Know Your Enemy - Part 4: How to Battle the Enemy

Read James 4:7-8a

1) What must we do in order to be successful in the war against the Enemy? Explain answer.

a. Submit to God – Before we can resist the devil, we most first submit ourselves to God. What does “submit” mean? To yield or surrender (oneself) to the will or authority of another, in this case God. Practically, that means we agree to live our lives by his rules/commandments. We obey His Word. It is only through His power/authority that we can successfully battle the Enemy. If we attempt to battle the Enemy through our own power, we will be easily defeated.

b. Resist the devil – What does that mean? You oppose the devil … you fight against him. What does it NOT mean? You cozy up to the devil and have a pleasant conversation with him. Unlike Eve, you do not enter into a dialogue with the devil. If you do, you will become susceptible to his subtle, crafty lies. Instill doubt into your heart.

Today we’re going to look at the temptation of Jesus by Satan and see how Jesus put James 4:7-8a into practice.

Read Matthew 4:1-11

Background: Jesus was just baptized in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Luke 4:1 starts off this same event in Jesus’ life by saying that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit. Everything was awesome for Jesus. Life could not be any better. But then …

2) What do you find strange in verse 1? The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for what purpose? To be tempted by the devil. Why? Read Hebrews 2:17-18. To be the example … to set the example for us in how to battle and overcome the Enemy. If we follow Christ’s example in battling the enemy, we will come out victorious every time.

3) By the end of verse 2, how do you think Jesus is feeling? Physically exhausted – He has been walking in a barren wasteland for 40 days. Sleeping on hard ground. Rocks for pillows. Cold nights and hot days. Starving. Has eaten for 40 days. Spiritually exhausted – Luke 4:2 says that the devil was constantly tempting Jesus during these 40 days. Constantly harassing/badgering Jesus. By the end of the 40 days, Jesus is at His weakest. The exhilarating baptism experience and all the joy that came with that must have seemed an eternity ago. It was at this moment, when Jesus was seemingly at the breaking point, that the Enemy stepped up his attack. Had Jesus right where he wanted Him.

4) Define temptation - to entice or allure to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral. Knowing that, let’s answer the following questions. What were the three temptations presented to Jesus by Satan? In each temptation, what was the enticement for Jesus to do what Satan said? If Jesus had surrendered to the temptation, what would have been the catch (unsuspected condition that would come in accepting Satan’s offers)?

a. Turn the stones into bread – With what phrase did begin the temptation? “If you are the Son of God” … Why? 1) Instill doubt; to promote uncertainty. What did Satan want Jesus to be unsure about? To get Jesus to question His identity. His purpose. His mission. To be the Anointed of God sent to bring salvation to humanity. If Satan could create a tiny mustard seed of doubt in Jesus’ heart about who He was and His purpose, the Enemy had a chance at success. 2) Play on Jesus’ pride. “If you are the Son of God, prove it to me. Turn these stones into bread and I’ll believe you are the Son of God.” What was the enticement for Jesus? He was starving. Stomach was growling like a lion. It would be so easy for Jesus to perform this miracle. To give in to what his flesh craved/desired more than anything at that moment. You ever had a similar experience? Your flesh craves/desires something that is not good for you? If Jesus had surrendered to the temptation, what would have been the catch? Temporary satisfaction of his flesh/pride. Jesus does what Satan says. To prove to the Enemy that He is the Son of God, Jesus turns the stones to bread and eats until He can’t eat anymore. Result? By listening to the voice of Satan rather than God … by meeting His own selfish need … by giving to the cravings of His flesh, Jesus would have sinned. All for the personal satisfaction of 1) defending His pride by proving to Satan that He was the Son of God. 2) fill his stomach. And just how long would that last? That’s the rub with fulfilling the desires of the flesh. It can be an exhilarating feeling, but it is only temporary.

b. Jump off the top of the temple so that angels will catch you – The Enemy again attempted to get Jesus to question His identity and purpose. If you are the Messiah, God would allow no harm to befall you. After all, you are His Son, aren’t you? Also, the Enemy attempted to give his words legitimacy, how? By using Scripture. If the Enemy knows Scripture … can quote Scripture … shouldn’t you? What was the enticement for Jesus? Easy way for Jesus to convince the Jews that He was the Son of God. Temple was one of the tallest buildings in Jerusalem. There were regularly hundreds if not thousands of people in the vicinity of the temple. Imagine how the Jews would have regarded Jesus if they saw Him jump from the top of temple and then the sight of angels catching Him before He hits the ground. If they saw such a miraculous event, the Jews … His People …would be convinced that He was the Son of God. He would not to have experience the pain of rejection by His own People - maybe. If Jesus had surrendered to the temptation, what would have been the catch? 1) Would God have actually sent angels to catch Jesus if He had done something so foolish? 2) Would everyone seeing the miracle believed that Jesus was the Son of God? Jesus performed many miracles, including raising people from the dead. And yet, many who saw these miracles still rejected Jesus as the Son of God.

c. Offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world on the condition that Jesus acknowledge Satan as his lord/master/god by worshipping him. Satan had the ear of the leaders of the world. They were under his influence. He could convince them through deception to acknowledge Jesus as their ruler –perhaps. What was the enticement for Jesus? Let’s say Satan really had the power to pull such a feat off, it sure would be a lot easier way for Jesus to get the people of the world to follow him as their King/God than the alternative – excruciating pain and death on a cross. No whips, no crown of thorns, no beatings, no nails. All He had to do was kow-tow to Satan. If Jesus had surrendered to the temptation, what would have been the catch? 1) The odds that Satan could actually convince the political leaders of the world to pledge allegiance to Jesus as their ruler was slim and none. He greatly exaggerated his authority. 2) Would Jesus really have been the number one authority in the world? By worshipping Satan, He would have acknowledged Satan as His authority.

5. How did Jesus put James 4:7-8a into practice to battle the Enemy?

a)How did Jesus submit to God?

Jesus quoted Scripture. Do you see a common theme in each verse Jesus quoted? Write verses 4, 7, and 10 on the board. In each Scripture, Jesus recognizes … places Himself under the authority of God. Basically telling Satan, I am not under your authority, I am under God’s. Because I am under His authority, I am to do what He says (Scripture) and not what you say. So get lost. We must obey the “thou shalt not”s ... the “it is written”s found in the Bible in order to be victorious in our struggle against the Enemy. In order to obey “thou shalt not”s ... the “it is written”s, we need to know what they are. To every temptation, there is Scripture to combat it. There is a reason why the Bible is referred to as a sword. Talk more about that in part 5 of this series. Again, if the devil knows Scripture, how much more should we know it? It’s embarrassing to say, but I would guess that Satan knows more Scripture than most Christians.

b)How did Jesus resist the devil? Jesus refused to enter into a dialogue/debate/discussion with the Enemy. Moreover, Jesus did not enter a dialogue/debate/discussion within Himself on whether He should or should not do what Satan said. Unlike Eve, who did both. Jesus’ responses were quick, short, and to the point.

c)Did the devil flee from Jesus? Yes. For how long? Read Luke 4:13. An opportune time. What does that mean? When would Satan return to tempt Jesus? When Jesus would be most vulnerable. Ex. Matthew 16:21. Satan attempted to use Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends, to tempt Jesus. Lesson for us – do not allow Satan to use you as a stumbling block to someone else. When Jesus was in agony, hanging on the cross, people screaming at Jesus to save Himself by coming down from the cross. Their words were Satan’s words. Satan tempting Jesus to avoid death … to disobey God.