Sermon I Lent Canon Steven Dart February 18, 2024

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord they God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew Chapter 4  satan tempts Jesus in the wilderness fasted forty days 40 days and forty nights afterwards He was an hungred He was hungry The world the flesh the devil wrestle with temptation it is not a sin to be tempted overcomers not in league rebellion as soon as Jesus marks the start of His earthly ministry by His baptism in the Jordan river and as He is then  anointed for ministry He is immediately assailed by satan when we make a claim for Christ and set out to do His will even small things this Lent I’m going to do this this and that for Jesus the enemy will take notice and there is resistance will happen to us no surprise fiery trial Christian warfare in the battle a fight warning Ecclesiasticus 2 second chapter old testament lesson first evensong at seminary My son, if thou come to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation. Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of trouble. Cleave unto him, and depart not away, that thou mayest be increased at thy last end. Whatsoever is brought upon you take cheerfully, and be patient when thou art changed to a low estate. For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of adversity. Believe in him, and he will help thee; order thy way aright, and trust in him. Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and go not aside, lest ye fall. Ye that fear the Lord, believe him; and your reward shall not fail. Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good, and for everlasting joy and mercy Limitations of the devil tricks bigger than he is see that at the pinnacle of the temple looking down Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Prove it if you are the Son of God throw yourself off the temple stub your toe catch You he does not push Him off devil has limitations he can’t do whatever he wants he has to try to convince you to harm yourself primary tactics notice take the bait no harm doesn’t push the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil into Eve’s mouth no force feed he had to persuade seduce trick will of God don’t follow the tempters voice easily tempted sorely tempted let us call on others to assist us the enemy will work on us will isolate us to try to get us to do something against the will of God and to our own hurt the enemy has no power name the sin and it loses its power sin makes no sense put it against the light of truth is vanishes like a wisp enemy is finite our God is infinite the enemy is a creature our God is Creator the enemy only exists by the love of God the devil derives his being from the One who is Being in Christ we have victory Lenten season second Adam overcome the enemy destroy the works of the devil our Captain of Salvation won the fight the decisive battle has been won on the cross CS Lewis we follow in the victory train of Christ