Ultimate Fighting

The Enemy’s Strategy - Part 2

‚Consider that the devil does not sleep, but seeks our ruin in a

thousand ways‛- Angela Merici

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part 2

• Review - The Enemy’s Primary Tools

• Exegesis of Matthew 4:1-11• Summary of Matthew 4 Lies and Temptations

• Matthew 4 Philosophies and Religions

• Final Conclusions

1.Lies

Hebrew: ‚break faith/trust‛; ‚break an agreement‛. Greek: ‚tell a falsehood‛. Satan is the father of lies (Jn. 8:44)

2.Temptations

Hebrew: ‚put to the test‛; Greek: ‚discover the nature or character of something by testing‛. Satan is the tempter (Matt. 4:3)

The Enemy’s Key Tools

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part 2

1.Lies

• Outright denial of God’s truth (Gen. 3:4)• Twisting/distortion of God’s truth (Gen. 3:5)• Counterfeit /substitute to God’s truth (Gen. 3:5)

2.Temptations

• Appeal to self-gain / pleasure (Gen. 3:6)• Doubt concerning truth / reality / God (Gen. 3:1,5)

• Rebellion against God (Gen. 3:6) and to substitute something for God

Primary Manifestations

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part 2

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part 2

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, ‚If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.‛ But He answered and said, ‚It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ‛Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‚If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ‛ Jesus said to him, ‚On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’

Matthew 4

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part 2

‛Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, ‚All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.‛Then Jesus said to him, ‚Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ ‛ Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him." (Matthew 4:1-11)

Matthew 4

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spiritinto the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.‛

Matthew Chapter 4

• Testing came immediately on the heels of Jesus being confirmed by God

• The Spirit led Him into the trial • Jesus led into the wilderness just as Israel was led into the wilderness by God in Exodus. ‚Out of Egypt I called my son‛ “ Israel and Christ

Facts:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spiritinto the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.‛

Matthew Chapter 4

• ‚tempted‛: piradzo: ‚to endeavor to discover the nature or character of something by testing

• ‚devil‛: diabolos: ‚slanderer‛ or ‚accuser‛• Could Jesus have sinned and have yielded to the temptations?

Facts:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spiritinto the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.‛

Matthew Chapter 4

• Oftentimes, trials/tests come on the heels of a victory. Why?

• God does not tempt us to sin, but allows our character to be proven; He already knows

• God’s son Israel failed their test in the wilderness; God’s Son Jesus did not, and He lives in us

• The first Adam failed in a plus garden where he had everything; the last Adam won in a barren wilderness where he had nothing; you can too

Application:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spiritinto the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.‛

Matthew Chapter 4

• Two reasons a test is done “ (1) find a weakness (2) prove strength

• You are mimicking the devil when you slander and accuse people; choose instead to hold your tongue

Application:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, ‚If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.‛

Matthew Chapter 4

• ‚Forty‛ a number used in Scripture for testing• The devil patiently waited until Christ was in a tired and physically compromised position

• ‚If‛ not used to question if Jesus was the Christ, but to reflect ‚in view of the fact that…‛

• Israel demanded bread in the wilderness but died there; Jesus denied Himself bread and was victorious

Facts:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, ‚If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.‛

Matthew Chapter 4

• Trial was a test of physical need; satisfy desire now• Trial was a test for Jesus to act independently of His Father. Use Sonship apart from divine mission

• Trial was a test to separate the physical from the spiritual (Gnostic philosophy)

• Trial was a test to satisfy normal desire in the wrong way / at the wrong time

Facts:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, ‚If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.‛

Matthew Chapter 4

• Don’t underestimate the enemy’s patience in dealing with you

• Temptation can come in time of need and be related to that need

• Accusation against God is similar to Eve in the garden; God is holding out on you, don’t believe it

• Body and soul are a spiritual unity; physical sins have spiritual implications

Application:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

‛But He answered and said, ‚It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’

Matthew Chapter 4

• Jesus did not ignore the temptation but addressed it• Jesus used the Sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17) to counter the temptation (truth vs. the lie)

• Jesus quoted Deuteronomy, which is a critically disputed book in the Old Testament

• Jesus pointed to God as being the provider of everything

Facts:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

‚He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord." (Deuteronomy 8:3)

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

‛But He answered and said, ‚It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’

Matthew Chapter 4

• Ignoring the enemy is not the proper strategy• You must know the truth in order to be victorious over a lie

• The believer must be committed to taking the Bible as their authority in life and be absorbed in knowing it

Application:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

‛Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‚If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ‛

Matthew Chapter 4

• Defeated once, the devil did not stop but came back with a second temptation

• This was a test to presume upon God and ask Him to prove Himself

• This was a test to be acknowledged as the Messiah without the cross

• Satan knows what God says, but chooses to disobey it

Facts:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

‛Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‚If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ‛

Matthew Chapter 4

• Be prepared for persistent attacks from the enemy• Be prepared for attacks to use shortcuts to get what you believe is rightfully yours

