Many view the new year as an opportunity for new beginnings. At least, that’s what most seem to think. As such, there probably isn’t a more fitting place to begin this year’s teachings than my favorite Bible book, Genesis. It is, after all, the book of the beginnings.
Last night, in our young adult class—YAC as we affectionally call it—we talked about the temptation Eve faced in the Garden of God. Despite the complications we face when reading about the temptation, I think most will agree that the fallen angel known as Satan was directly or indirectly involved. In Matthew 4, which we’ll look at today in conjunction with Genesis 3, the Devil is called the Tempter.
In Genesis 3, the serpent starts with a question: “Did God really say, You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?”
The Tempter frequently utilizes that same strategy on us, and it might sound something like this:
– Did God really say you can’t have one beer?
– Did God really say you can’t enjoy physical intimacy with another person?
– Did God really say you can’t bend the truth?
– Did God really say you can’t admire another person’s beauty?
– Did God really say…
What he actually means:
– Did God really say a drunkard will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven?
– Did God really say sex outside of marriage is a sin?
– Did God really say all liars will have their part in the lake of fire?
– Did God really say that if you look at a woman with lust in your heart, you’re an adulterer?
– Did God really say…
You see, the Tempter’s first question to Eve seemed relatively innocuous. He feigned ignorance of what God had said. Eve, seemingly wanting to correct his misinformation, opens a dialogue with him.
Let’s look at the strategy the Tempter used on Jesus in the wilderness during his days of fasting.
Matthew 4:3
And the Tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
Essentially, the Tempter was saying that if you are God’s Son, then prove it by performing some sort of sign. After all, you’re hungry, right? Well then, command these stones to become bread.
On the surface, the statement seems relatively innocuous. After all, Jesus is hungry after forty days of fasting; however, Jesus sees right through the strategy and fights back with God’s word.
Twice, the Tempter challenges Jesus to prove his Sonship, and twice without hesitation, Christ resists the Tempter with God’s word by saying three powerful words; it is written, followed by the appropriate scripture.
Consider the following passage:
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
During the third temptation, the Tempter comes out and directly reveals what he wants. In exchange for earthly money and fame, he wants worship. What audacity to desire the Creator to bow to the creation.
To most effectively apply what we learn in Genesis 3 and Matthew 4 to our lives, it would be beneficial to look at the following passage.
Ephesians 6:16
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
v17
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
These two powerful weapons that every born-again person has available to them must be utilized during an encounter with the Tempter. Now, you might say, surely the Devil won’t appear to me and tempt me. To that, I would say you’re probably right. It’s unlikely that the Devil himself will ever appear to most of us; however, we learn from the Bible that Satan has a Kingdom. (Eph. 6:12) Therefore, he’ll never need to confront you directly. Other spiritual forces will attack our minds with temptations on behalf of the Devil.
Let’s look back to Genesis 3 and Matthew 4 and see what we can learn in light of Ephesians 6.
In Genesis 3, Eve entertains the Tempter’s statements and considers what he’s saying. Whereas, Jesus in Matthew 4 is armed and ready to defend himself.
We, like Jesus, must have the shield of faith held up and ready to extinguish the fiery lies or temptations of the Devil. How does that work? I’m glad you asked.
In Matthew 4, Jesus exercised faith in God’s word and fought against the Devil’s lies with the truth. In other words, Jesus lifted his shield, which represented his faith in God’s word, and extinguished the fiery darts of the Devil. Then, using the sword of the spirit (the Word of God), Jesus attacked the lie with the truth.
On a side note, we might as well touch on the Armor of God. This may sound silly and immature, but I don’t think we are literally armed with a spiritual shield or sword, although God might surprise me one day. Instead, I believe we are dealing with metaphors to help us better grasp spiritual concepts. In the case of Ephesians 6, our faith in God’s word will protect us from spiritual attacks, like a shield would protect us from a literal arrow.
Consider this:
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
Eph. 4:26-27
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the Devil.
Let’s end by discussing a practical way to apply what we’ve learned.
Let’s say you’ve had a challenging experience with someone today. Perhaps they said or did something that rubbed you the wrong way. It would be easy to find yourself replaying that event repeatedly in your mind. You might think about what you’d say if you had it to do over again. Perhaps you’re thinking about what you’ll say if/when you see them again.
I’ve never found that kind of thinking beneficial; however, I have found that it gives a foothold to the Devil. So, what can we do to counter that line of thinking?
Matthew 5:43
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
v44
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Maybe verse 43 sounds better than verse 44, but I can assure you that verse 44 is the correct answer and pleasing to our Heavenly Father.
In summary, many of us will make resolutions to lose weight, save money, get something paid off, buy that whatever, or get that promotion. There might be some merit in those things, but how much more benefit is there in resolving to defend our minds in this new season?
Happy New Year from the Copeland family.