[0:00] The Gospel of Luke chapter 4 and reading again at the beginning we're going to look at verses 1 to 15 of Luke chapter 4.
[0:16] And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil.
[0:30] We're looking at encounters with Jesus and up to now we've looked at certain human beings, certain individuals, male and female, that have come in the Gospel and came to meet with Jesus and whose lives were changed in some way or other by meeting with Jesus.
[0:51] But tonight we're looking at another being, not a human being, but at the devil in his encounter with Christ. This is not fiction.
[1:04] Some of the young folks here, perhaps are well used to Marvel comics, Marvel books where superheroes are followed in the way that their stories develop and films made out of it.
[1:21] They're not real, but this is. This is not fiction. This is not a tale or a comic strip about superheroes.
[1:31] If this were to be fiction, our salvation would fall to pieces. Because one of the main things for which Jesus came into the world was to destroy the works of the devil.
[1:48] To tie him up in his abilities and to destroy and vandalize his kingdom. So this is very much real.
[1:59] In fact, it's a cosmic struggle, a cosmic conflict. Clash between the head of the evil empire and Jesus, the Son of God, our Savior.
[2:13] And it's so important that we understand what's taking place here, what took place in this event in the wilderness. Because, as we say, it has a very direct bearing on our salvation.
[2:26] And there are many aspects to this passage that bear upon our own lives and the temptations that we face as well. Well, let's look first of all at some connections in the passage.
[2:42] Some connections with the Old Testament and connection also with the Holy Spirit. Because that's mentioned not only in this one here, but in the surrounding passages as well.
[2:55] The Holy Spirit features very largely in these verses. So we'll look at the connection with Adam and also with the Holy Spirit.
[3:07] And then more fully, we'll look at Satan's strategy and Christ's success. Satan's strategy and Christ's success. As we find that in the three temptations with which he came before the Lord or attacked the Lord.
[3:24] Not that these were the only temptations. We read that he was tempted there for more than these three occasions. And indeed that the temptations didn't stop. Even though this particular one was over when the devil departed from him.
[3:40] You notice he left him, he departed from him until an opportune time. So there were other times in the life of Jesus that he faced attacks directly from the devil.
[3:54] The connection with Adam and the Holy Spirit. Now if you look at chapter 3 verse 22. You can see there that the voice that came from heaven said, You are my beloved son.
[4:06] This is the voice of God. You are my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. And then verse 3. The first temptation mentioned of the devil is said, If you are the son of God, command that this stone be made bread.
[4:22] And then go to verse 39 of the same chapter. And you'll see there he stood over and rebuked the fever. And then all the way down through. As you follow that from you come to verse 41.
[4:33] Those who had diseases and were healed. Demons it says came out of many crying. You are the son of God. So you find a reference there to Jesus being the son of God in different places.
[4:46] The voice that came from heaven. The temptation of the devil. The demons when he cast them out. You are the son of God. So the son of God is obviously a feature of these passages.
[4:58] And in Luke's mind that was important. And this is in fact none other than God himself in the person of Jesus. The son of God has become one of us. Has become human as the previous chapters to this tell us.
[5:12] But if you also look at verse 38 in chapter 3. You can see as we read through that genealogy of Jesus. That it finishes. Verse 38 takes us right back from Joseph where it began.
[5:27] The husband of Mary. Right through to the son of Enos. The son of Seth. The son of Adam. The son of God. Why is Adam mentioned there?
[5:39] And why is he mentioned as the son of God? Alongside of these other references to Jesus being the son of God. What is the meaning of that? Why is this particularly mentioned here.
[5:50] This genealogy that takes it back to Adam. And mentioning him as the son of God. Well for one reason. Because Adam as representing the whole of the human race at the time.
[6:02] Was tempted by this same devil. And he failed in that test. Because the devil actually won over him. And as Adam capitulated or gave in to the devil.
[6:15] And took the forbidden fruit that God had commanded him not to eat of him. Not only did he fall from that state of righteousness and holiness. And communion with God.
[6:26] But all of those of his descendants. That were descending from him as the catechism says. By ordinary generation. That excludes Jesus. Humanity. They sinned in him.
[6:36] And fell with him in his first transgression. Why are we sinners? Because we sinned in Adam. And because God then applied as he promised. The curse of death.
