Sound The Trumpet : Matthew 4:1-11 Pt. 3

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“Matthew 4:1-11 Pt. 3”
by Art Sadlier
September 12th, 2010

Last week we dealt with An Appeal to Act Independently of God. This week we will deal with

2 - An Appeal to take the Easy Way

A – Avoid the Cross - Verse 5-6 “Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.”

The pinnacle of the Temple was probably the roof of Herod’s portico, over the south east corner of the Temple Mount. It would rise slightly higher than the Mount of Olives to the east. Beyond Olivet the Lord would be able to view Jericho road. The road to Jericho was 12 miles long and dropped 3,000’ from Jerusalem to Jericho.

As he viewed the Jericho road He no doubt thought about that day some 3 years ahead of Him. The day would be the day when He would climb that road for the last time, with His disciples. He would make His way to the cross. The road to the cross was an uphill road, all the way.

As Christ reflected on the agonies of the cross that lay ahead of Him, He thought of the untold sufferings that awaited Him. At that moment the Devil said to Him, “Take the easy way, Avoid the way of the cross.”

Then comes the first temptation, “Cast thyself down,” this was a suggestion that He perform some sensational act! Leap down into the Temple Court below. That would so impress Israel and her leaders, that they would immediately acclaim him king. He would immediately set up the kingdom and avoid the cross! Peter would later say to Him, `”Not so Lord, Be it far from thee” – “Lord don`t go to the cross.” If He had yielded to that temptation we would be without hope of salvation today.

Remember the crowd on the mountainside, after he fed the 5,000. “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.” The temptation was the same , avoid the cross, set up the kingdom now. When that temptation failed Satan brought another.

B– Use Sensationalism

People love sensationalism, the Jews loved it! John 6:30, “They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? What dost thou work? Perform some miracle, do something sensational and we will follow you.”

There are two things wrong with that. First – Sensationalism is appealing but it is not lasting. Second – It wasn’t God’s way. God’s way for Christ was not an easy way. It was a hard way, a way of loneliness, a way of suffering, a way of rejection, a way of death, a way of loss.

Oh Listen, in this Laodicean age, we have proclaimed an easy road. We have proclaimed an easy gospel, a gospel of easy believism. We have said, you can be a Christian and take an easy road. You can be a Christian and it won’t cost you anything. There is a broad road, it is filled with pleasures and pleasantness. It is crowded with fun loving, excited people. It is easy going and attractive but it doesn’t lead home to heaven!

C – God’s Way

There is a steep, narrow, rocky road. It is filled with difficulty and trials. It is a hard way. Only the truly committed dare to walk it. But it leads home to heaven!

The devil still comes to men and says - Take the easy road – Don’t take God’s way - Shun the hard way - Take the easy way. Don’t sacrifice to follow Christ. Church once on Sunday is enough. Don’t tithe your income. Don’t witness. Don’t take a stand. Don’t stick out in the crowd. Don’t be different. I’m not talking about salvation by works. I’m talking about the love and commitment that is the fruit of the truly born again person. Real salvation will produce commitment to the Lord. Have you got the real thing?

Look at Christ`s answer. Verse 7, “Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to the test.” Don’t go against God. Don’t go against God’s will. Don’t go against God’s Word.

The road is rough, I said, Dear Lord there are stones that hurt me so. And He said, Dear child I understand, I walked it long ago. But there is a cool green path, I said, Let me walk there for a time, No child, He gently answered me, the green road doesn’t climb. My burden is far too great, how can I bear it so? My child, he said, I remember the weight; I carried my cross you know. But I said I wish there were friends with me, who would make my way their own. Ah yes he said, Gethsemanee, was hard to bear alone. So I climb the stony path, content at last to know, that where my master had gone, I would need to go. And strangely I found new friends, the burden grew less sore, And I remembered, long ago, He went that way before.

3 – An appeal to Forsake God

Verse 8-9 “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.”

A – A Bargain

Satan’s age long tactic is to bargain with men. Every man, woman and child who ever lived or ever will live, will be faced with Satan’s propositions. Satan said and Satan still says, “I will give thee.” You may not believe it but the bargain is for your soul. It’s your soul that Satan wants to destroy, and his offers are for your soul. Satan has been bargaining for the souls of men for 6,000 years.

You can see it on TV. Sex- booze,- drugs- things- pleasures- power- pride of life - etc, etc.

You can see it in the office - on the streets – in the home – in the school – anywhere – everywhere. Satan says, worship me. Satan’s appeal is not always that blatant, not always that unvarnished, but blatant or disguised, it is always just that!

Whether you recognize it or not, forsake God; worship Satan; Satan will reward you. That is the issue of every life! That is the issue for every man and woman! Satan is a liar! Do you know what he will really give you? Pleasure for a fleeting moment and hell forever! Christ is the truth. Do you know what He will give you if you trust Him? Psalm 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Who are you worshipping?

B – At a Command

Verse 10, “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

For the believer, worshipping God and God alone is the purpose of life. Nothing in a believers life must allowed too interfere with that supreme purpose! For the unbeliever, he cannot worship God until he is born anew into God’s family and into God’s kingdom.

Colossians 1:13-14, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”

Verse :11, "Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." Christ won the victory, he is qualified to ruke the world in righteoiusness. Tempted in all points yet without sin.

Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13