Temptation - All About You

Title:  Temptation – All About You By Pastor Lohn Johnson

Text: Luke 4:13  13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

INTRODUCTION: My dear friends in Christ, There’s a new TV show called “Lucifer.”  I always want to see what TV producers do with a character like this.  Usually they fail the truth miserably.  I was not disappointed.  This show is not recommended. You can see how they present a limited “devil.” Yes, the “devil” is limited but not as they propose.  They make him influenced by humanity – by one human in particular.  They play down sin.  They make him a handsome playboy with a British accent.  Now I know, he can appear as the angel of light, but really a playboy with a British accent.  And they do all this to make a new twist for a cop show and that’s really tacky.

I. But the one thing that’s really twisted is that they have the devil going on vacation.  No way!!!!

A. The devil never goes on vacation when it comes to tempting us.

1. For him temptation is a very personal thing.  He wants to wreck what God has made—and that’s you and me. The devil makes sure that he tempts us in those areas where you and I are personally weak.

a. He did not tempt Jesus with a warm fur coat in the desert; he tempted Him with food because He was hungry.  With us also he makes each temptation a custom fit.   b. If your eyes have the tendency to wander, the devil will tempt you with sex.   c. If your eyes are faithfully in the Word of God, the devil will tempt you to become proud and think you are stronger, better than others.    d. If you enjoy the outdoors, the devil will tempt you to make the outdoors your church on Sunday mornings.   e. If you are dedicated to your job, he will tempt you to place your job as a priority over God's Word and Sacraments.

2. Satan is an expert tailor.  He designs each temptation perfectly.  He sizes us up with exact measurements.  He knows us much better even than we know ourselves.  And He’s never on vacation.

B. Yet even as he crafts our temptations, there is a thread which he uses that is the same for every temptation.  This thread can be summed up with this phrase:  "It's all about you."

1. We see this thread being weaved as he tempted Jesus.

a. "You're hungry, Jesus.  Turn this stone into bread.  After all, it's all about you."    b. On a high mountain the devil showed Him all the glory of the world in a moment of time.  "This can all be yours, Jesus," he tempted Him, "And you deserve it because, after all, it's all about you."    c. On the pinnacle of the temple the devil tempted Jesus to throw Himself down.  "God will keep you safe," he told Him, "And people will flock to you and be amazed by you.  After all, it's all about you."

2. This same thread Satan uses today to weave together his temptations.

a. To the young woman who discovers she is pregnant at the wrong time in her life, the devil says, "Have an abortion.  It's your body, it's your life.  It's not about that fetus in your womb; it's all about you and what you want."    b. He says the same thing to the man who is unhappy in his marriage, "Divorce her, find someone else.  After all, it's all about you."

3. Whatever temptation you are faced with, you can be certain that the devil appeals to the ego inside all of us.

a. "He said something bad to you.  Don't forgive him; hold a grudge.  After all, it's not about him, it's about you and your hurt feelings." b. You're tired this morning. Sleep in.  You can go to church next week.  It's about you and getting your rest.  c. "There's no need to study the Bible.”  You learned it when you were young.  You have more important things to do than sit in a Bible Class.  It's about you and what you want."

II. Our failure when tempted is like something a witty author wrote about a time when he and his wife went fly-fishing. This was their first time at this particular sport. Their guides told them that in order to “to catch a fish you have to think like a fish. “To a fish, life is “see a fly, want a fly, eat a fly.” As the author humorously puts it, “A rainbow trout never really reflects on where his life is headed. The fish are just a collection of appetites. A fish is a stomach, a mouth, and a pair of eyes.” He says, “While we were on the water, I was struck by how dumb fish are.” [He imagined a fisherman saying to the fish], “Hey, swallow this. It’s not the real thing; it’s just a lure. You’ll think it will feed you, but it won’t. It’ll trap you. If you were to look closely, fish, you would see the hook. You’d know once you were hooked that it’s just a matter of time before the enemy reels you in.”  You’d think fish would wise up and notice the hook or see the line.  The author continues, “We say fish swim together in a school, but they never learn. Aren’t you glad we’re smarter?” Well . . . I guess when you see how we fall continuously to temptation it shows we aren’t really smarter than a fish. But we’re just like fish.  This "it's all about you" lure works with us; it did not work with Jesus.  Because for Jesus it was never about Him, about His wants and needs.  It was always about the sinners for whom He came to die.