[6:48] To us as human beings. So where Adam actually failed. What you find here is Jesus the last Adam. Sometimes mentioned as the second Adam.
[7:00] But the New Testament calls him the last Adam. And where the first Adam failed. In giving way to the devil's temptations. The last Adam stood.
[7:12] And did not fail. But not only resisted. But overcame the devil's temptations. For our salvation.
[7:24] Jesus the son of God as the last Adam. That's why when you go. We're not going to spend too much on this. But I want to just try and tie a few things together. Because it is very important.
[7:35] These two heads if you like. The head of the human race that Adam was. When he was created. And the head of God saved people. Who is the last Adam.
[7:46] Who is Jesus. When you go to Romans chapter 5. I'm not going to read it just now. But when you go through it. As you know. You'll know yourselves what it's about. That it compares the two.
[7:56] Adam. And the last Adam. Jesus. And that how through the disobedience. Of the first Adam. The many were made sinners. And how in reversing that.
[8:09] Through the obedience of the last Adam. The many were made righteous. In other words. The two lines are contrasted there. And the two events are set side by side.
[8:21] The disobedience of Adam. And the obedience of Jesus. We came. Under God's curse through the first one. We come into God's salvation.
[8:33] Through the second one. Through faith in Christ. We're brought into the salvation. That he himself obtained for us. And part of the way by which he obtained it.
[8:46] Was by destroying the works of the devil. By overcoming the devil. By overcoming his temptations. Now we said also that the Holy Spirit. Is referred to.
[8:58] In these passages as well. And that's important. Because it's always important. To take a bit of theology with us. I want to. Try and really. Increasingly try and get us into the habit.
[9:11] If we've not been in the habit. And this is for young folks especially. Who think maybe that. Theology is just for the older Christians. And it's something that's really. Maybe just for experts. Who have been. Thinking about things in the Bible.
[9:22] For a long time. Well you can't really progress. In your life. Even the practical things. Of your Christian life. Without some theology. Without some. Knowledge of the teaching of the Bible.
[9:34] And the theological. The doctrines of the Bible. And what you find here is. The Holy Spirit is mentioned. A number of times. We'll see why that is. I hope just by looking at them.
[9:45] If you go to verse 22. Again of chapter 3. You see the Holy Spirit. Descended on Jesus. In bodily form like a dove. Just immediately after he'd been baptized.
[9:57] The Holy Spirit descended on him. In bodily form. Like a dove. And then you go to chapter 4. Verse 1. Jesus full of the Holy Spirit.
[10:10] Returned from the Jordan. And was led by the Spirit. Into the wilderness. And then finally. You have to go to verses 14. And verse 18 there as well.
[10:23] Jesus returned. In the power of the Spirit. To Galilee. And in verse 18. You find him coming. As he's there in the synagogue at Nazareth. He found this scroll.
[10:34] Of the prophet Isaiah. And where did he actually read from? Well from what we have in Isaiah chapter 61. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Why is all that important?
[10:45] Because Jesus when he came into this world. When the Son of God came into this world. He needed to live as a servant. He needed to live in dependence. Upon the word of his Father.
[10:57] He needed to live in fact. By the word of God. That was written in the Old Testament. That is what Jesus actually referred to. As we'll see.
[11:08] When he answered the devil. These three times. He answered the devil. Out of the Bible. He found his answer. In the scriptures. And when you find the Holy Spirit.
[11:20] Actually he is referred to. You can see here. That before. His testing. He was. Endowed by the Spirit.
[11:31] The Spirit came on him. He was led by the Spirit. Into the wilderness. Being then full of the Holy Spirit. When he came back from the wilderness.
[11:41] Having defeated the devil. Having stood against the devil. He returned in verse 14. In the power of the Spirit. Into Galilee. And Luke is really interested. And concerned to.
[11:52] Really put across this point to us. That Jesus had the Holy Spirit. So that as a servant. It was through the power of the Holy Spirit. That he met the devil.
[12:04] It was through the power of the Holy Spirit. That he actually overcame the devil. It was through the power of the Holy Spirit. That he came into Galilee. And began to preach. About himself.
[12:14] And about the salvation. Of God. And the kingdom of God. God. You see when Jesus. As God. Came to be a servant. In this world. If he had just taken.
