Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” – Matthew 4:10
Whether we realize it or not, we are under a great deal of spiritual warfare. This spiritual warfare takes place in the realm of the incidental situations of life where choices must be made. These choices when strung together determine a person’s eternal destiny. What makes this battlefield of choices precarious is that decisions are not only between good versus evil. We live in a world of smokescreens and deception where right and wrong decisions are clouded. We live in a hazy world of deceptions. Lurking in the smoke and fog, in the alleys and in our thoughts and confusions is an adversary the Bible describes as a merciless ruthless devilish predator named Satan.
These situations where decisions must be made are called temptations. Being tempted is not sinful. Jesus was tempted. Sin is determined by how we respond in tempting situations. How can we overcome temptation? How can we live victoriously? How can we resist the devil and order him, like Jesus did, “Away with you!”? That is what we will discuss in this teaching.
It is true that Jesus came that sinners could be forgiven their sins and then become “Christians.” A “Christian” is a little christ. A Christian is someone who has trusted in Jesus as their Savior. They have confessed their sins, asked, and received forgiveness for those sins through faith in Jesus who paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. All humanity is hopelessly lost in their sins. Sinners are not only disqualified for heaven but are destined for an eternal torment separate from God. But God Who is loving, longsuffering, and just, provided a way for sins to be dealt with, the cross of Christ. The wage or cost of sin is death, not annihilation, but eternal separation from God. God is our Holy Creator. Sin separates us from our Giver of Life. The Bible states that to be separated from God is death. There is a “death” that goes beyond mere physical cessation of life. The Prodigal who left his father was described as being “dead” (Luke 15:24). That is the state of every sinner.
On the cross Jesus died in our place, as our substitute, so that whosoever believes on Him can be forgiven their sins. This implies repentance or admission of our sins before God and asking His forgiveness and seeking help to leave our sinful ways behind us. The good news and glory of the provision of God is that the one who trusts in Jesus is not only forgiven their sins but is given new eternal life in a new personal relationship with Jesus. We know this is true because after Jesus died on the cross He rose from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus proves His power over death. The resurrection proves the validity of the gospel to deal with death and provide a way to eternal life.[1]
All of this “gospel” or good news is offered to us as a gift of God’s grace. We don’t work for it, we simply receive it by believing it. Take a moment to let that “good news” sink in. If you have never heard that before, take a moment to consider believing it, making it a personal decision, owning it. If you’ve already believed in Jesus and experienced the glory of the gospel in His name, take a moment to thank the Lord for this wonderful gift of eternal life in Christ. This message is the truth of God’s redemption. We were lost and Jesus came to redeem the lost. Prayerfully ponder this truth until you come to a point of knowing “that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). This redemption is not of this world; it is not a product of human reason or religion. It is not frivolous but costly; it cost Jesus His blood. Prayerfully ponder this until you appreciate it again. Prayerfully ponder this until you appreciate it more than a mere doctrine or ology. Prayerfully ponder the gospel of Jesus until it is personal.
The reason I say all this is that being a Christian or little christ means we are saved to something. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). “Workmanship” means literally poetry. We are God’s poetry. We are created anew in Christ for God to use us to communicate a beautiful message to the rest of the world. We are created with purpose.
Discipleship – Following Jesus
To be a little christ is to be like Jesus Christ. God’s purpose for us is to be like Jesus. God “predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). This is God’s plan for every Christian. This raises the question, “If being like Jesus is the purpose of God for every Christian, then how come there are so many ‘Christians’ who are so little like Jesus?” Good question. The answer to that question is seemingly simple at first, but complex enough to take a lifetime to answer. The answer is discipleship.
Jesus’ mission for the Church is not to merely share the gospel but to make disciples. Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). A “disciple” is someone who not only accepts the gospel message by faith but they then walk in that faith as a learner who looks to Jesus and becomes more and more like Him. Some churches have forgotten this or deemphasized it. Some churches have strayed from this Great Commission of Jesus to adopt a more social gospel. They focus on helping the hurting and rallying to social causes of various kinds. There is a place for such things, but the priority must be discipleship, otherwise the church loses its way. We see this not only in so-called liberal “social justice warriors” but also in those who are conservatively patriotic. Jesus calls His disciples to be salt and light. He calls disciples to bring taste to a tasteless world. He calls disciples to serve as purifiers in an impure world. He calls disciples to shine the light of the truth of God and His word into the darknesses of sin in the world. Yes, we are to look to the Sermon on the Mount and the Olivet Discourse, to the four gospels and the entire counsel of God from Genesis to Revelation as our guide. We are to learn to live by God’s word in the power of the Spirit. We are to follow in the steps of Jesus and walk as He walked (1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:1-6). To be a disciple of Jesus is to do these things while also being like Jesus.
