"The Power to Overcome"
Pastor Holden Tyner
Luke 4:1-13
All the way up until I was 15 years old, I was terrified of roller coasters. My friends, one day tried to convince me to get on them. They reassured me about the safety features, and told me that the key was to holds your hands up and scream. Funny enough, from that day forward I’ve absolutely loved roller coasters. The fear that I thought I would never overcome, I overcame by watching and listening to my friends.
We as leaders, now have the power to overcome sin - and today we are going to learn how to overcome by watching and listening to Jesus in Luke chapter 4:
”And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.” Luke 4:1-2
Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit - This is the foundation level of overcoming temptation…
The Christian life was meant to be done full of the Holy Spirit - being full of the spirit leads to life change… small bites of the Holy Spirit on Sundays will not lead to life change… we were never meant to quench the Holy Spirit for 6 days and then let Him work in us only on Sundays - Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted:
This shows us that being full of the Holy Spirit does not mean there will be no interruption of peace and tranquilly
Jesus was in the middle of the Judean Wilderness without food for 40 days - yet full of the Holy Spirit
You cannot let your bad circumstances determine if you are spiritually healthy or full of the spirit
And conversely - you can’t allow easy or smooth circumstances to determine if you are spiritually healthy or full of the spirit
📝 Living full of the Holy Spirit is the foundation level of overcoming
The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'" And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'" And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,' and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.“ Luke 4:1-13 ESV
The devil tempted Jesus with 3 temptations all driving at the same point - would Jesus act independently of God?
And that’s the question for us in temptation, will we act independently of God?
Will we deviate from what He says is right? Will we leave His guidance for our lives and navigate ourselves? Will we make an independent decision to do what we want to do instead of what God wants for us?
Jesus refused to act independently - We can learn to overcome by how He responded..
To overcome temptation - we need to understand that
The Word is Your Weapon
📝 Jesus showed us that the weapon to use against temptation is the Word of God
Jesus was tempted with 3 temptations in this passage and 3x He responded - It is written, It is written, It is written…
His immediate response was the same each time - The Word
What is your immediate response to temptation?
“It’s not that big of a deal”
“Nobody is going to know”
“I don’t have a choice”
“So & So does far worse than this”
“Just one more time and I’ll never do it again”
“God will forgive me later”
These are all immediate responses I can relate with myself or have heard others say.
Come on - let’s all be honest …. Our immediate response at times has not always been the Word of God - and that’s got us in a mess many times.
Jesus showed us that the way to overcome temptation is to use the Word of God.
We find the Spiritual Armor of God that we are told to put on:
The belt of truth
The breastplate of righteousness
Shoes of readiness by the gospel of peace
The shield of faith
The helmet of salvation
& The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God
The only offensive weapon in the armor of God is the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
If it’s the only offensive weapon in the spiritual armor and it’s the only thing that Jesus used against the devil Himself … then I’d say it is absolutely essential in order for us to overcome!
If God’s Word is our weapon, then it is vital that we do all we can to become familiar with it
It has been said that a sword is only as good as the person who wields it - Now don’t hear what I’m not saying, the Word of God is powerful with or without you - However, the Word of God is only as powerful in your life as you are willing to know it and live it.
Binge the Book 📖
How can you stand on the promises of God if you do not know the promises of God?
How can you teach your children the Word if do know it, say it, or read it to them?
How can you fight back against temptation with the Word of God if it is not imbedded in your heart and mind?
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
The Word of God is alive and active in and of itself - that’s never the question: the question is if you are intentionally allowing the Word of God to be alive and active in your day to day life?
Is it alive and active in your heart and mind?
Is it alive and active in your home? In your workplace? In your decision-making? When the temptations come?
📝 The reality is that the Word working in your life is dependent upon how much you know it, believe it, and live it out.
This is why God makes it so clear how much we are to be students of the Word:
”Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.“
Psalms 1:1-3 NIV
This scripture shows us that …
📝 Being people who are blessed, spiritually thriving, and prospering flows out of fleeing temptation, walking in righteousness, delighting in the Word of God, and meditating on the Word of God (Psalm 1:1-3)
The Word of God is more than a weapon against the enemy - it is God’s Words to us for our lives:
”All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.“
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
Jesus even echoes the necessity of the Word of God in our lives to Satan in the book of Matthews account of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness:
”And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"“
Matthew 4:3-4 ESV
In other words - Just like you need food to live, so do you need the Word of God to truly live.
”Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.“
Psalm 119:105 ESV
🖼️ Deer hunting story of trying to navigate the woods in the dark morning without a light - getting lost and spending the next 10 minutes with a light trying to find the right way to go.
We need His Words to be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, because we can’t do it without Him.
We pray for His guidance and wisdom - we listen for His voice - We read His Words … Every day we are to be guided by Him with our hearts set on Him.
Do you delight in God’s Word?
Do you constantly meditate on God’s Word?
Do you look to His Word to be your guide?
