Title Test! must be defeated
Contents
Text Matthew 4:1-11
The greatest enemy, in other words, the main enemy, is the devil in the Christian life. The devil's work falsely separates us, causes us to fight, causes us to doubt, resentment, hate, envy, and jealousy, makes us sick, destroys us, causes us to die, and causes us to go to hell. The devil is constantly trying to test the saints in order to accomplish this wicked deed.
As you can see through today's verses 1 and 3, “the devil is the tempter”! it can be clearly seen that
In James 4:8, the man of prayer also said, “Oppose the devil, and the devil will flee.” To resist the devil, you need to know about the devil.
Then how and when does the devil tempt him?
First, we work through our weaknesses.
Just as the devil seeks out our weaknesses in Jesus, so the devil, who knows our weaknesses better than ourselves, uses them to tempt us. Our weaknesses include weak will, emotions, reason, material things, shopping, slurring, and gambling.
We must know what our weaknesses and problems are, and prepare thoroughly for the devil's work that seeks those areas, so that we must become successful people, not losers in life, and become victors, not those who are tempted by our faith.
Second, it works very cunningly.
In 2 Corinthians 11:14, it says, “Satan (the devil) also disguises himself as an angel of light,” which means that he deceives by disguising himself. At that time, the devil tests Eve through a very pretty snake, so it is not easy to pass at first, but when you pretend to give for yourself, saying, ‘You too will become like God,’ you pass the test. Just as the serpent became the tempter's tool, the devil uses you as a tool to antagonize, deceive, and put you into temptation.
Third, it continues to work continuously.
The devil doesn't give up because he's tested, but he keeps trying until he passes. In the text, Jesus tried three times, but it was not possible. Verse 11 “Then the devil departed . . . “But this is not to say that it is gone forever. It is the nature of the devil to return after leaving. How much less would you give up and leave forever? You can see that the devil tried to tempt Jesus directly or indirectly, but not just once or twice, he tried to tempt Jesus whenever he had the opportunity (see Matthew 16:23).
How can we overcome the devil's work that continuously works through people, works through culture, works through material things, pretends to be for charity, and sags with weakness?
1. You can defeat the devil with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 4:1 As the saying goes, “Jesus was also led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” . Believers must be filled with the Holy Spirit as Jesus commanded. Then, the Holy Spirit becomes a shield and prevents temptation, so you can overcome the temptation of the devil.
2. We can defeat the temptations of the devil by being filled with the Word.
3. “Prayer can defeat the temptation of the devil.
Jesus also said in Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray so that you may not fall into temptation.” James also said in James 5:13, “Is any of you suffering? As He said, “If you pray, no great test will be tested, and if you do not pray, there will be no test.
The devil's power weakens in front of those who pray. Therefore, because we pray, we must make the devil, who came in one way, flee in seven ways.
Dear members of Shepherd Church,
I pray in the name of Jesus that the members of our Shepherd Church will always be filled with the Holy Spirit, full of the Word, and full of prayer life so that there is no room for the devil.