We become like Jesus first by being born again through faith in Jesus. But then we must go on and develop this gift of God’s new life in us through discipleship. Jesus spoke of people who would outright reject His gospel. He spoke of others who would accept the gospel superficially and drop it at the first sign of hardship. He spoke of still others who would accept the gospel not as the priority in their lives but just as one other thing on their to-do list of things, which inevitably leads to the gospel being choked off in their lives. But then He spoke of those who accept the gospel and produce fruit in their life. There is development, growth, change for the better, victories, and life transformation. These are “disciples” who produce in varying amounts, the things of God (cf. The Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8). Jesus was speaking of disciples.
I want to make clear here that while we are called by Jesus to be disciples, we are not saved by being disciples. We are saved by believing in Jesus. Being a disciple is simply what we should see in the developmental life of the genuinely saved believer in Jesus. Discipleship is work. It’s not easy being a disciple, but it is worth it. It’s worth it for the people touched and changed by the gospel disciples share. It’s worth to disciples whose lives are lived as a fragrant aroma and love offering to God their Creator. And it’s worth it to Jesus who at times stands from His thrown in loving acknowledgment like He did when Stephen gave his life for the glory of God (Acts 7).
A disciple is, therefore, someone who has believed in Jesus as their Savior and is learning to become a “Christian” or a little christ. A disciple seeks to become like Jesus, but they also seek to introduce others to new eternal life in Jesus through the gospel and help those new converts to also seek to become like Jesus through discipleship. Discipleship is a reproductive life mission. To become like Jesus is the result of looking to Jesus as a Person to relate to but also Someone whose example we follow. A disciple is a follower of Jesus. A disciple is used by God to help others become disciples.
The Importance of the Holy Spirit – The Disciple’s Helper
When we look to Jesus as our example we see for instance that even from His birth there were those trying to annihilate Him (cf. Matthew 1-2). We can also expect opposition from people who want to stomp out the new life we find in Jesus and His gospel. When we look at Jesus’ life we see that before He launched into His mission of ministry and redemption He was baptized with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3). Jesus was baptized in water, but this baptism was more than that. Jesus modelled for us the need to have the Holy Spirit come upon us before we go out to make disciples or fulfill His mission and the ministry He calls us to. To become like Jesus is something the Holy Spirit helps us to do (cf. John 14, 15, and 16). Jesus commands us to be empowered by the Holy Spirit before launching out into ministry (Acts 1-2). Efforts to minister to people without the Holy Spirit are frustrating, futile, fruitless, and they will fail.
Jesus taught His disciples that the Holy Spirit was “another” just like Him (John 14:15-16). The Holy Spirit is the disciple’s “Helper” or One who comes alongside to guide, support, enable. The Holy Spirit leads the disciple in truth (John 14:17). The Holy Spirit is “with” us convicting us that in our sinful state we need a Savior who is Jesus. When we repent and believe in Jesus our sins are forgiven and the Holy Spirit comes “in” us to give us spiritual life (John 14:17). The Holy Spirit comes “upon” us to empower disciples to serve (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit is essential to discipleship.
The empowerment of the Holy Spirit is something we seek from Jesus and receive by faith. At Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was first poured out on the disciples the Apostle Peter explained, “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). When words like “poured” are used we shouldn’t give in to the temptation to think of the Holy Spirit as some inanimate liquid object. The Holy Spirit is a Person. Jesus used personal masculine pronouns when He spoke of the Holy Spirit (John 14-16). The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Triune Godhead as seen by Peter’s rebuke of Annanias and Sapphira who he said had lied to the Holy Spirit and in so doing had lied to God (cf. Acts 5:3 and 4). But this empowerment purifies our heart from things in us that would hinder us from being used by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s mission. This empowerment is received “by faith” (Acts 15:8-9). This empowerment is connected to obedience (Acts 5:32).
