Resist the Devil...the Fight of Your Life!

So I was reflecting on Matthew 4:1-11 (one of my favourite passages).  I was reflecting on the human experience of Jesus' temptations, and resonated with the following realities.

Temptation 1 - "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  The tempter came to him and said, 'If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.'" (4:1-3)

The first temptation that Jesus encounters hits him on a personal level.  It's a temptation that distorts his understanding of life: you need food to survive!  Jesus was HUNGRY (vs. 2)!  When the devil asks him to use his power to create bread, it would've hit Jesus hard.  Why not use the power?  He's been fasting for so long now; if he doesn't, when will he eat?  After all, food is something he needs to survive - he can't live without it.

This is how the devil works - he tempts us in areas we believe we cannot live without.  The first temptation can seem the hardest.  It's like entering a boxing ring.  The start of the fight, you see your opponent, but you have no clue how hard the impact of that first hit will be.  When it hits, there's a shock to the system.  The devil hits us hard with personalized temptations - things we believe we need in order to survive.

Often we read on and think, Jesus defeats the devil with Scripture and moves on.  This implies that the devil lets up.  He doesn't!  Like the boxing image, the punches keep coming.  The devil does not let up!

Temptation 2 - "Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.  'If you are the Son of God,' he said, 'throw yourself down.  For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" (4:5-6)

In the previous temptation, Jesus uses Scripture to combat the devil (cf. Eph 6:17).  In the second, the devil begins to use the same weapon.  But we should also notice the craftiness of the devil.  He doesn't simply use Scripture to combat Jesus, but the second temptation builds off the first!

As a human, I have fallen victim to pride.  After overcoming a temptation, it's very easy to feel prideful.  We've had a small victory and want to celebrate.  The devil tries to trap Jesus in this state.  Throw yourself down Jesus!  Let all see just how powerful you are!  You were able to overcome my test.  Show them all how God will protect and uphold you.  You'll catch their attention then!  The second temptation builds off of the first.  There is no break.  The devil hits Jesus with the next temptation, feeding off of Jesus' weakened state from the first.

Jesus chooses not to focus on himself.  He recognizes that his Father has a plan that needs to be played out in full.  He remains faithful to God and refuses to allow pride to take over.  He chooses the path of humility before God.

If that's not enough, the third temptation continues off the previous two.  The devil sees Jesus' devotion.  He meets Jesus on top of a mountain (the Ancient world's symbol of a meeting place with the divine), and offers him everything:

Temptation 3 - "Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour.  'All this I will give you,' he said, 'if you will bow down and worship me.'" (4:8-9)

The devil has seen Jesus' discipline and humility to God.  He knows that this last temptation is offering him exactly what God has intended to give him.  BUT, this offer comes without the painful journey of humiliation, betrayal and the cross.  The end result will be the same.  It's a quicker way to the destination.  The fact that Jesus is so willing to go through it should be enough, right?  He's proven his devotion.  Why not just give him the end result now?

Jesus knows it can't be that way.  Each temptation attacks the very thing Jesus could not live without: a relationship with his Father.  THAT is the true, non-negotiable, reality for Jesus.  Jesus knows that it is only in relationship with the Father, that true joy, true peace, and true love can be experienced (even in the midst of the pain, suffering and horror that is found in this fallen world).  Jesus clings to God because God helps him find the hope needed to endure whatever is thrown at him.

How does Jesus resist?  Jesus combats the devil with Scripture.  This is not simply memorizing Scripture verses to quote when temptation comes around (though that can be extremely helpful).  But it's about having Scripture engraved in your heart (cf. Jer 31:33; Heb 10:16) and mind.  It's allowing Scripture to impact our very being - to become our second nature.  When temptation arises, we shouldn't be thinking about what passage to quote to bring us truth.  We should have alarm bells going off when we the temptation comes because it will be contradicting the truth we already know!

Quoting Scripture helps Jesus because he lives the Scriptures.  If we are to resist the devil we would be wise to do the same.

Summary:

The devil will try to distort the truths we know!  He'll distract us with things we believe we can't live without.  He'll encourage our pride to take over, and try to reward our devotion with an easy out.

We mustn't give in!  We need to know the truths God has given in Scripture.  We need to allow those truths, and the hope they hold, to permeate throughout our whole being.  Only then will we be able to stand against temptation, with Christ's strength.

Coffee Shops

It's a curious thing, coffee shops.  Hundreds of them are scattered around the Lower Mainland.  They're a meeting place for family, friends, and colleagues.  A quiet place to read a book or newspaper.  Free internet so you can email, check Facebook, or do some homework.  More often than not coffee shops are always full.

When I worked for Starbucks, I was trained to emphasize the "third place" environment.  Some of you may know this concept.  The "third place" is not home or work.  It's simply that "third place."  Ideally, a place where you can escape from the rest of life.  That short moment where you can catch your breath and refocus.  That place where all the noise calms so you can complete a task that has been weighing on you.  Ideally, isn't this what the Church is supposed to be?

But I've noticed, much like our culture, there is little community here.  Perhaps there are a group of friends who have gathered, but they're in their own world.  Perhaps everyone today is just an introvert and don't want to talk to anyone.  But how many people are drawn to coffee shops simply because they want to be around people?  They don't necessarily need to have a conversation, but are still long to be around others.

Perhaps we want to be part of something larger?  Or, to have that off chance that someone will notice us and we'll feel validated that we stand out?

I have to ask, what is the need here?  How can the church respond?  How can the PCC respond?