Introduction:

Got a plan for Lent? This time of year we concentrate on Jesus' suffering and death, contemplate our sins, and focus on amending our sinful lives. Will you do this? Got a plan? If your plan for Lent is to do absolutely nothing different, I strongly urge you to think differently. Have a plan for Lent.

Now I am not talking about the New Year's like resolutions that some people make for Lent. They vow to give up chocolate or beer or carbohydrates or worrying or complaining or something like that. I am talking about a much more productive plan, a better strategy for Lent. Here is the plan that I propose: look at the sin in your life, understand where it comes from, and defeat the sin that plagues you day after day.

In this gospel lesson, Jesus teaches us how to defeat sin. Jesus comes face to face with the devil. It is the ultimate battle of good verses evil. The devil was attacking Jesus with the slim hope that the Son of God would falter and mankind would spend eternity under Satan's tyranny. But Jesus did not let this happen. He recognized Satan's tricks for what they were and Jesus used God's Word to defeat the devil.

1. Recognize Satan's Tricks

Jesus' temptation in the desert is the Son of God's final preparation for his public ministry. These verses follow Jesus' baptism and we are told that being full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert. Jesus stayed in the desert for forty days. Incidentally, the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert is the origin of the forty days we have in Lent. During that time Jesus ate nothing.

And so the devil pounced. Satan saw the opportunity and went for it. That is what the devil does. Undoubtedly, Jesus was in a weakened condition because of his lack of nourishment. And so Satan, being the evil opportunist he is, continuously tempted Jesus over this time period. Luke gives us three examples of these temptations.

One sin by Jesus would have given Satan the victory. But Jesus did not fail the test. He stood strong because he had to. For all the sin we commit, Jesus had to remain sinless. The devil came to Jesus in the words of verse 3 and told him if he really was God's Son, he should tell the stone to become bread. Satan was trying to prey on Jesus weakened physical state and cause doubt. The word "if" was a simply ploy to cause uncertainty in Jesus.

The devil has used this trick since the beginning of time. He used it with Eve in the Garden of Eden. Did God really say that you shouldn't eat this fruit? The devil uses the trick with us also. And Jesus teaches us to recognize this trick. The devil will tempt you by causing doubt. Maybe it is something as simple as "How do we know that the Bible is the truth?" or "How do I know I am not a Christian just because my parents were?" Recognize this as a trick of the devil. He wants you to doubt God.

The devil's second trick was to lie to Jesus. He took him to a high place and told Jesus that he would give him everything in the world if Jesus would worship him. The lie was so bold it bordered on ridiculous. Was the world and everything in it the devil's to give away to Jesus? No. Jesus was already the King of Kings and Lord and Lords.

But the devil loves lies. In fact, he is the father of lies. Just look at how he uses this trick in our world today. Satan has lied to our society and culture and the result is the destruction of the moral compass of America. God clearly says that homosexuality is wrong. Yet we have a debate in our country over marriage, a gift from God. God clearly says that parents should raise their children with discipline and instruction. But our culture tells parents to give kids choices and let them learn from their mistakes. God clearly says in the Bible that we should have no hint of sexual immorality in us, including lust. Our society has bought the devil's lie that it is not harmful and the result has been a flood immoral television programs, movies, magazines, and songs. Recognize Satan's trickery. He is liar.

And in the final example of Satan tempting Jesus, the devil was brave enough to use God's Word to coax the Son of God into sin. He misuses the Scripture passage by trying to get Jesus to jump off the temple in order to see if the angels would rescue him. Jesus recognized this trick and never gave in to temptation.

This is a most dangerous trick of the devil. The reason it is so dangerous is because many people don't know God's Word well enough to defend themselves. The devil knows that he can use this trick on people who don't study the Bible. A person who doesn't know what God says can't possibly stand against this assault on their own.

Jesus faced all of the devil's temptations head on and never gave up. He remained sinless even though the human flesh says that it would be easier for him to give in to the devil. But Jesus never opted for the easy way out, but rather continued to endure on our behalf. Because we were sinners he stuck to the Father's plan all the way to the cross. We needed a perfect Savior. We needed a Savior who was willing to suffer for us. And Jesus, the one who endured the ultimate suffering for our sins, is that Savior.

2. Use God's Word

And since Jesus carried out the plan to perfection, let us all strive this Lenten season to follow God's plan for us. Let us live as Christians, who in faith realize what Jesus has done for us. Fight the temptations of the devil. Follow Jesus' example. He used God's Word.

Jesus may have been physically malnourished during his temptation in the desert, but the Savior was spiritually well fed. Jesus replied to the devil's first test with "Man does not live on bread alone" - Deuteronomy 8:3. Jesus knew the Scriptures. He knew what the Bible said and knew how to use it to fight the devil. Be spiritually well fed.

Jesus Christ realized the power of God's word. It cements the truth in us. It gives us a firm foundation to stand on so that we will not be blown here and there when devil tries to cause doubt in our minds. Did you know that less than 25 % of our members come to Bible study on Sundays? Learn God's Word. Have it at your fingertips. It is foolish to go into battle without a weapon. God's Word is a double-edged sword that cuts the devil down. Realize the power of God's Word and defeat the devil with it.

Jesus is true God. He could have banished or destroyed the devil on sight. However he did not because he knew he must be tempted in every, just as we are. God's Word tells us this in the book of Hebrews. That was God's plan. And so instead of unleashing his almighty wrath on the devil, he believed God's Word was true and effective. I pray that we too are filled with the Holy Spirit, and carry out God's plan for us, believing the truth and power of Scripture.

Satan, the liar, tried to manipulate God's Word to suit his evil plan. Jesus would not accept that. Jesus used the truth of the Bible in battling the devil. He used Scripture to interpret Scripture. The devil is still trying to manipulate the Bible for evil. Many false teachers take Bible passages out of context to suit their desires and fail to apply the entire Bible. Use Scripture correctly. It is a powerful weapon.

Conclusion:

Now we have a solid plan for Lent. Fight Satan's temptations! Jesus came to take our place. He suffered, died, rose again for us. He defeated the devil. Now he gives us the power to defeat him also. Recognize Satan's tricks. Use God's Word. Carry out your plan. May God be with you this Lenten season as you carry out the plan to defeat Satan. AMEN