The Necessity of Testing
So at this point the million-dollar question becomes, “How do we know whether we have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and are ready to be used by the Lord?” The example of Jesus provides us with the answer. After Jesus was baptized with the Holy Spirit it states, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Matthew 4:1).
Temptation tests our faith and demonstrates through our response whether we are ready to be used by God. This is what we see in the life of Jesus. When the disciple is baptized it is a high point in their spiritual walk with the Lord. Baptism is a shout to the world from the disciple that they belong to God and are answering His call to service and discipleship. It’s interesting then that on the heels of Jesus’ own baptism and the words from the Father saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” that the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted. Jesus is the model for every disciple and as such, we see the need for every disciple to be tried in the wilderness.
What do we see when we look at this wilderness experience of Jesus? Here are a few summary observations.
Testing follows empowerment. Jesus was tested following His empowerment. Jesus’ half-brother James would later write that we should be joyful when our faith is tested because it strengthens our faith (James 1-2). Faith is like a muscle that grows stronger as it is tested and strained by heavier and heavier weight. A faith untested cannot be trusted. Peter said the genuineness of our faith is proven when it is tested (1 Peter 1:6-9). Jesus’ faith was not tested in the wilderness because He was uncertain or deficient in any way. Jesus submitted to be tested as the Son of Man, our representative Man, to qualify as the redemptive answer to the sinful human nature. Jesus had no sinful nature but as representative Man, He made a way to reverse the curse of the first man Adam (cf. Romans 5). But Jesus was tested, and we will be too.
The life of a disciple will involve wilderness. In scripture wilderness experiences are times of testing. A wilderness is a barren lonely dry place where it is impossible to meet our needs without relying on the Lord. The wilderness is a place where we won’t be around people or rely on people so that we can draw close to God to rely on Him. The wilderness is a place of want where we learn to prioritize God’s purposes over our needs. The wilderness is where we learn to shut down the shouts of need from our body and hear loud and clear the voice of God.
The life of a disciple is not a life without temptation. You can be led by the Spirit and be tempted. Since the Holy Spirit is holy, we know that temptation is not sinful, because the Holy Spirit would not lead us to sin. But temptation is necessary and useful in that it is the machinery used by God to strengthen our faith. It’s normal, and necessary, as we live in the Spirit, to be tested with temptations.
The life of a disciple is not a life free from temptations from the devil. Being a disciple puts a bullseye on your back, making you a desired target of devilish attacks. The devil doesn’t care too much about “Christian” couch potatoes who feel nothing, do nothing and are good for nothing in serving the Lord. But a disciple, someone seeking to walk with Jesus, those will be tested and opposed at every turn by him. Why then would anyone want to be a disciple? Being a disciple is not to earn God’s favor; we have that in Jesus. But a disciple understands Jesus gave His all for us and that so impacts their life that they want to live in a worshipful way glorifying Jesus. Jesus gave His all so that we could spend eternity with Him. How could we give Him anything less? (Cf. Philippians 2 and Colossians 3).
Satan tempted Jesus when He had been in the wilderness for some time and when He was at a point of need. God allows points of need so that we can learn to trust in Him. This is a lesson learned throughout life in deeper and deeper circumstances. Some may preach a “Christian” life free from needs. Some preach all you have to do is name-it-and-claim-it. Some preach Jesus came to help you secure your Best Life Now. But that is simply not true; it’s a corruption of the truth of the gospel purposes of Jesus. Needs are necessary to provide opportunities not to merely be free of need, but to learn “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. . . And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:13 and 19). We are not saved to cheaply accumulate the stuff of this world. We are saved, and discipled, to learn God has so much more than anything this world has to offer.
How Jesus Triumphed
In the wilderness Jesus was tested three times by the devil. The response of Jesus and the weapons He used were simple, but profoundly powerful and effective. Successful discipleship depends on following in the steps of Jesus as He models here for us.
Jesus fasted. In Matthew 4 it states:
Matthew 4:2 – “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.”