[12:27] His own divine power. And exercised. His own divine power. He would no longer have been a servant. He would have been God.
[12:39] Just exercising. His divine power. And not dependent. On anyone else. But he had to be dependent. Living the life of a servant.
[12:51] As the way by which we would be saved. And that's what you find. In this passage. In the references to the Holy Spirit. In the way that he actually.
[13:03] Answered the devil. As we'll see. And in the way that he. Went about. All the difficult. Difficult. Aspects of his ministry. And of being a servant. A servant of God.
[13:15] He actually. Was upheld. By the power of the Holy Spirit. Rather than just. Borrow if you like. From. His own divine nature.
[13:25] And therefore. Exercised the power. Of God himself. Himself. As the person of the second son of. The second person of God. The son of God. Now I know that's very.
[13:37] Deep. And very. Complicated. Maybe theology. But it's important for us. That we realize. Our salvation. Came from God. And it came from God. As he's described in the Bible.
[13:48] As the father. The son. And the Holy Spirit. And as the salvation. That we enjoy. And come to possess. Came from God. It's important. That as far as possible.
[13:58] We understand. Something of how. These three persons. That make up the one God. Were active. In procuring our salvation. For us. The father. Sent the son.
[14:09] Into the world. To be his servant. The son. Came into the world. Willingly. As the servant. Of the father. And as the savior. Of his people.
[14:20] To bear their sins. To die their death. To rise from the dead. To go back to glory. And all the way through. That life. Of being a servant. He lived upon the word of God.
[14:33] He depended upon the Holy Spirit. He was empowered. In his humanity. By the spirit of God. So as to meet with.
[14:44] The demands. Of his journey. Let's just leave it there. And it's only then. You see that he took. The scroll of Isaiah. After he had been. Endowed by the spirit. Coming down onto him.
[14:55] After he had actually. Then come back. In the fullness. Of the spirit. After he had overcome. The devil. It is only then. That he takes. The scroll of Isaiah.
[15:06] And says. The spirit of the Lord. Is upon me. He can then. Take Isaiah. And say. This is now. A reality. And I have proved it. By what's just happened.
[15:17] In the wilderness. What an amazing salvation we have. What an amazing saviour we have. What a wonderful God we have.
[15:29] How wonderful that he's shared this with us. That he's lifted the curtain. As it were. Into these spiritual unseen realms. And told us.
[15:40] Of these various facets. Of the saviour's journey. To be our saviour. And that this is all involved. The father. The son. The holy spirit. And Jesus.
[15:52] In our nature. Jesus. Human. As well as. Divine. As our redeemer. Well then. Let's look at. Satan's. Strategy. Strategy.
[16:03] Here is. Here is Jesus. The son of God. Now full of the holy spirit. And. He's in the wilderness. He's. Been here for. Forty days. It says. And he ate nothing.
[16:14] During those days. And when they were over. He was hungry. Then the devil said to him. If you are the son of God. Command the stone. To become bread.
[16:26] Now. It's important. That in order to actually get. To the strategy. Of Satan. To know. What was in Satan's aim. And in Satan's purpose.
[16:37] And in Satan's mind. You don't look to the words. Of Satan himself. Because he's very crafty. And he hides his real purpose. In the way.
[16:48] Even as we'll see. As he uses scripture. You find. Satan's strategy. In the answers. Of Jesus. He knew him. He knew what he was about.
[16:59] He knew what he was trying to do. And so he answers him accordingly. And when you ask the question. What was the devil trying to do here? You go to Christ's answers. You see from Christ's answers.
[17:10] What his strategy was. And how Jesus. Successfully overcame them. Well here's the first attack. If you are the son of God. Command the stone.
[17:22] To become bread. Now. In this attack. The devil is not. Trying to suggest. To Jesus. That maybe. He's not the son of God. He knows that. That's not going to be.
[17:33] Very successful. Because. He knows very well. That Christ. Is fully aware. Of who he is. That he's aware. Of his own identity. As the son of God. That's not what he's about. What he's about.
[17:44] Is trying to. Divert Jesus. From the path. That he's on. As the servant. Of the father. What he's really saying. To him is. If you're the son of God. Really.
[17:54] As the son of God. Why are you. In these conditions. Why are you. Now suffering. Hunger. Surely. As the son of God. There should be something. Better for you. Than that. Surely. Surely the son of God.
