Opening Discussion:
As we begin our study this morning I want you to consider a very small word which appears a great deal in today’s gospel reading and that is the word if. In Greek the word is εί and it is usually used in a conditional sense if
only or what if? However, it can also be used in another sense which is “in for as much as” or “since” so when satan says to Jesus: “If you are the Son of God”, what do you think he is trying to do?
Using if in a conditional sense implies that the devil is trying to sow seeds of doubt into the mind of Jesus. It is tantamount saying: “If, and I’m not saying that you are, but if you are the son of God then……”
We note this tactic to use by satan in the garden when he says to Eve, “Did God really say?
If, however the word if is being used as since or for as much as then the devil is taunting him by saying: “For as much as you are the Son of God why not use your power to break your fast your power to win popularity and better still in return for riches, power and influence, why not use your power to serve me?”
Both of these applications along with three commonly used entry point are used by the deil to gain access into the life of a believer: the Physical, the Emotional and the Spiritual and we will now consider each in turn.
The Physical
What do we understand by the five senses?
Taste, touch, sight, smell and hearing.
According to an article published by Harvard University, the senses “form the very foundation of our ability to understand and navigate the world around us, to avoid danger, to connect with people, and to navigate and make sense of our surroundings.”
They are also very vulnerable entry points which the evil SWAT like to exploit. Sin, the World and Tempter will try to encourage us to taste, touch,
see, smell and hear that which is, if not immediately harmful, that which is ultimately harmful to our souls.
What kind of enticing packaging does the devil use to wrap up his schemes?
Peer pressure, humour, lust and self-satisfaction to name, but a few.
Why is it that people still smoke despite the lurid and horrific images and warnings printed on tobacco products
that such substances are harmful even fatal?
Sin, the World And the Tempter seek to gain entry by blasting their way through our defences luring us into satisfying our own base animal desires in quantities, or at times or with people that we should not.
Lent is a time for considering our physical vulnerabilities and by the Holy Spirit’s aid
practise self-denial and self- control.
The devil struck when Jesus was physically weak and very hungry. He knows the power and efficacy of self-denial and he wanted to attack it.
How might Jesus’ response give us the means to sure up and defend the physical entry point?
The Emotional entry point
Why is it that even highly trained athletes sometimes
resort to taking performance enhancing drugs and steroids in order to win competitions?
Maybe it is the lust for glory and greatness, an unhealthy and aggressive sense of competitiveness. Could it even be fear of not winning and perhaps even pressure from their sporting bodies and sponsors? But, even if the athlete gets away with cheating, the possible harmful and even fatal side effects of performance enhancing drugs and anabolic steroids is well
documented and yet they still do it.
If they get caught taking performance enhancing drugs that momentary glory on the podium after the race is quickly replaced by humiliation, scandal and disqualification. Just the way the devil likes it.
How might the second temptation of Jesus be an example of the devil attempting to exploit an emotional entry point?
I would like to suggest that the devil was trying the tactic of temptation to popularity. Such drive for popularity or fear of the loss of popularity is a strong driver, but there is another possible interpretation for the devil’s use of the emotional entry point on this occasion and that his exploitation of other human emotions and feelings such as despair, depression and anger.
Could it be that another reason that the devil took him
to the highest point of the temple was to tempt Jesus to take the easy way out? “Why put yourself through all of this, Son of God?” “Your human nature is weak.” “All its takes is just one step and it will all be over..go on do it!”
Despair is an entry point the devil often exploits by promoting self-destructive behaviour.
Closely aligned to Despair is the powerful emotion of Anger.
St Paul writing in his letter to the Ephesian church cautions: ““In your anger do not sin”[: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Eph 4:26
How many of us have done things, said things, thought things or typed things we should not have done in a moment of anger? In those moments of seeing “red mist” we human beings can lose self-control and do the most dreadful things.
Anger and self-destructive behaviours like self-harm and parasite and even suicide is linked with anger. I found on many occasions people exhibiting such destructive behaviours are full of anger. Often they cannot be angry with the person that they would want to be angry with and so they turn the anger in on themselves.
The spiritual entry point
Who is satan?
According to the Bible Gateway Encyclopaedia SATAN sā’ tən ָטָןשׂ, means ,שָׂטַן adversary, from the verb to lie in wait. in Greek the word is transliterated to mean, to oppose; σατάν.
Set aside the personification of the Tempter as a created serpent in Genesis 3, the Bible Gateway Encyclopaedia remarks quite rightly that “in the OT the figure of Satan is not essentially an evil being, …. he appears simply as an
angelic personage who has the task of trying men.” We see this especially in Job where satan is depicted as a sullen member of the court of heaven.
Often the noun satan or similar words from the derivative satan is simply used to denote “opposition.” In Psalm 109:6 we read a most curious example of this:
“Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy;
let an accuser stand at his right hand.”
Here the opposer is linked with evil, but that it not always the case.
It is only with the coming of Christ that the true nature of God’s opponent is revealed. The noun “satan” appears 36 times in the New Testament and the title, διάβομος, meaning “the slanderer” or “calumniator” is used 33 times. Other titles describing this Adversary’s identity and character are used: “Abaddon” and “Apollyon” (Rev 9:11), both meaning “the
destroyer.” “the accuser of our brethren” (12:10); “the adversary” (ἀντίδικος, G508, 1 Pet 5:8); “Beelzebul” (Lord of the House) (Matt 12:24); “Belial” from the Hebrew word for “worthless”, (Βελιάρ in Greek, G1016, 2 Cor 6:15); “the deceiver of the whole world” (Rev 12:9); “the great dragon” (12:9); “an enemy” (Matt 13:28, 39); “the evil one” (13:19, 38); “the father of lies” (John 8:44); “the god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4); “a liar” (John 8:44); “a murderer”
(8:44); “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2); “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11); “the ancient serpent” (Rev 12:9); “the tempter” (Matt 4:3; 1 Thess 3:5).