Jesus fasted, He went for a prolonged time without eating. He willfully deprived Himself of physical needs. He did this to sacrifice, but more importantly He did this as an act of worship. He subjugated His physical needs to emphasize His spiritual priority. Fasting and spending time alone with God to completely focus on Him is a tremendously empowering tool for the disciple. John Wesley who God used to save the British Empire, thought so highly of the importance of fasting that he fasted every Wednesday and Friday for most of his life. He thought it so important that he required it of all his pastors in the Methodist movement. The Lord used him powerfully. Fasting is valuable and important in the life of a disciple.
Jesus prayed. If Jesus fasted, it also implies that He prayed. The heart of fasting is prayer. This cannot be stressed enough. Because Jesus was a Man of prayer, He was able not only to weather the storm of temptations brought by the devil, but He was able to fulfill His ministry mission. Jesus is frequently referred to as praying. He prayed to start the day (Mark 1:35). He prayed to end the day (Matthew 14:23). He prayed over people, especially children (Matthew 19:13). He prayed thoroughly in times of trial and testing (Matthew 26:36-46). He taught His disciples to pray for their enemies (Matthew 5:44). He taught His disciples that prayer should be personal and conversational, and that it was a declaration of dependence upon God (Matthew 6:1-13). He taught His disciples to pray for God to send workers into the harvest of souls (Matthew 9:38).If Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man, prayed, disciples should too.
Prayer is a declaration of dependence upon God. Whatever is done apart from prayer is done in the flesh, or in mere human strength for mere human purposes. The disciple must be alive with prayer if they are ever to resist the temptation of the devil to indulge their flesh. This is the example set by Jesus and the one every disciple should follow. Disciple, you need to pray for in doing so you turn your back on your flesh and declare your dependence upon God.
Satan attacked when Jesus was weak, in physical need. Satan attacked following Jesus’ fasting, after Jesus had fulfilled a time of spiritually seeking the Father. How about you, have you ever sought the Lord in fasting? Have you spent time alone with Him and had a conversation with Him about who you are and what He is calling you to do in life? If you are a disciple, that is what you will do.
Jesus used God’s Word. Jesus didn’t just quote Scripture when faced by Satan’s attacks. Jesus was steadfastly committed to the contents of the Word of God. He stood by faith on the words, “Man shall not . . . You shall not . . . You shall . . ..” (4:4,7,10). The Bible clearly tells us that the Word of God needs to be put into action, applied to our lives. Jesus emphasized this in the conclusion of His greatest Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:21-27). We are to be doers of God’s word (James 1:22-25). We are to be “diligent” in being disciples according to God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15). The word of God is our guide to make us “thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The word of God is “powerful” (Hebrews 4:12). A disciple of Jesus is someone dedicated to knowing the truth of God’s word, and living it out in life. A disciple is a living epistle of God’s word (2 Corinthians 3:2-3).
Jesus relied on the faithfulness of His Father. The Father had told Jesus that He was pleased with Him (Matthew 3:17). Jesus was on a mission, and He remained faithful to the One Who had sent Him on that mission. Throughout the temptation of Jesus He remains faithful to the Father as well as to the word of the Father. Jesus stood firm in faith when tested by Satan. The Bible tells us that temptations are common to humanity, but God is faithful and will show us how to escape to victory when tempted (1 Corinthians 10:13). A disciple trusts God’s word about him, even when it’s brought into question by an adversary.
In What Areas of Life Can We Expect to be Tempted?
As we examine the ways the devil came against Jesus to tempt Him we learn that there are three main areas or ways in which the devil tempts. This is critical for the disciple to know if they are to ward off and resist the temptations of the devil. To know and understand these areas of temptation is like intercepting the battle plans of an enemy. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
The account of Jesus’ temptation states:
Matthew 4:2-4 – “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
Identity. Satan first tempted Jesus with questioning – “If You are the Son of God” – who He was. Satan will raise questions about who you are in God’s plans, your identity in Christ. Jesus knew and we should know, that God measures success not in numbers like the world does but by faithfulness (1 Corinthians 4:2). We are complete before God by virtue of our saving relationship with Jesus (Colossians 2:10).