[18:05] Shouldn't be in a wilderness. Surely the son of God. Shouldn't be subject to hunger. Surely the son of God. Shouldn't be in a place. Where he's got to look for bread. And he doesn't find any. Command this stone.
[18:17] That it be made bread. Would that not be more. In keeping. With your status. As the son of God. That you could actually. Use your power. Your own power. As the son of God.
[18:27] And change that stone. And make it into bread. And then stop this hunger. See what he was at. And Jesus knew. That's what he was at.
[18:39] And the moment. Jesus. I know we're speaking. In a certain way. To try and clarify things. And not. Suggesting. That Jesus. For one moment. Thought about doing this. But had he done so.
[18:51] He would no longer. Have been. The servant of the father. He'd have been. The servant of the devil. And that would have been it. As far as. Our salvation was concerned.
[19:02] That's why he answered him. In the way that he did. Jesus said to him. Man. As it is written. Man shall not live. By bread. Alone.
[19:13] Now it's interesting. First of all. That he answered him. From scripture. He answered him. From what was already written. In the old testament. In the book of Deuteronomy. In this particular attack.
[19:24] In Deuteronomy. And. Chapter. Eight. And verses. Two to three. And what you find there. Is. A reference to. The people of Israel.
[19:35] And where. The people of Israel. Were grumbling against God. That they were. In this wilderness. That they'd been. Taken out into this wilderness. To die.
[19:46] That they had no. Food. That they had no access. To water. All of these. Grumblings. That you read there. In the book of Exodus. And in the book of Deuteronomy. Moses is actually.
[19:57] Reminding the people. Remember that. The book of Deuteronomy. Was. Was. Much of it. Was just. Spoken to Israel. Before. They were about to enter. The promised land.
[20:07] Forty years. After. They had left Egypt. But it was a reminder to them. Of their history. It was teaching them. Of how the Lord. Had dealt with them. And it was teaching them.
[20:18] And reminding them. That even. Despite their own. Unfaithfulness. And despite their grumblings. God had brought them. Through the wilderness. And they were on the borders. Of the promised land.
[20:31] And here was Moses. Reminding them. In Deuteronomy chapter 8. That. They had indeed been hungry. If I can read the verses to you. You can get the.
[20:41] The context. And the way. In which Jesus. So. Importantly. Went to that context. To answer the devil. Because it's in Deuteronomy 8.
[20:53] Verses 2 to 3. It is what. Moses said to the people. Remember. You shall be careful. To do. The whole commandment. That I command you. To do today. That you may live.
[21:03] And be. And multiply. And go in. And possess the land. That the Lord swore. To give to your fathers. And you shall remember. The whole way. That the Lord. Your God. Has led you.
[21:14] These 40 years. In the wilderness. That he might. Humble you. Testing you. To know. What was in your heart. Whether you would. Keep his commandments. Or not.
[21:25] And he humbled you. And let. Let you hunger. And fed you. With manna. Which you did not know. Nor did your fathers know. That he might. Make you know.
[21:36] That man. Does not live. By bread alone. But man lives. By every word. That comes. From the mouth. Of the Lord. There is where Jesus. Found his answer.
[21:49] And. However clever. The devil was. And however much. He was hiding. His real purpose. Jesus saw through it. He went to a context. Where Israel. Had failed.
[22:00] Where they had grumbled. Against God. Where they had demanded. Food. And at other times. Water. And here is Jesus. In the same situation. In the wilderness.
[22:11] Without food. But instead of grumbling. And taking in the words. Of the devil. And doing as he is saying. He goes. To the word of scripture.
[22:23] Man. Shall not live. By bread. Alone. See there is 40 years. A lot of it. Grumbling against God.
[22:33] In the desert years. Of Israel. And there is a correspondence here. In the 40 days. In which Jesus. Was in the wilderness. Here. All of these connections.
[22:45] Are so important. Not just with Adam. And the role of the Holy Spirit. But. The connection with the 40 years. Of grumbling. And failure. On the part of Israel. And here is the son of God.
[22:58] Here is. Jesus. Answering the devil. Man shall not live. By bread alone. But by every word. And Matthew. Captures that. By every word.
[23:08] That proceeds from the mouth. Of God. Now you see. That is what the devil. Will try. And make you. And me do as well. When he will actually come. And suggest to you.
