Sermon - Invocavit 2019 - Matthew 4:1-11

A week ago, we heard how the Lord called the youthful shepherd boy, David, to be the king over Israel. Today, we heard the well known exciting story of David, who was “but a youth, ruddy and handsome” who went against the giant of Gath. You see, the Israelites and the Philistines were about to go to war with one another. As the battle was about to commence, a nine foot tall giant, named Goliath of Gath stepped forth from the camp of the Philistines. He put forth an offer of a duel with an Israelite soldier; if the Israelite should win, then the Philistines would be their servants. If on the other hand Goliath won, then the Israelites would be forced to serve the Philistines. 

For forty days the giant repeated his challenge, but no one was brave enough to do battle with him. When finally, the shepherd boy, David, son of Jesse stepped forward, he said of this Philistine champion: “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?... Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

So David took his staff and five stones and said to this Philistine: “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” Thus, David flung a stone at the giant’s head, and the giant crashed to ground. With this one victory, Israel won the battle against their wicked foe.

What a wonderful prototype of Christ we see in David’s battle. For like David, Jesus went to battle with our enemy Satan and for our sake victoriously defeated our dread enemy. For that is what took place in today’s Gospel lesson, namely that Jesus voluntarily strove with our foe and by the power of His Word defeated that ancient demon. 

I suppose that’s just the thing we should mention first, that Jesus indeed fought with the Devil. Satan, and his many demonic chronies really do exist. So many today deny the existence of the devil, demons, hell, and other such spiritual realities. But, the scriptures, Jesus, the apostolic witnesses, they do not lie. Satan does exist and he exerts influence on people to tempt them to fall away. If, like so many Christians, atheists, and moralists you deny the existence of the devil, then you also deny the fall of man in the Garden, original sin, the redemption, Christ, baptism, and yes the entire Gospel. The devil does exist and Jesus did do battle with Him in our lesson today.

Not unlike the battle between David and Goliath, Jesus fought with the Devil and won. This battle was no accident or merely incidental, but no sooner had Jesus been baptized when He was “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” This battle had long been foretold, even from Genesis we see Satan and Jesus would fight. The Lord said to the demon, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” God Himself arranged this fated meeting between Jesus and Satan. Jesus allowed Himself to be tempted and assaulted by the Devil.

Jesus didn’t fight against Satan for Himself, out of some prideful desire for fame, but He strove with Satan on behalf of the whole human race. Like David, He fought as a representative of His people, not to free Himself, but to free us from our slavery and bondage through sin to the Devil. For the apostle John declares, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” Of course the blow which cut off the Devil’s head took place on the cross when Jesus died, there He declared victory, “It is finished.” However none of that would have been possible except for this, the first engagement in that great battle where Jesus treads down Satan beneath our feet.

Imagine this, we like the Israelites, have been faced with an evil champion, a giant armed with deadly weapons. He’s challenged us to a duel, and for forty days we cowered, none of us able to defeat this combatant. When behold, Jesus steps forth to meet the Devil’s challenge. Should Satan win, all the human race would be lost and enslaved in hell. But should our challenger Jesus be victorious, we would be freed from this war and reign eternally in heaven. Our eternal freedom was at stake in this battle. Christ rose triumphant and for us defeated our enemy.

What is required of us? Like the Israelites whom David defended, we’re to be nothing but spectators, watching the battle and receiving the spoils. Thus, the most important thing is not that we battle against the devil, like fellow soldiers, but that we’re believing spectators. Only when we understand that, can we confidently and faithfully follow Christ into battle.

For all Christians are called to active duty in the spiritual war against Satan. When you were baptized, you were equipped with the armor and armed with the weapons, so that you might “renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways.” Just as Christ was led into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan, so is each and every Christian.

So Satan does do battle against us as well each day. The war may already be won, but the devil is still going to keep yapping until this world finally comes to an end. So the devil assaults us, as he did Jesus, with a threefold temptation. First satan attacks Jesus’ poverty and need, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” Satan attacks you with every poverty, want, misery and all manner of misfortune. 

When that attack fails, Satan comes back again, attacking through the falsification of God’s Word, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, He will command His angels concerning you, and On their hands they will bear you up lest you strike your foot against a stone.” Satan attacks you by lying about God’s Word, bringing about every error, heresy and doubt about God’s Word. 

When that attack fails, the devil rears his ugly head a third time, attacking through the illusion of luxury. “All these [kingdoms of the world and their glory] I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” That demon attacks you by entangling your heart with riches, glory, honor, and the lusts of this world. 

Don’t be a fool, Satan is real and he is tempting you too! The battles aren’t usually waged with guns and bombs, but Satan usually assaults you with money, false teaching, glory, and earthly lusts. He does quote the Bible, but He does so in order to lie! Sure he can bring in a bible verse, but He only does it so that you trust him enough to believe a dozen lies. 

Take note of how the devil fights with Jesus! He’s not fighting with a sword and a javelin, he’s fighting with false doctrine. We must be on guard against the assaults of the devil in our day as well, for he likes to fight with God’s Word at the tip of his spear. Since we’re distracted by the misquoted scripture, we don’t even notice the spear tearing through our hearts. 

So how do we defend ourselves and fight against Satan? First of all, Christ is in the lead, so we must follow Him. How does Christ fight? Look at it, every time Satan attacks Jesus, Jesus follows up with “It is written…” Every time! 

What a powerful weapon He’s given to you dear Christian! With every assault of the Devil, Jesus simply and plainly declares “it is written…” and speaks God’s true Word. My Christian brothers and sisters, let the Word of God be your weapon against every temptation. When Satan lets loose his fiery darts against your heart, take up the Word and speak it aloud! When poverty strikes, declare it is written “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” When false doctrine strikes, declare it is written in a dozen other places that what they’re saying are lies. When the lusts of this world strike you, declare it is written, “lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven where no moth or rust destroy and thieves cannot break in and steal.” 

My friends, stand up behind Jesus who has fought the battle before you. Take up the Word, don’t lay it down nor neglect it, because this Word is your key to salvation. If you have the Word, you have Jesus, and if you have Jesus, then you have the eternal victory.