Feed your flesh. Satan tempted Jesus to feed His hunger. Feeding Himself was not wrong, but apparently it was not yet time for Jesus to end His fast. Jesus responded, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Perhaps the Father had more to say to His Son Jesus during this time of fasting and Satan was trying to interrupt that holy conversation. Interruptions are frequently a tactic of the enemy. Sometimes interruptions are heaven sent, sometimes they are not. We must rely on the Spirit to help us discern the difference. But here, the devil interrupted to tempt Jesus to make stones into bread. Maybe at the end of forty days of fasting Jesus was so hungry that even the stones began to look like bread. Maybe Satan sensed that and tempted Him by interrupting Jesus’ conversation with His Father saying, “Go ahead, do it. Turn those stones into bread.” Satan tempts us to feed our flesh. Disciple, beware.
We need to beware such satanic strategies because what you feed will live, and what you starve will die. If you feed your flesh it will get stronger. If you starve it by denying it, it will become weaker. Satan tempted Jesus to use His spiritual power or position to fulfill the desires of the flesh. The devil will do the same with us. Have you ever used ministry to get something you wanted? If so, you’re being tempted and giving in to feeding your flesh. The Lord may use ministry settings to meet your needs. He might bring your spouse to you or connect you with someone in some other situation or meet a need through ministry. But if connecting and meeting your needs is the prime purpose of what you are doing, then you are feeding your flesh.
Misuse and abuse God’s word. The passage continues:
Matthew 4:5-7 – “Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
It’s important to recognize that the devil uses (misuses/abuses) the word of God. A example of that is here when Satan quotes Psalm 91:11-12 and takes it out of context. It is so important for the disciple to know God’s word in its context. The devil misuses and abuses the Scripture using it to try and bring credibility and authority to his schemes. Unfortunately, many have been duped by such schemes as seen in cults and heretical doctrinal teachings. Disciple, beware the misuse and abuse of God’s word by the devil.
Be spectacular. Besides the devil’s misuse and abuse of God’s word, he tempts Jesus to test God and His word by doing something spectacular. Beware the lure of the devil to minister spectacularly. It’s as though Satan were saying, “You just said we must live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, well, show me, test God and throw yourself off the pinnacle of the temple and see if God is true to His word.” Jesus again resisted Satan’s temptation by correctly applying God’s word, which says, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” It is wrong for the disciple to put him or herself in danger just to test God’s faithfulness. God’s faithfulness and provision is not to be cheapened by superficially indulging in careless and carnal acts.
Sometimes when we fall short or sin we try to compensate by doing something spectacular. We can’t impress God. He knows our heart. He doesn’t need our spectacular efforts to know what’s truly inside us. Jesus has done all that is necessary to secure our forgiveness when we fall. Don’t compound your sin by being lured into the temptation to be spectacular. Don’t live a life of compensations. That is a trick of the devil. It’s rare that anything we do impresses God.
Jesus never presented ministry as a spectacle or show. In fact He did His best to not draw attention to Himself (Matthew 8:4; 16:20; Mark 8:30; 9:9; Luke 5:14; 8:56). Remember, faithfulness is the measure of success according to God. If you want to be great in God’s Kingdom, be a servant, like Jesus (Matthew 10:24-25; 20:26-28).
Take a short cut. The final temptation of Jesus is recorded as follows:
Matthew 4:8-10 – “Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
Satan knew Jesus’ mission was to redeem the world. Satan doesn’t know everything about what that entails, but He knows as the Christ-Messiah, Jesus is coming to redeem the world. So, Satan offered Jesus the world. [2] Satan tempted Jesus with a shortcut, an easier path to reach His goal. Worldly wisdom says, “Work smarter (i.e., easier) not harder. Cut some corners. Overlook some details. Compromise the means to reach your end goals.” The world says that, but God and His word do not say that. To God the means are just as important as the end result. The means God uses to get us to His goal prepares us to attain His goals.
In Luke’s account of the temptation of Jesus he adds that Satan boasted and claimed that the kingdoms of this world were his to give (Luke 4:6). This temptation strikes at the mission and purpose of Jesus. Jesus came to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Matthew 8:20; Luke 19:10). When Adam sinned he relinquished his authority over the world to Satan on the basis that the one whom you obey is your master (Genesis 1:28; Romans 6:16). Jesus came to regain that authority (see Revelation 5). Jesus came to vanquish sin and death and prepare this world for His kingdom. That mission required the cross. Therefore, the devil tempted Jesus to forego the cross and gain control of the world by bowing to Satan.
