When Satan Strikes

When Satan Strikes (Matthew 4:1-11)

Matthew 4:1, Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

A "Bonehead of the Day" e-mail reported on an innovative toy recently released for distribution: A U.S. company has an action figure called Invisible Jim that is selling rapidly in Britain for about $2.80. Why is it called Invisible Jim? Because all you get is the packaging. There is no Jim. "Lack of dashing eyes" and "realistic fake hair," "as not seen on TV," and "camouflage suit sold separately" are some of the features listed on the package. The company says they have received no complaints about the empty boxes. A spokeswoman for the distributor says that when the first shipment arrived, they thought there was some mistake at the factory—that they sent the packaging without the product. Good marketing, good packaging, empty box. Sounds a lot like temptation and sin. Temptation always comes in an attractive package with empty promises.

As soon as our Lord was baptized and began His public ministry, He was tempted of the devil. While He was in the field of carpentry, chipping away at wood, the devil was undisturbed. But as soon as He began to lay the axe to the root of Satan’s kingdom, our Lord was tempted by the devil. The very first thing that is recorded concerning our Lord’s public ministry is His temptation. Here is a fact of life, from which there is no escape in this world. If you are a child of God, if the Spirit of God is in you, you will be tempted of the devil.

First, learn that Satan is a real adversary to our souls. The Word of God tells us that that the devil is real, an adversary with whom we must do battle continually. The beast of hell sought an assault to the the very throne of God, or the Son of God! From Matthew 4:1-11, eleven verses we are told three times that Satan attacked the Lord Jesus Christ.

“No matter how many pleasures Satan offers you, his ultimate intention is to ruin you. Your destruction is his highest priority ”Erwin W. Lutzer. His goal is the everlasting destruction of souls. He continually seeks whom he may devour. For nearly 6000 years he has been trying to destroy and draw into hell as many as he can.

Three times Satan tempted our Lord with great offers that convincingly appeal to the nature of mankind. But three times our Lord foiled Satan’s temptations by quoting the Scriptures. Our strategy to escape the temptations of Satan, is for us to bury ourselves in the Word of God.

The Lord Jesus Christ is just the Saviour that tempted people need! May we run to Him for help and lay our troubles before Him. You will always find that His ear is ready to hear, His heart is ready to feel, and His hand is ready to help. He understands our sorrows, temptations, and troubles!

Satan tempted our Lord to three things.
1. Satan tempted Jesus to an act of unbelief, to distrust God (Matthew 11:3-4).
2. Satan tempted Jesus to an act of presumption and to suicide (Matthew 11:5-8).
3. Satan tempted Jesus to an act of idolatry (Matthew 11:8-10).

PRAYER: Father, I ask you in the name and through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to bind and rebuke Satan and to put a hedge of protection around me and each one in my family. In Jesus name, AMEN!

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