Triumphant in Temptation
Luke 4:5-8
(Part 2)
Context:
Luke 4:5 “The devil took him up and showed
him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment
of time.”
Mt 4:8 “The devil took him to a very high
mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of
the world and their glory…
Appeal:
Appeal: Glory and power without the path of
suffering
Appeal: Glory and power without the path of
suffering
The crown without the cross!
Satan’s “promises” always have “issues”
1. The picture is better than the promise
• Youth, why wait for adulthood…
• Why wait for marriage…
• Why devote yourself to a church…
• Why work all your life to retire poor…
2. The title isn’t clear
Satan’s “promises” always have “issues”
1. The picture is better than the promise
• Youth, why wait for adulthood…
• Why wait for marriage…
• Why devote yourself to a church…
• Why work all your life to retire poor…
2. The title isn’t clear—The giver doesn’t own
the gift!
• Gen 4 “Cursed are you… the woman’s seed will bruise
your head!
• Job 1,2 “The “sons of God” presented themselves before
the Lord = accountability session…
• Zechariah 3:1 “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan!”
• The gospels – Jesus “cast out” Satan…
• Luke 22:31 – “Simon, Simon, behold Satan demanded to
have you… but I have prayed for you… and when you
have turned again.”
• Rms 16:20 “The God of Peace will soon crush Satan
under your feet…
• Rev. 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that
ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the
deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to
the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
• Rev. 20:2 And he [angel from heaven] seized the dragon,
that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and
bound him for a thousand years,
• Rev 20:14 … Death and Hades were thrown into the lake
of fire…
So what is Satan’s appeal to Jesus?
So what is Satan’s appeal to Jesus?
“I’m willing to give you what you’ve come here
to do battle for, and I can make it quick & easy
for you. But…
So what is Satan’s appeal to Jesus?
“I’m willing to give you what you’ve come here
to do battle for, and I can make it quick & easy
for you. But…
There is this one little pre-condition—
So what is Satan’s appeal to Jesus?
“I’m willing to give you what you’ve come here
to do battle for, and I can make it quick & easy
for you. But…
There is this one little pre-condition—If you
then will worship me, it will all be yours!
Jesus’ emotions were on the tempter’s side…
• I have a baptism to be baptized with and
how great is my distress until it is
accomplished (Lk 12:8)
• Father, if you are willing, remove this cup
from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but
yours be done (Lk 22:42).
Jesus understood the implications of this
temptation and for that reason alone—
Jesus understood the implications of this
temptation and for that reason alone—When
the days drew near for him to be taken up, he
set his face to go to Jerusalem.”
Jesus understood the implications of this
temptation and for that reason alone—When
the days drew near for him to be taken up, he
set his face to go to Jerusalem.”
Response:
Response: You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.
2 Issues:
Worship—You shall worship the Lord your God
Mission—Him only shall you serve
The issue of Worship
Worship is the ascribing of glory and praise to
another.
• I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to
no other, nor my praise to carved idols (Isa 42:8).
• For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how
should my name be profaned? My glory I will not
give to another (Isa 48:11).
• You shall have no other gods before me (Ex 20:3)
The issue of Mission
• And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we
are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is
written about the Son of Man by the prophets will
be accomplished” (Luke 18:31)
• My food is to do the will of him who sent me and
to accomplish his work (John 4:34).
When tempted to do ANYTHING, we need to
ask ourselves 2 questions:
1. Is it consistent with my mission to “Be
holy” and “Make disciples”?
2. Am I elevating something or someone
above God?
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight,
and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us, looking to
Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand
of the throne of God. Consider him who endured
from sinners such hostility against himself, so that
you may not grow weary or fainthearted.