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This Month's Teaching(October,2024)
The Teachings of Master Jesus, Episode 1: How to resist the devil Main Text: Matthew 4: 1-11
It is not a coincidence that the very first lessons taught by Master Jesus centers on how to resist temptations brought about by satan. This is not to say that all temptations come from the devil. Matter of fact, the scriptures teach that most of the temptations we encounter today actually comes from the works of our own flesh [Galatians 5:19], which we blame satan for, and we sometimes, even blame God for as well [James 1:13]. When Christ came as a man to dwell among men, He experienced the same trials and temptations common to men, and He was kind enough to use those experiences as powerful teaching lessons for us as we live in a sinful world. We are going to examine the temptations common to men described in this text, how satan capitalizes on these temptations, and what Master Jesus taught about overcoming them.
Temptation 1: Physical Hunger [Matthew 4: 2-4]
“And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread” [Matthew 4:3]. As man, Jesus Christ became hungry after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. Satan quickly took advantage of this by applying His old strategy of using the Word, or promises of God out of context. This strategy is very important to satan because he knows that religious people are more easily deceived when the name of God is mentioned, or the Word of God is quoted (even if it is out of context), or the appearance of anything that sounds godly is used in any situation. He knows that the unwary and the gullible will believe it and not pay particular attention to the details, context, or how it applies to them or their situations. It is the same strategy satan used on Eve in the garden of Eden [Genesis 3: 4-5]. Today, satan will probably not ask any hungry Christian to turn stones into bread, but he will find a justification, a promise from God, or a godly quote from the scriptures for them to go steal, embezzle, burglarize or even kill to satiate their hunger. How then do we overcome a temptation in times of physical hunger? The same way Christ overcame: using the true, actual, unadulterated Word of God to overcome satan’s diluted, lying quote by stating that:
"It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” [Matthew 4:4].
Temptation 2: Tempting God with “faith” in the Word of God [Matthew 4:5-6]
“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone”. This is one of satan’s most unique temptations, which he still uses today, especially in many religious assemblies called churches. We can call this “the fool’s temptation”, and it goes like this: people who claim to have faith in the Word of God, tempt God by saying God told them to do something God Himself has said He hates, like killing someone (usually a family member), or by drinking poisons, or by handling venomous snakes while claiming to be fulfilling Christ’s promise to the true church in [Mark 16: 17-18]: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” . Those who engage in this ridiculous behavior often die from it, because they are tempting God. How do we overcome this temptation of "tempting God with "faith in the Word of God"? The same way Christ overcame: “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” [Matthew 4: 7]. So, next time you want to see if God’s Word is true or not, and you are tempted to go handle venomous snakes, drink poisons, poison someone, jump off a high-rise building or cliff, remember: ”It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God”.
Temptation 3: The Lure and Promises of Material Wealth
“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me” [Matthew 4: 8-9]. Again, be reminded that satan is not stupid. He has used the promises of material wealth to lure people to their destruction, especially in the church today, and especially among church leaders. It begins quietly with the false doctrine of “gain is godliness”, when the true doctrine should be “godliness with contentment is great gain” [1st Timothy 6: 5-6]. As God’s will concerning Christian wealth continues to be twisted, we have preachers today who still dwell exclusively on the abolished Old Testament law of tithes, tithing, and other promises of material wealth not made to the church by God, by Christ, or by the Holy Spirit; pastors today who curse widows for not paying tithes; pastors today who believe that they are entitled to all the money coming to the church, and pastors today who invest the church’s money in their own private businesses, and never give back a single penny to those whose money they used. How do we overcome this temptation? Again, the same way Christ overcame- by saying: “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” [Matthew 4: 10]. This response clearly shows that we can resist covetousness, and satan’s promises of material wealth with a simple application of the Word of God; that we don’t have to sell our souls to lucifer and his agents because we want to make a name for ourselves, or acquire material wealth. Christians must always remember Christ’s warning: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” [Mark 8:36-38].
Conclusion:
Lessons learned from the temptation of Christ
(a) No one is above satan's temptation. If he can tempt Christ, he can tempt you.
(b) Satan's temptations come most certainly at a time when you are most vulnerable.
(c) Notice something very interesting: satan promised to give Christ what he (satan) does not own or control.
This means his urge to lie and deceive to achieve his goal is so strong, anyone is vulnerable and can be fooled.
(d) Satan will most certainly tempt the people of God with a "twisted" version of the Word of God.
(e) The actual, correct Word of God (as specifically stated by God) is the only effective remedy against satan's
temptations.
(f) Christ did not get into any debates or arguments with satan. He simply resisted him by quoting the correct Word of God.
So, do not spend anytime contemplating an argument or debate with satan or his agents, and do not open any door
to participate in, or support any suggested or recommended abomination that provokes God to anger. Your response should
be a simple and straight forward: "It is written......"