Slides: Disciplines to Meet God and Beat Satan

Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'”

Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall 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 glory. And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'”

Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Meet God and Beat Satan

Spiritual disciplines are practices that help us to draw closer to God and to become stronger in fighting Satan.

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (James 4:6-8)

Jesus our representative does what we could not do. Adam and Israel sinned and fell for Satan's trick. Jesus obeyed God and defeated Satan. God counts Jesus' perfection as ours the moment we believe.

Jesus our example provides a pattern of life for us to imitate. As we rely on his Spirit, practice his disciplines, and pursue his pattern of obedience, our character gradually becomes like His.

Temptation 1: Stones to bread

• Satan: Use your divine power to benefit yourself. Seek pleasure. Avoid pain. If you're God's Son, your Father doesn't want you to be uncomfortable. Do whatever you desire.
• Jesus: "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” (Deut 8:3) A meal is less vital than God's Word. The Father told Jesus to help others, not Himself.

Temptation 2: Leap of faith

• Satan: Show off, expect special privileges beyond other humans, ignore good sense, twist a Bible verse, and expect God to prevent damage.
• Jesus: "It is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'” (Deut 6:16) There's a huge difference between faith and folly, between trusting God and showing off.

Temptation 3: Worship Satan

• Satan: Get instant results--the whole world--without trusting God's timing and walking His path.
• Jesus: "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'” (Deut 6:13)
• God is to be worshiped for his own sake, not because he can give the world. Satan promises the world--but Satan lies.

"Follow me.”

Jesus our representative is to be trusted, thanked, and praised for the justification he earned for us.

Jesus our example and our strength, is to be imitated and followed in the sanctification he works in us.

Training for Godliness

... those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Heb 5:14)

Train yourself for godliness (1 Tim 6:)

The goal: godliness = Christ in you

• Growing closer to Christ in experience
• Growing like Christ in holy character
• Growing like Christ in eternal impact

Jesus coaches us in godliness

• "The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don't want to do in order to achieve what they've always wanted to be.” (Tom Landry)
• Every athlete exercises self-control in all things... I discipline my body and keep it under control (1 Cor 9:25,27).

Desert Power

• Moses: forty years in desert; forty days fasting in the wilderness on Mount Sinai
• Elijah: forty days without food at Sinai
• John the Baptist: desert dweller
• Jesus: forty days fasting in the wilderness
• Paul: I did not immediately consult with anyone... but I went away into Arabia (Galatians 1:16-17).

Desert Disciplines

• Solitude: no humans as companions
• Silence: no noise, diversions, conversation
• Secrecy: no people to impress
• Fasting: no pleasure or comfort from food

Disciplined Detachment

The appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. (1 Cor 7:29-31)

Daily life is different after desert

• Solitude can make us better at relationships; we are more aware of our faults and more able to draw on God's power.
• Silence can make us strong in speech. Our tongues controlled, our words well chosen.
• Secrecy can enhance our witness; we will be more eager to honor God and help others than to glorify ourselves in others' eyes.
• Fasting can enrich our feasting: everything tastes better when we delight in the Giver.

Sword of the Spirit

• Jesus to Satan: "It is written... It is written... It is written."
• ...the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)
• Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. (Psalm 119:97-98)

Detach from the world, wield the Word, meet God, beat Satan, and transform your world.

Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God... But he gives more grace... Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (James 4:4-8)

Relief, reward, refreshment

• Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. (Matt 4:11)
• Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Jesus our example provides a pattern of life for us to imitate. As we rely on his Spirit, practice his disciplines, and pursue his pattern of obedience, our character gradually becomes like His.

Jesus our representative does what we could not do. Jesus obeyed God and defeated Satan. God counts Jesus' perfection as ours by faith. So when you fail, trust your representative; then get back to imitating his example.