A. If it had been about Jesus, then He would not have gone to the Jordan to identify Himself with you in His baptism.

1. If it had been about Jesus, then He would not have taken the painful road to the cross. If it had been about Jesus, then He would have turned those stones in the desert not only into bread, but into steak and potatoes.   2. But for Jesus, it was never about Him.  The devil tempted Him to think of Himself, but His thoughts were only about YOU.  The devil tempted Him to put Himself first, but you were always first in His mind and heart.

B. Satan could not stop Jesus from putting you first in His life, so now instead he stops us from putting Jesus first in our life.  And he is very good at it.

1. And if there is any one of us here today who thinks we are immune to Satan's temptations; who has little concern, therefore, with all the temptations facing us day by day-- then Satan has already won and we are defeated.

a. The devil wants you to think that you shouldn’t take him seriously.  He wants you to trust more in your own strength and less in Christ.    b. Satan is not trying to turn you or me into a nonbeliever tomorrow.  He's thinking long-term.  A little each day he pulls at us.  He knows that the battle for your soul is not won in a day.  He's thinking weeks, months, years from now.  And so a little each day he tempts you to put yourself first and Jesus second.  c. A pastor once told about a church in Chicago where he saw a most amazing picture. Without being labeled as such, it's a picture of Jesus. At least it looks like Jesus. He is seated on a rock….alone….staring straight ahead….overlooking a valley. But the disconcerting thing about the picture is that while his face looks normal, his skull doesn't. It's as if a portion of his skull has been peeled back, allowing you to see underlying brain tissue…. whole strands of it….interlocking, overlapping and almost moving. But as you watch it….and as your eyes become accustomed to the light surrounding it….you realize that what you are looking at is not brain tissue at all, but fingers. Dozens of fingers. All of them grabbing and pulling at the mind of Jesus. And what is the picture called? "The Temptations."  Which didn't mean much until a friend talking about temptations said: "Sometimes it feels as if someone is messing with my head."

2. This leads us to think “Is there any hope for us? We are no match for Satan.  How can we ever overcome and gain the victory?” The answer lies with Christ.

a. Satan may be an expert tailor when weaving our temptations, but Jesus has woven you a piece of clothing for you to wear against the devil.  In your baptism Christ put His holy innocence upon you.  His forgiveness covers you within and without.  This means that you and Jesus are joined together.    b. You are clothed with Christ and whatever temptation Satan uses to assault you, it has to go through Jesus.  Don't take off your robe.  Don't leave it at the baptismal font.  Wear it night and day.  Do not neglect Christ's Word and Sacraments.  And as you wear Christ, you are kept safe in Him against the devil.

III. And remember that this story in Luke is not really about showing us how to defeat Satan; it is proclaiming that in Christ, Satan has been defeated for you.

A. Picture with me a boat, a large boat out in the ocean, perhaps in the Indian Ocean where pirates still patrol today.  And that boat, filled with passengers, is attacked by a pirate ship. Everyone in that boat is in danger. All life aboard could perish.

1. But one man, just one, is stationed at a gun, a cannon. He fires at that pirate ship and sinks it.  That one man saves the life of everyone on board.    2. That Man is Jesus Christ.  He came to be with us in our boat, the church.  Satan would have destroyed us.  He would have taken Jesus' church and dashed it to pieces upon the rocks of hell.  But Jesus stopped him.  He defeated him in the desert, and at the cross, and at the empty tomb.  He defeats him for you in your baptism, at the Holy Supper, in the preaching and teaching of His Word.  Jesus fired the cannon at Satan.  From His mouth came forth words which sunk that pirate..."It is written...It is finished...Take eat and drink...I forgive you."  Jesus did not fire the cannon at the devil to show us how.  He did it because we fail, because we are weak, because we give in to temptation.

B. Jesus won in the desert, and that means you have won in Christ.  In the boat of the church you are safe with Him.  Jesus won on the cross by dying for you, and this means you are forgiven.  You are forgiven even when you and I give in and fall.  You are forgiven even though we are pitiful, and weak, and sinful.  You see, it's not all about you.  It's about Jesus who is for you.  Your baptism into Christ reminds you that you are in the boat with Him, and His victory is yours.  Your place at His Supper reminds you that it's not about how sinful you are, but that Jesus was poured out for you; that you are forgiven no matter how often you fall into temptation.

CONCLUSION: Is the pirate dead? No, but he is defeated.  And so when he attacks you, one little word can fell him.  Not your word or my word.  Not our strength.  But it’s all about Jesus...He is our Savior.  Amen.