Same circumstances....
different results!
III. The prince of this world takes on the Prince
of Peace
A) Satan tries to triumph over the very
Christ who created him.
I spent some time discussing with you satan's
strategy to deal with the coming deliver God had promised: I shared with
you his strategy:
He tried to...
1) Kill the seed (
I showed you many instances where satan tried)
2) Corrupt the seed
(the most significant of these is in Matthew 4)
This is satan’s great opportunity to bring Jesus to
his knees. When Jesus was in heaven it was he who fought against Lucifer
and 1/3 of the angels. It was Jesus who humiliated him and threw him to
the earth. As long as God remained in heaven there was nothing that satan
could do to directly attack. But God conveniently took on the form of a
man and came to earth. Now satan has access to God through the weaknesses
he has taken on himself.
Here is how it unfolds.....
1) Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up
by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
This is essential truth: We understand the
importance of God taking on human form, taking man’s place and carrying
our sin to the cross. We know he had to decend into the very pit of Hades;
wrestle satan power from him; then rise from the dead victorious over sin,
and death, and satan himself.
That was the crushing of satan that God
promised Eve in Genesis 3:15
What is not so clear to us is that Jesus, as a man,
had to take satan on mentally, spiritually, emotionally, to open the
pathway for you to have victory in those areas. Jesus had to take satan on
in the very areas where Adam and Eve had failed; and he had to win!
Hebrews 4:15 “Jesus had to be tempted in
all things as we are”
1 John 2:16 “ lust of the flesh, the lust
of the eyes, and the pride of life”
B) Satan’s strategy to bring down the Son of
God
1) Attempt#1 Turn away from the
will of God
Matthew 4:3 If (since) you are the Son of
God, command
that these stones become bread
Matthew 4:4 It is
written, Man shall not live by bread alone
but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God
Attempt #2 Turn away from the word of
God
Matthew 4:6 If (since) you are the Son of
God, throw yourself down; for it is written (Ps 91:11-12) 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 4:7 On the other
hand, it is written, You shall not
put the Lord your God to
the test.
3) Attempt# 3 Turn away from the cross
Matthew 4: 8-9 Again the devil took Him to a
very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their
glory; and said to Him, all these things will I give you, if you fall down
and worship me.
Hear the
desperation: Lucifer who once
worshipped Jesus in Heaven is now
trying to get Jesus to worship him on
earth....
The usurper trying to make a deal
with the owner
If you accept my deal you can get
where you are headed instantly.
He had no idea Jesus victory would be by way of
death...
The temptation to Jesus was being offered a pathway
whereby he would not have to go to the cross; and become the sin of all
mankind.
No wonder Jesus had such a strong reaction to Peter
when Peter tried to get him not to go to Jerusalem because it was too
dangerous.
Matthew 16:23 Get behind me, satan!
You are a stumbling block to
Me; for you are not setting your mind on
God’s interest, but man’s.
Matthew 4:10 Go satan! for it is written,
You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.
Conclusion: Closing the Door
I Peter 5:8,9 Be self-controlled and alert.
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone
to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith.....
James 4:7 Submit yourselves to God, resist the
devil and he will flee from you.