Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
The sermon text is from Luke 4:1-13 previously read.
I think it odd considering how messed up our world is that surveys of those who claim to be Christians show that most so-called Christians believe in heaven and angels, but many don’t believe in the devil, demons or hell. That’s a dangerous bit of Biblical illiteracy and ignorance that I pray none of you share. I would even suggest someone who doesn’t believe in the devil doesn’t really believe in Jesus as their Savior. All the more reason for us to use this Lenten season digging into God’s Word, by starting to read through the Gospels, maybe using some of the devotions we’ve provided in the narthex. If you don’t believe or are ignorant of the devil, it’s pretty likely you’re not really saved. Hebrews 2 described Jesus’ purpose for coming this way, “Since the children share flesh and blood, Jesus Himself partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who were enslaved by their fear of death.”
Not only was destroying the devil’s power Jesus’ purpose – which we begin to see as He is tempted in the desert, but Ephesians 6 adds, “Our struggle [to live as Christians] is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
I would suggest the devil’s work is disturbingly evident in these last days of this dying world, but unless you foolishly dabble in the occult you might miss it. You might chalk up sinful behavior and evil actions to disorders and addictions to be treated therapeutically. No offense, to Tiger Woods but sexual sin, like any sin, isn’t an addiction, and it’s fallout is hell and damnation, and the only treatment is repentance and faith in the Savior who was tempted and lived perfectly in our place.
It’s hard to say this with a straight face, what with all the horrific evil all around us in the world, but sometimes the devil flies “under the radar screen” so that you don’t take him seriously. I don’t mean to pick on our teenagers, because this is true for all of us, but just by way of illustration how many teenagers are more afraid of following the devil to hell than they are being unpopular with their friends? That’s pretty sad, isn’t it?
Jesus’ ministry in the Gospels is everywhere and always a head-on conflict with Satan. Time and again, He casts out demons. The Gospels are a picture of Satan doing his worst in his remaining time to spread evil and pain and to steal souls away from Savior.
In our text, Jesus has just been baptized, beginning His ministry of salvation and the devil in his arrogance and hate wants to destroy His work of salvation right at the start. It’s a great comfort to us in our text that after fasting 40 days, Jesus is hungry. It shows He’s really a man – and if He wasn’t He couldn’t have been our Savior. On the other hand, if His real human nature weren’t sustained by His Divine nature He wouldn’t have survived 40 days. Only as true God and man could He be your Savior.
Good News magazine told this story about Christian missionaries visiting native people in central South America… As they traveled up a river, they were suddenly hit by a wall of water caused by heavy rain further upstream. With their boat capsized, supplies drenched, and the darkness of night rapidly descending, the missionaries built a campfire along the river. In the middle of the night, one missionary noticed two large jaguars crouching in the shadows. When the campfire waned, the cats crept closer. Realizing these cats stayed just outside the border of light, the missionaries survived by staying awake to keep the fire burning, keeping the hungry jaguars at bay.
May God grant us eyes to see and hearts to believe the demonic dangers against which we are warned in God’s Word. Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World.” Yet, do we let the embers grow dim, not “fanning into flame the gift of God which is in you”, as Paul put it? Through ignorance and unbelief as to the true nature of our enemy are we at the mercy of our enemy. Have we snuffed out the shielding light of God’s Word, which is “a lamp to our feet and a light for our path”? We have a wily enemy the devil, crouching in the shadows, content for us to imagine he doesn’t exist or needn’t be battled.
But that’s not the worst of it, we don’t simply forget about the devil, we leave the door open for him to sneak in and devastate our families and faith. Consider the good inventions that often become tools of the devil. Not only does television spread many preachers who preach and spread lies in God’s Name, TV stupefies us with gutter humor that makes you imagine all Hollywood writers are 16 year old boys. No offense intended if you’re 16. Computers are great, but it’s said by far the most aggressive use of the internet is for pornography. Music is a great vehicle to proclaim the Gospel, but so much music mocks Christian values and sells sex – certainly not musical talent.
The devil is real. False doctrine, immorality and profanity aren’t innocent fun. They’re tools of Satan to destroy you and your home. How can we dare be so complacent when the devil is “prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” It’s time we wake up, listen to God’s Word, and lock the door to our homes and families, confessing our sins and running for refuge to the only One who could destroy the demonic homewrecker.
1 John 3: 8 says, “The Son of Man appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” The Gospel Good News we find in our verse for today is that Jesus triumphed completely over the devil. “Tempted in every way just as we are Jesus was without sin.” The devil is strong and powerful and we dare not ignorantly underestimate him, but Christ Jesus came for this reason – to destroy the devil’s work. Listen to Hebrews 2 again: “Since the children have flesh and blood, Christ Jesus shared their humanity that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
Our text gives an awesome picture of Jesus’ victory over Satan, but foreshadows the God/man’s greatest victory. When Jesus died in the darkness of Calvary’s cross, the devil believed he had destroyed God’s work and defeated the Savior, but when Jesus rose from the dead on Easter the brilliant light of God’s love pushed back the shadows. Joined to our Risen Savior through faith, fed by His Word and Supper we are forgiven and sheltered from the lions prowling the darkness. Trust in Jesus. Believe His great work and remember the promise He put on you in Baptism. Christ Jesus slammed the door on the devil, becoming your mighty Fortress against every demonic power. Walther wrote: “The foe was triumphant when on Calvary The Lord of creation was nailed to the tree. In Satan’s domain his hosts shouted and jeered, For Jesus was slain, whom the evil ones feared. But short was their triumph, the Savior arose, And death, hell, and Satan he vanquished, his foes; The conquering Lord lifts his banner on high. He lives, yes, he lives, and will nevermore die.”
The devil is a nasty liar, “the father of lies”. He hates you and wants to destroy your faith and everything God created good. But remember Jesus said, “Nothing can snatch you from His hand.” Romans 8 says, “Neither angels nor demons, neither height nor depth nor any power; Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ.” The only power the devil has over those who are in Christ through faith… is the power you give him. Don’t leave the door open. He will sneak in. For God’s sake if you’ve got a little girl or boy talk to them about what it means to be a child of God; talk to them so they know the devil can speak loudly and clearly in that desperate need to be accepted and popular. Flee temptation. Stand guard over your eyes and ears, as the devil would use them for His invasion. Be strong in God’s Word, so you can use it as did Jesus to defeat the devil. Ephesians 6 says, “Put on the full armor of God. Take the shield of faith to extinguish the flaming missiles of the evil one. Take the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.”
Don’t underestimate the devil’s power and think it’s OK to embrace temptation, but neither should you underestimate the awesome arsenal God gives you to insure Jesus’ victory remains yours. 2 Corinthians 10 says, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish [demonic] strongholds.”
Jesus overcame temptation for you in the wilderness, and He finished the job at the cross. Like a writhing snake flailing after its head’s been crushed, the devil is defeated, yet dangerous, if we expose ourselves to his poisonous venom. Christ is your Mighty Fortress. Jesus’ body and blood is your oral antidote against the devil’s poisonous lies. In His body and blood, Jesus forgives your failures and strengthens you to “fight the good fight.” For the fierce, long warfare of life, 1 Corinthians 10 is a favorite verse – one that can give you comfort until you hear the distant triumph song, and you see God’s saints triumphant clothed in the brightness of Christ. Until that day when our enemy falls silent and Christ the King towers triumphantly, remember: “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” Amen.
And now may the peace of God which surpasses human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.