Satan tempts us to take the easy route, to cut corners and bypass the will and word of God. Satan tempts by minimizing and cutting out of our methods, that which God calls essential. The disciple can’t demonstrate who Jesus is, without the cross in their lives. Without the cross, there is no crown. A disciple MUST “pick up your cross” (Luke 9:23-27).
Satan has deluded, captured, and controls much of this world and even much of the Church. A.W. Tozer once stated, “The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it.” [3] Charles Haddon Spurgeon remarked concerning the cross, “There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross-bearers here below.” [4] Oswald Chambers wrote, “All heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, all hell is terribly afraid of it, while men are the only beings who more or less ignore its meaning.” [5] The greatest temptation is to do away with the cross in life and especially in the life of the disciple. Disciple, just as the cross was a must for Jesus, the cross is a must for you! “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24). [6]
The cross of the disciple is simply but profoundly described Oswald Chambers:
“What is my cross? The manifestation of the fact that I have given up my right to myself to Him forever.” [7] “The cross is the deliberate recognition of what my personal life is for, viz., to be given to Jesus Christ; I have to take up that cross daily and prove that I am no longer my own. Individual independence has gone, and all that is left is personal passionate devotion to Jesus Christ through identification with His Cross.” [8]
Picking up the cross is a faith act and statement that the disciple is dead to their flesh, to their self. Disciple, pick up your cross and follow Jesus!
“Away with you Satan!”
Matthew 4:10-11 – “Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”
Jesus shows us that at some point we need to order the devil away. At some point we have to say, “No!” to the devil. At some point we have to take control of our thoughts and order the devil, in Jesus’ name, to GET OUT! The disciple must learn to take control of their thoughts by submitting them to Jesus (E.g., 2 Corinthians 10:3-4). One of Satan’s most vicious strategies to derail Christians is to depress and discourage them by repeatedly digging up sins that have been buried with Christ. DON’T LET HIM DO IT! When he tries, in the authority of Jesus’ name, command him to “STOP!” Use Jesus’ words, “Away with you, Satan!” Don’t let the devil rob you of the joy of your forgiveness in Christ. Don’t let him distract you and weigh you down by trying to make you carry your old man or woman. Put off past sins. Bury them, and leave them buried (Romans 6; Ephesians 4:17-24; Colossians 3).
Comfort from the Father. Having resisted the devil’s temptations successfully, the Father sent angels, messengers to minister to Jesus. When we resist temptation God will send messengers, even angels, to minister to us. We are never alone. God knows our limits. He knows our needs. Jesus is, “A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3-6). We find fellowship with Jesus in our sufferings for Jesus (Philippians 3:10). The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Comforter.
When Jesus commands the devil to leave, the devil must leave. Jesus has power over the devil. He took the devil’s best shot and never faltered. The disciple in Christ, has power to resist the devil in times of temptation. God has promised to “crush Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20). If in the name of Jesus we resist the devil, he must flee (James 4:7). Greater is the Holy Spirit Who resides in us than any manifestation of the devil (1 John 4:4). We are not more powerful per se than the devil. Christ in us by the Holy Spirit is more powerful than the devil. Someone has said, “When the devil comes a knockin’ at your door, ask Jesus to answer for you.” “Away with you Satan!”
Dear Father in Heaven, we come to You in Jesus’ name. We are here to be disciples of Your Son. Holy Spirit we ask Your comfort and help. Please make us what we need to be, to do what You call us to do, for Your glory, until Jesus’ returns. Please make us disciples. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
[1] Some passages of scripture and verse to consider: John 3; Romans 3. Romans 5 and 6. Romans 8. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. Ephesians 2:1-10. Titus 3:4-7.
[2] Notice, Jesus doesn’t object that Satan has no right to make such an offer. That’s because when Adam and Eve chose to distrust and disobey God, they in effect looked to Satan as “God.” The title deed of the earth was in effect given to Satan.
[3] http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/c/cross.htm
[4] http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/c/cross.htm
[5] http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/c/cross.htm
[6]The Holy Bible, New King James Version, (Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson, Inc.) 1982.
[7] Oswald Cahmbers, Oswald Chambers – The Best From All His Books, (Thomas Nelson Pub.: Nashville, TN) 1987. p. 75. Quote from Chambers’s book the Psychology of Redemption.
[8] Oswald Cahmbers, Ibid. p. 76. Quoted from Cahmber’s book The Servant As His Lord, p. 79.