows his hand
Luke 4:1-15
Intro: If
you were here Wednesday evening, you remember the message on trials and
temptations. Well that was a primer for this morning, if you remember one topic
mentioned Wednesday was the difference between trials which come from God and
temptations which come from Satan. Our scripture this morning takes us to the
point in Jesus’ life when Satan came to Him with a series of temptations. As I
began this message, I ask the question, why would Satan be dumb enough to think
he could cause the son of God to commit sin? As I prayed, sought Gods direction
and studied His word I came to realize something. Satan didn’t just show up to
tempt Jesus to commit sin, Jesus allow Satan to come to Him. By doing, this
Jesus was using Satan; He was letting Satan show us, you and I what to look out
for. You see the temptations we will look at this morning are the same ones
Satan has been using since the beginning of time. Satan keeps using them
because they keep working. The Lord wants us to know about them, what they are,
how they affect us, what they do to us, and why we should seek His help to
avoid them. This morning allow the Lord to speak to your heart as He lets
“Satan show his hand.”
I.
The first
temptation Jesus allows
V
Lust of the Flesh
Our
reasoning
If Satan
can cause us to doubt we will
1. Question Gods Word, is the bible infallible?
2. Question Gods will, did God really want me to do this?
3. Become self gratifying, our witness will show loyalty
to the world?
II. The second temptation Jesus allows
V
Lust of our Eyes
Our
senses
If Satan can stir our passions, we will
1. Be distracted from the
2. Christians will distract others from the cross
3. The lost will
III. The third temptation Jesus allows
V
Desires of our Pride
Our
imagination
If Satan
leads our ambitions or ego, we will
1. Challenge God to reward our service
2. We will put ourselves in a superior position, asking
God to prove Himself. If we trust someone, he or she shouldn’t have to prove
it.
3. Be unable to claim the promises of God, we will be
out of His will.
Conc.: These three temptations which have been recorded here
show us something about ourselves, yes about each and every one of us. First it
shows us exactly how easily deceived we are. Second it shows us that Satan
attacks how we look at Gods word, Gods will, our service, our testimony and
witness, and even the cross. Remember, these three temptations were not
specific to Jesus, they have been around since the days of Adam, and they are
still being used today. The author of Hebrews said in chapter four verse
fifteen “For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all
points tempted like as we are, yet
without sin.” The good news is that
Jesus is touched with our infirmities. He knows what you and I deal with, He
knows on a personal level. That doesn’t give you and I a license to sin, in
fact it should give us a desire not to. In reality, it doesn’t take all three
of these to trip us up, most of us easily fall victim to one well placed
temptation in our lives. Through the sacrifice that Jesus made we have
forgiveness for our sin and failures. If you’re here, today and you have never
made a commitment to Jesus