The Devil’s favorite Tool
The Devils favorite tool – Temptation (part 2)
(By Ben Fronczek)
What is your favorite tool. Every trade requires using different tools. As a teacher and preacher is tools of my trade are pens, books and my computer. Farmer have tractors, plows, and milking machines. Hairdressers use combs and scissors. We all have our favorite tools.
In our last lesson I mentioned that the devil wants to rob you and me. I believe he want to rob you of any kind of good relationship we have with God, he wants to rob you of a good relationship with others, and he want to steal from you peace of mind.
But how will he attempt to rob us of those precious things? Well the devil has his own special tools; like the use of lies, fear, doubt and more. As I am sure you know, one of the most devilish methods he uses to hurt us and ultimately rob these things from us is through tempting us to do things that may seem appealing at first, yet in the end they are not really appropriate or in our best interest.
Every one of us is bombarded by temptations every day; young and old, wise and foolish, educated and illiterate… without exception, all will be tempted.
A little boy is at the grocery store with his mom. He asks her, “Mommy, will you buy me a treat?” She answers to his dismay, “No, not today.” But as she checks out, he stares at the candy rack right in front of him. He stares, and stares, and then reaches out and takes a candy bar and put it in his pocket. We all face temptations.
If you could carefully examine your self and count how many times you are tempted to do something in one day I think you would be shocked how often you are tempted in some way or another. Some things we act on, some we do not. Some temptations may lead to sin, some do not.
This morning I would like to talk to you about temptation in light of the temptation that Jesus experienced after His baptism. Read Matthew 4:1-11 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a]by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
There are a few observations that I’ve made while reading this that I would like to share you this morning.
First, the reality that all of us will be tempted, there are not exceptions. If you are human and if you are breathing, you are going to be tempted in some way at some time, and probably more often than you realize.
Sometimes we may even be disturbed, even full of guilt when we realize that within our heart lurks all kinds of desires that we know are wrong, especially when we indulge in them.
– Like when we have a desire to get stuff; to get more and more.
– Or like when we desire to lash out in anger and rage.
– Or when we desire to mock, insult, or put someone down
– Or when we desire to make excuses, or even sidestep the truth
– Or even if we hunger for food, power, wealth or even sex
And sometimes we feel, oh so guilty for having such thoughts in the back of our mind, or even sometimes in the front of our mind. We may even think God is mad at us for having such thoughts
Out of guilt, some may think we would not be tempted with such thoughts… …if we were a better Christian… If we prayed more, …If we read the Bible more… If we isolated ourselves from all the bad influence out there like TV, bad music, the internet, bad people and the like…. Then I wouldn’t be tempted…. WRONG!
Take Jesus for example, He had just been baptized.. The Heavenly Father personally testified as to who He was… His Son, and then He was endowed with the Holy Spirit.
And the very next thing we read is this story about how Jesus was being tempted. And when the devil leaves Him, in Luke’s account, in 4:13 it says that he (the devil) departed until a more opportune time…. In other words, Satan wasn’t done with Jesus yet.
The point I’m trying to make is this, Jesus is the most spiritual, the most morally correct and perfect person who ever walked the earth, yet He was tempted. So just because you are tempted to say or do, or think something, that does not make you some kind of moral degenerate. Rather it proves that you are human and alive.
So we have to be careful not to beat our self up just because we think something or are tempted. Just realize that temptations are just part of this life, and the devil’s primary tool to mess us up.
And it’s only sinful if we give into something that is contrary to God’s will and way.
The Second observation I see here based on this text regarding temptation is the fact that they usually come when we are weak, tire, sick, lonely, or depressed.
Consider when the devil tried to tempt Jesus. I wasn’t when He was at His physical peak, but only after He had fasted 40 days.
It wasn’t when He was surrounded by those who loved Him, His family, friends or disciples. Rather, it was when He was all alone in the wilderness.
Many times the same thing happens to us. When we are feeling good, and healthy, when we are surrounded by loved ones, when we are serving God and enjoying it…. We’ve too busy or feeling too good to be tempted.
In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter wrote that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. In the wild, lions don’t usually attack the strongest and largest prey in a herd, but rather they look for those who are the weakest. (Not to say that the devil does not ever try to tempt those who are strong.) .
And the Third thing I see in this text that I would like to share, is how the temptations so often seem like the most logical, or the easiest and most pleasing way to go.
Satan is not going tempt you to do or say something that is totally repulsive or impractical for you. It would not be a temptation for you then.
2 Corinthians 11:14 Paul wrote that he (the devil) disguises himself as an angel of light. He appears to shed light on things and comes around to show you the easiest way out or around something. His advice may seem to make sense, it may even seem logical, at least up to a point; especially if you are in some kind of pain and you want the pain or hurt to go away.
Consider our text and what is taking place in it with Jesus.
It seemed reasonable to make bread. The text says that Jesus was hungry.
And why not perform a great sign in Jerusalem at the Temple where all the Jews could see Him. If angels had carried Him down to the court yard in front of the priests and other Jews there, He would have had instant recognition as the Messiah.
And what about immediate rule of all the kingdoms of the world?
But Jesus knew and later taught, one has to count the costs of what his or her actions are. He knew that if He took these short cuts it would have far reaching consequences. They probably would not have crucified Him.
This is something we often forget or do not consider when we make our choices; the consequences.
This is a lesson we have to learn when a temptation comes our way. We have to consider the consequences no matter how logical or pleasing the temptation may seem at the time.
For example: Anger and rage can lead to argument, fights, battles and even war. Giving in to the temptation to buy stuff can result in debt. Adultery can lead to heart ache, crumpled families, a bad reputation and more…etc.
So how do you fight temptation?
First of all expect to be tempted as long as you are alive… it a given.
Then prepare. I heard it said that the best defense is a good offence.
In other words, prepare your mind and heart and spirit for these attacks. Even prepare your physical body. Get the rest you need, eat right, get enough sleep. Just like an athletic team, or an athlete preparing to meet an opposing team, prepare and get in good shape mentally, spiritually, and physically.
God has given us everything we need to stand up strong and to face to these temptations when they come our way, just like Jesus did.
But you are not going to have much luck if you are exhausted, and weak, and down trodden and ill equipped.
In Ephesians 6 Paul tells those early Christian to get ready and prepare. He said
– Put on the belt of truth: be honest even if it hurts (one lie can lead to many)
– Put on the breastplate of righteousness: that is always choosing to do the right thing.
– Know and stand firm in the Gospel which brings peace. Use and depend on your faith and trust in God like a shield to extinguish those questionable temptations and doubts.
– Trust in your salvation in also in the word of God which you can use to overcome your enemy.
You are in control of the choices you make, no one else. Choose Jesus and His way and you will always be safe. And remember, no matter what, God loves you…. Even if you mess up.
For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566
All comments can be emailed to: bfronzek@gmail.com