[23:19] That somehow. God's way. Is not the best way. For you. That there are so many difficulties. In being a Christian. There are so many things. To overcome. In being a Christian.
[23:29] And that if you are really. A Christian. God would not have left you. To the situation you are in. Where you have got all of these. Difficulties. And these challenges. And all of. This failure.
[23:40] That you know. In your own life. And I know. In my life. Surely that really is. Say to you. Along with the other things. That you are worried about. And see in your life. That you are not a Christian. Well.
[23:50] Here is your answer to him. Go to scripture. And tell the devil. Man shall not live. By bread. I am not living. For my material things. That what Jesus said.
[24:01] To the disciples. Matthew chapter 6. Let your heart. Be in heaven. Let your treasure. Be in heaven.
[24:12] For where your treasure. Is there. Your heart. Will be also. That is the first attack. Let us move on. To the second one. Verse 5. He came. The devil took him up. And showed him. All the kingdoms of the world.
[24:23] In a moment of time. And he said. To you. I will give all this authority. And that glory. For it has been delivered to me. And I give it to whom I will. If you then will worship me.
[24:34] It will all. Be yours. What he was saying there. Was partly true. And that is one of the things. That we always. We always.
[24:46] Associate with the devil. That he does not tell us. The whole truth. And even when he uses the truth. He does not use it. In the way. That he should. He leaves out certain important emphases.
[24:57] And not only that. But he mixes a lot of untruth with it. And that comes into. The bad teaching. That you find throughout the world. Where. So much is mixed with. The pure gospel of Christ.
[25:09] Where is that from? It is from the devil. It is from the one who wants. People to depart from. A path of obedience to God. And follow their own ideas. And follow their own ways. Well you remember Ephesians. Chapter 2.
[25:20] Where you find there. You were dead in trespasses and sins. Following the course of this world. Following the prince of the power of the air. That's the devil. The spirit. That is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
[25:33] Among whom. We all once lived in the passions of our flesh. Carrying out the desires of the body and the mind. And were by nature the children of wrath. Like the rest of mankind.
[25:44] There he is saying that the devil. People had a certain sway. Over the nations of the world. And held them in this grip. In which they were blinded and darkened.
[25:56] And not at all seeing salvation. As it came to be seen ultimately in Christ. And preached by the apostles in the gospel. What Satan is saying here.
[26:07] This has been given to me. I have all these nations under my sway. They're in darkness. They don't know the gospel. They're pagans. They worship all kinds of gods. They get up to all kinds of grotesque things.
[26:19] Thinking they're serving their gods. But you know I will give you. The authority and the glory of these kingdoms. All you've got to do is just fall down and worship me.
[26:33] And it'll all be yours. Well we'll see from the next one that the devil knew his scripture. And I think almost certainly he knew Psalm 2.
[26:45] Because Psalm 2 as you know is a psalm that you regard as a messianic psalm. A psalm about the saviour. And in that psalm it speaks about God anointing his king.
[26:56] And setting him on Zion his holy hill. Despite all the cabals and the attacks of those who are attacking the Lord.
[27:07] And his people. And his saviour. His king. And you remember the psalm goes on. And it's God there speaking to the Lord. And saying ask of me.
[27:18] And I will give you the nations for your inheritance. The promise was made to the saviour. That after he had finished his work on earth. And gone back. And taken his seat at the right hand of God.
[27:32] He would then be installed by that. As the governor of all the nations. The president. Power excellence. Of all the universe.
[27:45] What Satan is saying to him. You can still have that. But you don't need to go through the cross to it. You don't need to actually go towards it.
[27:57] By just going to this death. This suffering that you're now in. That is going to be yours. From now on as well. Until it's done. Why should you actually suffer this deprivation?
[28:11] Why should you suffer all that's in your life as a servant? Why should you actually suffer death? Why should you go through with all of these things? Why bother with all this servitude?
[28:22] You can go around them. You can bypass them. There's a by road. I've got control of it. All that you've got to do is fall down and worship me. It'll all be yours.
[28:35] You know that voice, don't you? You know that voice that says to you. You don't need the struggles that are in the Christian life. You can get to heaven some other way.
[28:48] There's an easier way. There's a way by which you can actually avoid the sufferings. Of standing against temptation. Of living a righteous life.