Deeper than the Word is that Jesus is the Word and ultimately Jesus must be your delight, meditation, and guide… the greatest command is to love the Lord your God with all your heart soul, and mind….. do you?
To the degree that we say yes to these questions, is the degree in which we will overcome temptation and thrive spiritually.
The Word is our weapon
________
To overcome temptation - we need to understand
The who & why behind temptation
If anybody knows the devil well it’s Jesus -
”The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.“
Colossians 1:15-16 NIV
Jesus was the one who created the angel Lucifer who then rebelled in heaven, was kicked out and became who we know now as the devil. Jesus knows that all Satan can do is lie. Jesus knows that all Satan knows to do is hate the things of God. Jesus knows that Satan wants to deceive. Jesus knows the Who behind the temptation.
In the Judean Wilderness when Jesus was being tempted, Jesus saw even deeper than the temptation to sin and knew the Who behind it.
”Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.“
1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV
I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen lions on the discovery channel - I’ve seen them prowl through the grass stalking a weak antelope or one that has been separated from the rest.
The Bible does not accidentally or falsely describe Satan as this: there is a reason God described him like a lion prowling around seeking someone to devour… He wants us to know that this is not a joke or something to take lightly - but something to take serious
Now let’s tie the scripture that describes the devil as a lion with the ending verse of our passage for today:
“And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.“
Just as a lion waits for the opportune time to prey on the weak or separated animal - so does the devil wait for the opportune time in your life.
Plop me or you in the safari with lions and tell me we wouldn’t take it serious.
🖼️ Story about moving into our house, wanting all the security measures. Just because I didn’t see an immediate threat doesn't not mean I’m not watchful and sober minded that they are out there.
Why is it that we do so well at being mindful, and watchful about human or animal threats to our homes and families but we so often overlook the greatest threat of them all?
”“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.“
Ephesians 4:26-27 NIV
Don’t give the devil access points into your life.
It’s time to go to war with the schemes of the enemy… it’s time to rise up and say not today devil - you have no place in my home, you have no place in my family, you have not place in my heart, you have no place in my mind, I am a child of almighty God and no weapon formed against me with prosper..
If your caught in addiction, go to war.
If the devil has a stronghold in your mind, go to war.
If your marriage if failing, go to war.
If your kids are going astray, don’t just lay back and watch it happen, go to war.
We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus and have been given power and authority to trample over all the schemes of the devil - the same power that rose Jesus from the grave is the same power that on the inside of you.
The devil may be in the fight but when we use the power of His Word and the Holy Spirt - he can’t win.
Can I tell you he is a defeated foe?
Can I tell you that he does not have the final Word?
Can I tell you that the power of the living God resides on the inside of you?
The devil was originally created by God - and if God is above all creation then you need to rise up with boldness knowing that the devil has no power over you. You are bought and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ - Sealed with the Holy Spirit…. And greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.
There are some people who will rise up and overcome today!
📝 Understanding that it is the devil behind the temptation, and knowing what he is trying to accomplish, helps us flee from the craving of the flesh and stand firm in the fullness of the spirit.
To bring this message of overcoming temptation to an end, I want to encourage you in why the devil is tempting you….
Yes you heard that right - encourage you in why the devil is tempting you.
Here's what God has for you:
”For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.“
Ephesians 2:10 ESV
Here is what the devil has for you:
”The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.“
John 10:10 ESV
📝 The devil is tempting you to distract you and deceive you from what God has for you.
The devil wants to steal your joy and peace, he wants to kill and destroy what God wants for your life.
This is why the word is your weapon - There is an enemy who wants to keep you from God’s purposes and promises over your life.
Small picture = Small consequences 🖼️
Big picture = Big consequences 🖼️
Church it’s time to go to war with the enemy. No more letting him have free reign over areas of your life. No more allowing him to use and manipulate you. It’s time to get in the word, it’s time to get in prayer, it’s time to fight for your purpose, it’s time to fight for your family, it’s time to fight for your peace, it’s time to fight for your joy, its time to fight!
I don’t want some of the power, freedom, and fire of God - I want all He has to give…. Is there anybody that doesn’t just want a small tasting of God, you want the all he has to give?…
I want to be so on fire for God that people around me want what I've got!
When I have kids one day - I want to be so on fire for God that they want they want what I've got.
I want to walk in every bit of freedom that God has for me so that bound people can’t help but ask me how.
We have the power to overcome! Don’t buy the lie that it’s too late or you’re too stuck…
You have the ability to have the fullness of the Spirit empowering you - the very same power and spirit that raised Christ from the dead resides on the inside of you.
You have the word as your weapon, and the Word is enough!
You know that behind every temptation is an enemy who wants to keep you from what God has for your life. You are more than a conqueror through Jesus - it’s time fight!
Our lives have to much purpose to be fighting for the wrong things.
Our lives have too much meaning to be spent on meaningless things.
It’s time to fight for your future.
It’s time to fight for your family.
It’s time to fight for your freedom.
It’s time to fight for hope, your peace, your joy.
It’s time to fight for every single thing that God wants to do in and through you!
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