Who satan is and how he is linked with God’s Creative activity in the Universe is still somewhat of a mystery, but it is clear that he is a spiritual being, possibly an angelic opponent whose evil and destructive activity betrays his identity and purpose. The
extent to which God allows satan’s existence and activity and even makes use of him as an instrument of testing also a mystery, but the fact that he does seems evident from both the Old Testament New Testament.
The account of Job’s trials at the malicious and determined hand of satan seem almost fanciful, but Jesus knows of the devil’s audacity in approaching God directly for permission to harm God’s children when he says in
Luke 22:31, ““Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
This recognition that Simon would “turn back”, implies that Jesus knew he would betray, deny him, but it also shows satan’s limited authority. He has to ask God first. The fact that God uses satan or permits satan’s activity is implied here.
Amongst the variety of titles, satan is called by Jesus in John’s gospel three times, “The prince of this World.”
“Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.” John 12:31
“I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me.” John 14:30
Finally:
“the prince of this world now stands condemned.” John 16:10
Coming back to our gospel reading and this third entry point the spiritual entry point, how does the third temptation illustrate the modus operandi of the evil SWAT?
“Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow
down and worship me.” Matt 4:8-9
It is clear in this audacious claim by satan as “prince of this world” that has tried to place himself in equality with God as someone who can be worshipped and before whom people must bow.
The third entry point, the spiritual entry point is the temptation to replace God with something or someone other than him. In the case of the third temptation of Jesus, the devil attempted to lure
Jesus onto his side by promises of power and wealth without the need to have to suffer crucifixion for it.
The Bible Gateway Encyclopaedia usefully comments in regard to satan as “prince of this World”:
“The “world” (κόσμος, G3180) which he rules is the present world system organized according to his own principles, methods, and aims (2 Cor 4:3, 4; Eph 2:2; Col 1:13; 1 John 2:15-17). The greed and self-centered
ambitions of the nations, the deceptive diplomacy of the political world, the bitter hatred and rivarly in the sphere of commerce, the godless ideologies of the masses of humanity, all spring out of and are fostered by satanic influence.”
Perhaps God allows this because of his abiding principle of freely exercised love. Love cannot be forced, but to choose Love one must also be free to hate.
Action to repel SWAT
Having identified three entry points SWAT let now briefly consider the measures that we can take to repel them as we conclude our study today.
Firstly recognition:
The first step of repelling SWAT is to know which of the three common entry points is our greatest vulnerability. We should use Lent as a time for a personal security inspection.
Is it the physical entry point? Do we look at, taste listen to, touch and smell things that we shouldn’t do? If so we need to take stock of this and consider those vulnerabilities, praying for the Holy Spirit’s assistance to grow in us the fruit of self control.
Is our key vulnerability of theemotional entry point? Are we prone to bouts of anger or depression or despair? Are we prone to the desire for popularity and success at any
cost even cheating and deception? If so such emotions render us weak to temptation and exploitation by SWAT.
Finally are we vulnerable to the spiritual entry point? Do we have a tendency to replace God or times with God with something else? It is at the times when we feel least like praying and reading the Bible or going to church that we MUST.
Hear the warnings from scripture:
Jesus: ““Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matt 26:41
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” Heb 10:24-26
St Paul: “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” 1 Tim 6:11
“and do not give the devil a foothold.” Eph 4:27
St Peter: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Pet 5:8
Secondly, armour
“Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.” Eph 6:13
We can see that Jesus uses all the armour. He wears the belt of truth at all times, though the truth got him killed. Note how the devil makes the truth a lie and lies the truth, something which he still does today.
Jesus maintained his breastplate of righteousness, despite huge opposition and
temptation to use his divine power to eliminate his enemies.
Jesus wore figurative sandals of peace and counselled his followers to pray for those who opposed them.
Of the last three the shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the Word of God, Jesus was the embodiment of all three. His name means “God saves”, his life was lived in faith and utter trust in his
Father and we know that he was steeped in scripture and had it at his finger tips. In response to every temptation by the devil he says “it is written.” Jesus doesn’t rely on his own opinion, but stands firmly on the word of God as being the source of his spiritual nourishment and protection against depression and self destruction and resistance to the allurement of power, wealth and popularity. BUT, be warned
the devil knows the scriptures too.
Conclusion
So where do you stand this Lent? Indeed, are you standing or should you be kneeling,? Are you aware of these three entry point vulnerabilities in your life and are you aware and using the measures available to you to repel SWAT?
I urge you to take time this Lent to reflect on these things. Don’t see Lent as an opportunity to diet or to do spring cleaning, but see it as a valuable training opportunity to learn how to resist Sin, the World and the Tempter knowing that all the forces of SWAT will one day be destroyed.
“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur.” Rev 20: 10
Popular imagery holds that hell is the domain of satan, but it it not. It is the place of his final destruction along with all that comprises SWAT and my brothers and sister, all who allow SWAT to have permanent un-hindered access to their lives:
“the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be
consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death.” Rev 21:8
Let us be in a good firing position, kneeling at the ready with the word of God firmly in our shoulder, magazines fully charged with life giving SWAT repelling scripture and what’s more let us form up shoulder to shoulder as battle partners in prayer and encouragement.