[28:59] Contrary to all that you see around you. That's filled with ungodliness. You don't have to actually resist the worldliness that you see around you. You can just be part of that.
[29:11] And at the end of the day really. You can still work your way through. And you'll end up in heaven at last. That's the voice of the devil. That's the temptation with which he tempted Jesus.
[29:23] Take a shortcut. Bypass the difficulties. Avoid the temptations. Avoid the temptations. Just serve me. Look at how good your life will be.
[29:36] Millions of people have fallen for that lie over the course of history. Don't you follow them. Don't you be one of them.
[29:48] Don't you listen to the voice that tells you. There's a better way than the way that's in Jesus Christ. There's a better way than following him. There's a better way than repenting of your sin.
[29:59] And coming to know the salvation of God through his forgiveness. There's a better way than actually having to resist evil. And to resist unrighteousness. And to be obedient to Christ. There's a better way than obedience to God.
[30:11] Don't listen to all of that. It's lies. It's from the pit. Where the devil belongs. And if he offered Jesus a shortcut to dominion over the kingdoms.
[30:25] You can be sure he's going to offer you a shortcut. To heaven. Instead of the way that Jesus. That God himself. Sets out for you.
[30:36] In Jesus Christ. That's why the Lord answers him again. It is written. You shall worship the Lord your God. And him only.
[30:47] You shall save. That's going to Deuteronomy. Again in chapter 8. And verse 3. You shall worship the Lord your God. Him only shall you serve.
[30:58] You see he's putting himself. Again he's stating clearly. I'm here as a servant. I'm here to honor the Father. I'm here to be obedient to his will.
[31:11] It's a staggering thing that. Jesus in our nature. Worshipped. The Son of God. As a human being.
[31:23] Was honoring the Father. You shall worship the Lord your God. And him only shall you serve. And you see. He's also tying together. Two very. Very importantly. Two things there for us.
[31:34] Serving the Lord. And worshiping the Lord. You can't detach them. You can't say. It's enough for me. To be a Christian. If I just come to church. And if my service.
[31:45] Is just confined. To my worship. That's not what. Is. Is. Tied together here. By the Lord at all. He's saying. Only the Lord alone. You shall worship the Lord.
[31:56] Your God. And him only. You shall serve. You can't. Really detach. The idea of serving. The practice of serving. Being a Christian.
[32:07] Practically. From the worship. With which you worship God. You could put it this way. That. Our worship. Is a serving worship. And our serving.
[32:19] Is a worshipful serving. A devotional. Service. You can't. Separate the two. It's the second attack. And as I said.
[32:29] That's something. That you will know of yourself. In the temptation. To avoid. What the Bible tells you. Is part of the Christian life. Thirdly.
[32:40] He comes and. He says. He took him to Jerusalem. And set him on a pinnacle of the temple. And said. If you are the son of God. Throw yourself down from here. For it is written. He will command his angels.
[32:51] Concerning you. To guard you. And again. It's written. On their hands. They will bail you up. Lest you strike your foot. Against a stone. Psalm 91. See. The devil knows his Bible.
[33:04] Why do you and I. Need to know our Bible? Well. There are many reasons. Many ways. In which you could answer that. But one very important way. Of answering it. Is because the devil knows.
[33:14] It very well. And unless I know my Bible. At least as well. As the devil. I've got a problem. I'm going to be in trouble. When he comes to me. With the Bible.
[33:25] And says. Look. Have you not seen this? Is this not true? And if you follow this out. What can happen to you? What's going to be. What's wrong with it? Well. What's wrong with it?
[33:35] As Jesus says. And the answer is. You shall not put the Lord. Your God. To the test. For him to have. Thrown himself down. From the pinnacle of the temple. Expecting that God.
[33:47] Would actually prevent him. Being hurt. May well have happened. But he had no warrant then. To expect it to happen. Because he would have been.
[33:59] Departing. From obedience. To the word of God. In other words. He would have just been. Experimenting with God. Playing with God. Not treating God seriously.
[34:12] And if there's one thing. Young folks here. I would say to you tonight. Please take God seriously. Don't trivialize God. Don't treat God.
[34:23] The way that maybe. Some of your own companions. In school or wherever. Are actually treating him. Don't take his name. And just throw it around us. A swear word.
