The Temptations of Jesus & the Tactics of Satan - Matthew 4:1-11

 


This is Baker Mountain in the Rocky Mountain National Park and we were on the Coyote Trail.  The mountains are so large that you get a view of them around every bend of the trail.  The bonus is that you are walking along the banks of the Colorado River.  


The Sowma's joined us for the week and Memorial Day weekend and took in the park and also the town.  We hope to host many who come this way.  It was great to have them see the ministry first hand at SCC.  We will need to stock up on canned air!

Satan's tactics are predictable.  They are an appeal to the flesh, an appeal to the eyes, and/or an appeal to your pride.  He waits for a vulnerable moment and then shows you something comfortable, or something that puts you in control, or something that makes you compromise.  Eve saw the fruit was good to eat (physical comfort) and it was desirable to the eyes (compromised path) and Satan said with would make her wise (power control).  

Satan approaches Jesus when He is hungry after fasting 40 days and nights.  Make the stones into bread (a physical comfort move) and throw Yourself down to be caught by the angels (a power control move) and bow down and worship Satan (a compromised path).  Jesus combats each with verses from Deuteronomy.  We need to do the same when tempted.  We need to go to God's word for guidance.

Instead of the comfort move (the flesh), we should look around at all that God has provided for us to partake in and be content.

Instead of the control move (the pride), we should remember who made us and cares for us and that we are to follow His commands rather than make some of our own.

Instead of the compromised move (the eyes), we should recognize that we have created something or someone else to worship and come back to worshiping God only.

Again, Jesus seem to do this on purpose for our benefit.  It is another seemingly unnecessary event in Jesus' earthly life to us but it is very necessary so we have an example to follow.  

What will I do when tempted to go the route of comfort rather than the path of God provided contentment?  

What will I do when tempted to take control or take part in something that I think I can cover because of my goodness rather than keeping God as the Commander of my life?  

What will I do when tempted to take a compromised path that veers me away from God's path rather than looking for His footprints to keep stepping in which is the concrete way to go?

Adam



A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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