Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 12, Number 11, DeMotte, Jasper County, 22 January 1942 — IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY CHOOL Lesson [ARTICLE]

IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY CHOOL Lesson

By HAROLD L. LUNDQUI3T. D. D-

Lesson for January 25 Lesson »nd Scripture ‘tf Relfgiouz ucatioiT;** used b, permission. THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS LESSON TEXT-Matthew 4: Ml. GOLDEN TEXT—For we have an high oriest (who) was in all point* tempted Se « are. yet without sin.-Hebrew. 4:15. “We have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:Io, R.V.). We recognize that Jesus was tempted as the Messiah (see Matt. 4:3, 6) and as One who had no sin, and yet He was tempted in all points as we are; and we may learn from His temptation how to meet temptation and be victorious .over it. I. Temptation. It is the common lot of all mankind to be tempted (I Cor. 10:13). The strongest and most noble of men are subject to it; angels were tempted yes, even Jesus was tempted. We need to know about temptation, so we note . 1. What It Is (v. 1). Temptation is of the devil. It is, as Principal Fairbairn expressed it, “seduction to evil, solicitation to wrong. It stands distinguished from trial thus: trial tests, seeks to discover the man’s moral qualities or character; but temptation persuades to evil, deludes that it may ruin. God tries, Satan tempts,” , - Note that temptation is not sin, but yielding 5 to the temptation is sin. We are told by James (Jas. 1 .•ISIS) that man is tempted by his own lusts. He also tells us that God may permit temptations or trials to test our faith (Jas. 1:2, 3), but His purpose is only to prove us able to stand. God does not suffer us to be tempted beyond endurance, but provides a way of escape (I Cor. 10:13). 2. How It Works (vv. 2,3, 5,6, 8* 9). Satan has only: three temptations, although he is a master at giving them different appearances. The temptation of Jesus followed the same threefold line as that of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:6), which is described in I John 2:16 as the general temptation of alj men, namely, “the lust of the flesh; the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” Observe how Satan worked on Jesus: (a) By appealing to the flesh (vv. »2, 3). Jesus had fasted 40 days, and Satan took advantage of that fast to suggest that He use His divine power of creation to satisfy His hunger. To do so would have been to deny His very mission on earth. Satan observes in man the normal appetites of his body, excites them to a high degree, and then tempts him to satisfy them in an improper way. 4 (b) By appealing to pride (vv. 5,6). God had promised to keep Jesus “in all his ways” (Ps. 91: 11), but casting Himself from the temple was not one of God’s “ways” for Him.; The devil wants us to be presumptuous and call it faith, and this is his pitfall for one who really wants to believe—cause him to become a fanatic and substitute foolish presumption for faith, (c) By appealing to the eyes (vv. 8,9). By showing Christ the kingdoms of the earth in some kind of striking panorama, or moving picture, he offered a short cut to their rule by a brief act of worship of him, rather than by way of the cross. The devil showed his real purpose here. He wants worship—he wants us to bow to him instead of to God. 11. Our Lord Was Victorious Over Satan. We, too, can triumph in His blessed To do so we need to study the way of victory. 1. How to Gain It (vv. 4,7, 10). Three steps appear: (a) By the right use of Scripture. If our Lord needed and used that weapon, how can we possibly do without it? How can we use it if we do not study it, and hide it in our hearts (Ps. 119: 11)? (b) By complete dependence upon God. Every Scripture used by Jesus against Satan honored God the Father. We cannot fight Satan inf our own strength. Luther was right—{ “Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing.” The real victory for the Christian is to bring Satan to the foot of the cross. Christ defeated him completely there, and we may plead that victory, (c) By denouncing Satan. Jesus sent him on his way. We may do the same, in Jesus’ name; It is always a serious error to argue with Satan, or even to discuss mat-* ters with him. He is not divine, but he is a supernatural being with knowledge and cunning which are too much for us. Meet him with Scripture, honor God by your faith in Christ, then “resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7). 2. What It Brings (v. 11). When the defeated devil left Christ, angels came and ministered to Him. The overcoming of temptation brings victory, peace, and blessed rest. This is ever true in the life of the believer. Temptations victoidously met make one stronger in meeting the next temptation. There is al?k n f Xt u 0ne ’ for we read (Luka 4.13) that the devil left Christ only for a season.”