[34:34] Don't treat anything. To do with God. As if it's trivial. As if it's something. That really isn't very important. Because here is Jesus. And he's saying.
[34:46] You shall not put. Lord your God to the test. If God has said. This is something. You should not do. You must not do. And don't expect.
[35:00] His protection. If you set out. If you set out. To do it. That's really trivializing. And calling God. To. Just conduct.
[35:12] An experiment. And see. How true he is. What is it? And Jesus answered him. In that way. From Deuteronomy. Again. In verse 6.
[35:22] Interestingly. Where Israel. Deuteronomy 6. Reminds them of. Them being at Massa. Where they complained about. There being no water. In other words.
[35:33] What this is really saying is. Instead of putting the Lord to the test. You shall live by faith. You shall accept his word. You shall follow his word.
[35:43] You can treat his word. As absolutely dependable. You will not go your own way. You will not put something else instead. Or above his word.
[35:55] It's all built into. The answer that Jesus gives to the devil here. You shall not put the Lord your God. To the test. Now then you take these three. Answers of Jesus.
[36:07] In response to these. Three attacks by the devil. And what do you see? You see a devil who hides. His real purpose. Behind the words that he uses.
[36:18] In his temptations. You see a devil who has it in mind. To divert you. From the way of obedience to God. You see a devil who wants to harm you.
[36:29] By actually. By drawing a veil. As it were. Over the truth. And suggesting to you. That actually it's a much better world.
[36:39] That he offers you. Than the world that Jesus sets before you. And you can see the way Jesus answered him. And you can follow these answers.
[36:52] For yourself daily too. Let me go back to what I said. At the beginning. This is not fiction. This is part of everyday life.
[37:02] For a Christian. Not suggesting that. There will be strong temptations. Like this every day. As there was. Here in the experience of Jesus. Not suggesting that you'll actually hear.
[37:13] Literally a voice in your ear. Telling you to do one thing. Or the other. But I am saying that this. Is always Satan's strategy.
[37:25] That you are to look out for. In all the experiences of life. In all the ways in which you are tested. As to whether you're going to be obedient to God or not. Just as Israel were.
[37:37] Remember. There's always the devil. Somewhere or other. Lurking around. And. His purpose. Is that you will fail and fall.
[37:49] See the question here. All the way through these. Three tests. These three attacks. The question is. And you actually wonder. You know when. Especially with the second one here.
[38:01] Where. The devil is saying. All of this. I will give you these kingdoms of the world. All you need to do is. Fall down and worship. Me. And they'll be yours. Did the angels.
[38:14] Did they actually draw a breath then? Did they actually just hold their breath. And wonder what was going to happen next? And was there a sense of relief even.
[38:30] Among the angelic hosts. When Jesus answered the devil. In a way that showed. No I'm not going to do that. I'm going to go through with. What I came to do.
[38:41] And for you and for me too. Spiritual strength. Is something that increases. The more we keep resisting.
[38:54] And overcoming. Temptations to be disobedient to God. That's how you grow stronger. In your Christian faith. In your Christian life. The more we capitulate.
[39:06] The more times we give in. The more our strength is sapped. The more we follow Jesus. And what he's saying. The more we can truly say.
[39:20] That God will lend us. Increasing strength. And increasing knowledge. Of the way. That follows. Christ the Savior.
[39:32] May God bless. These thoughts to us this evening. We're going to finish. Our service tonight. Singing in Psalm 91 again. Psalm number 91. This time in the Scottish Psalter version.
[39:43] Page 351. The tune of Spore.
[39:55] Verses 1 to 4. He that doth in the secret place. Of the most high reside. Under the shade of him. That is the almighty. Shall abide. Psalm 91.
[40:06] Verses 1 to 4. To God's praise. The Gilbert. Jim. For the most high reside. Under the shade of him.
[40:20] That is his. God's lives. As 46 are. reside under the shade of him that is the almighty shall abide I of the Lord my God will say he is my refuge still he is my fortress and my God and in him trust I will assure in he he shall be saved and give he deliverance from south till power sniff and drop that awesome test and deep
[41:54] Really his feather shall divine gems his feather shall way shall be his faithfulness shall be a shield and a clara to thee.
[42:26] If you allow me to get to the main door please after the benediction. Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and evermore. Amen.