• Be prepared for the enemy and others to present to you attractive temptations to sin and even use parts of the Bible that appear on the surface to support their position

Application:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

‛Jesus said to him, ‚On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’

Matthew Chapter 4

• Christ uses the same tactic against Satan as before “He quotes Scripture back to him

• Deuteronomy is used again as Jesus’ source • Satan knew what God said, although he left out a part of the text

Facts:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

‛Jesus said to him, ‚On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’

Matthew Chapter 4

• Presuming upon God (e.g. cults not recommending medical help) or asking for signs (various charismatic groups) is wrong

• A believer needs to know the context and full story of Scripture to not be misled by quotes taken out of context or not viewed in light of the whole of Scripture

Application:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

‛Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, ‚All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.‛

Matthew Chapter 4

• Defeated twice, the devil comes with a 3rd temptation• Satan claims to have authority to give authority over things in the world. Luke adds, ‚for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.‛

• Worship: ‚bend the knee‛ or ‚prostrate‛. ‚Just once‛ is implied in Greek verb form

• Test of glory and dominion now; God had already promised Christ everything, but the cross came first

Facts:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

‛Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, ‚All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.‛

Matthew Chapter 4

• Again, do not be surprised at how relentless the enemy can be

• As the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4), Satan has this present age in his control (1 John 5:19). He can and does give the world to people who follow him

• The temptation of ‚have it/get it now‛ apart from God’s timing is very strong in today’s culture

Application:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

‛Then Jesus said to him, ‚Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ ‛

Matthew Chapter 4

• Jesus, a third time, quotes from Deuteronomy to rebuke Satan

• Jesus did not deny Satan’s claim to ownership• Jesus identifies the fact that there is only one true God to worship

• Jesus links the concept of worship and service together, whereas Satan omitted service

Facts:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

‛Then Jesus said to him, ‚Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ ‛

Matthew Chapter 4

• You serve what/who you worship• This concept trickles down into all areas of your life. A. W. Tozer said that a man’s ethics never rise above his religion, and his religion never rises above his concept and view of God

• You will ascribe ‚worth-ship‛ to something; make sure it’s God and not something/one else

Application:

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

In the Old Testament…

The Outcome

…Israel, God’s son, fails the wilderness test

In the New Testament…

…Christ, God’s Son, passes the wilderness test

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

At the same time Jesus' hunger introduces us to a number of ironies to which Matthew more or less explicitly alludes: Jesus is hungry (v. 2) but feeds others (14:13-21; 15:29-39); he grows weary (8:24) but offers others rest

(11:28); he is the King Messiah but pays tribute (17:24-27); he is called the devil but casts out demons (12:22-32); he dies the death of a sinner but comes to save his people from

their sins (1:21); he is sold for thirty pieces of silver but gives his life a ransom for many (20:28); he will not turn stones to bread for himself (4:3-4) but gives his own

body as bread for people (26:26).

The Outcome

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part2

Lies & Temptations from Matthew 4Lies • The physical and the spiritual are separate

• God is holding out on you• You should test God's care and provision for you• No need to wait on God• There is no implied service in worship

Temptations • Pride from a great victory/confirmation• Satisfy seemingly normal desire the wrong way• Act independent of God's will• Use shortcuts to get to the end goal; only the end

matters• God's word supports you in your actions

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part 2

Matthew 4 Philosophies• Physical and Spiritual are Separate

• Gnosticism• Children of God• Ancient Dualism

• God is not good• Deism

• God should be tested• Various cults (e.g. Christian Science)

• Means to an end doesn’t matter• Pragmatism

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part 2

Final Conclusions

Satan’s temptations of Eve in the Garden of Eden correspond to those of Jesus in the desert.

Satan appealed to the physical appetite (Gen. 3:1-3; Matt. 4:3), the desire for personal gain (Gen. 3:4-5; Matt. 4:6), and an easy path to

power or glory (Gen. 3:5-6; Matt. 4:8-9). And in each case Satan altered God’s Word (Gen. 3:4;

Matt. 4:6).

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part 2

Final Conclusions

The Prince of this world says ‚There is no other world than this one…

The Tempter says, ‚There is no consequence for your actions…‛

The Accuser says ‚There is no pardon for your actions…‛

‚The demons say one thing to get us to sin, and another to overwhelm us in despair‛ “ John Climacus

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part 2

Final ConclusionJesus defeated the enemy using the Word of God and reliance on the Spirit of God. You have both available to you as well.

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division

of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.‚

(Hebrews 4:12)

"Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?‚

(1 Corinthians 3:16)

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part 2

Final ConclusionJesus defeated the enemy using the Word of God and reliance on the Spirit of God. You have both available to you as well.

"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4)

- The Enemy’s Strategy “ Part 2

Final ConclusionGod is in control of the trials you face.

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not

allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to

endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Ultimate Fighting

The Enemy’s Strategy - Part 2