“Yield Not To Temptation”

Matthew 4:1-11

In the Armenian message, we were talking about “the spiritual helmets.” They represent preparation for going to the DESERT. We should not go there without doing our homework.

2- The second thing to think about today is the DESERT itself.

“At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness” (Mark 1:12)

The wilderness could be a place where you enjoy God’s blessings or it could turn to be a place where you reject God.

If we look to the Bible, we see that the Israelites, for example, learned to trust God in the wilderness. God made a covenant with His people in the wilderness. Also, one can find that people lost their trust and faith to God in the wilderness.

For Jesus it was an important battlefield. He was fasting and praying. He was in a deep relationship with His Father. He was continuing to wear the “spiritual helmet”.

We read in Matthew, “After fasting forty days and nights,” (4:2)…

He prepared for his battle by fasting and praying. Although we do not find the word “prayer” there, but I assume that Jesus was fasting in prayer.

In a recent survey of Discipleship Journal, readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them:

1. Materialism.

2. Pride.

3. Self-centeredness.

4. Laziness.

5. (Tie) Anger/Bitterness.

5. Sexual lust.

7. Envy.

8. Gluttony.

9. Lying.

Survey respondents noted temptations were more potent when they had neglected their time with God (81 percent) and when they were physically tired (57 percent).

Resisting temptation was accomplished by prayer (84 percent), avoiding compromising situations (76 percent), Bible study (66 percent), and being accountable to someone (52 percent). ¹

Jesus spends 40 days and night in prayer and fasting. If you look at the results of the survey, prayer is on the top of list in facing TEMPTATION.

How much time do you spend with God DAILY?

How serious you are with this issue?

Are you tempted?

OF course, you are tempted. Are you fallen in the trap?

How do you prepare to face temptation?

40 days: It reminds me of Moses on Mount Sinai for forty days. Israelites had forty years of LEARNING. Elijah escaped from Jezebel and was hiding in mount Horeb for forty days. Mousa Dagh people stayed on the mountain of Mousa Dagh for forty days and nights (almost) ².

In all cases, God brought out a strong person or nation.

3- The Devil was ready to tempt Jesus THREE TIMES:

a- Attacking the weak points: We read that after 40 days Jesus was “HUNGRY.”

The Devil is an expert in knowing when we are tired, or weak in certain areas and he will attack (tired spiritually or physically).

Turning stones to bread sounds great. Yet, Satan did not realize that Jesus was although hungry for bread, yet he was hungry for justice and righteousness. Satan did not realize that Jesus was ready to be obedient to His Father and to the plan of SALVATION. Jesus knew that the road to Jerusalem was not easy. And satisfying his desire for bread will not help the plan.

Today, many are hungry for bread. Today many are hungry for economic prosperity. Unfortunately, not many are hungry for righteousness and salvation. What a pity.

b- The second temptation was that of being famous and popular.

Tonight the Academy Award ceremony will take place. Movie stars are ready to be more and more famous and popular. Academy Award recipients, the press said, live 4 years longer. If you receive two Academy awards…6 years.???

Fame is a tough area in our life. Being famous and popular looks good, but dangerous. Many do not know how to handle popularity. Many are ready to compromise their priorities in order to achieve that goal, to be popular.

In the survey above one of the ways to face temptation is by avoiding compromising situations (76 percent) ³. Satan is an expert in convincing you to compromise situations and Biblical principles.

Satan is ready to use the Bible to convince you. He is using Psalm 91. “Jump, Jump,” he said to Jesus. 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 stone” (Psalm 91:11).

Now Jesus understands the tempter’s intention. Jesus is not ready to tempt his Lord God. (Deut. 6:16). Of course, God can hold Jesus. But God is not a game. We do not test the promise of God. When God promises something, God is behind that promise in HIS TIME.

Sarah and Abraham were impatient. And we all know the result. We can not accomplish the will of God by our own plans and efforts. Sarah did compromise the situation. It was not helpful.

Jesus is ready not to be famous and he ready to wait for the LORD.

Maybe you are not famous or popular person today. Remember God works with ordinary persons to do extraordinary things.

c- The third temptation is idolatry: WORSHIPING ANYTHING BUT GOD.

This time Satan approaches with his best plan. Satan knows that Jesus came for a mission. Satan’s suggestion sounds as if he likes to help Jesus.

“All this I will give you.” (9). “Jesus, don’t you want the WORLD to WORSHIP YOU? OK, I will give the world to you. One condition: WORSHIP ME.”

Jesus refuses to become part of this plan. He uses words that are important for us also: “AWAY FROM ME, SATAN.” It is like the Vartan Mamigonian’s message: We can not serve two masters.

This temptation is so alive for us today. One of the best ways to distract Christians from following God is by introducing easy, new ways that seem “good” from the outside yet, very are destructive from the inside. We need to be very careful in this matter. “Go away” is the only phrase one can use.

When faced with temptation, Martin Luther used to say: “Go away. This place is occupied. Go back where you come from, for Christ is here.”

Go back to that survey. The best way of fighting temptation is prayer (81%). When Christ is dominating your life, Satan can not find an empty place to enter.

One of the best ways for us to deal with temptation is to avoid it if it is possible. Jesus was strong and could face temptation. Many Christians think they are strong and wearing the “spiritual helmet”, and they throw themselves into very tempting situations. Temptation will occur in our lives we like it or not. But there are times when we put ourselves in situations when are tempted easily.

Satan tried all wonderful tricks to tempt Jesus, hunger, fame, and power.

He failed.

Since we are looking towards the Passion Week, since our eyes are on the cross and resurrection, let me tell you another temptation which is similar to one of these. Do you remember the chief priests and elders who mocked Jesus saying “Come down form the cross if you are the Son of God” (Matt. 27:40).

Another JUMP. Satan wanted Jesus to jump so that he will test God the Father. Now there are others coming to tempt Jesus saying “COME DOWN, JUMP, JUMP, you don’t need the cross.”

Thank God, that Jesus obeyed his father. Jesus was victorious in his mission.

Today, the first Sunday of the Lent season, let us examine ourselves.

AM I ready to face temptation?

1- Discipleship Journal, 11-12/92

2- Frantz Werfel, Forty days of Mousa Dagh

3- Discipleship Journal, 11-12/92