SERVING SATAN - # 6
1.
The 12th chapter of First Kings records how
the nation of
2.
3.
The northern portion of
4. The south was governed by king Rehoboam.
5. When someone is king of a nation they usually have power.
6. Some who have power will try to keep it no matter what the cost.
7. One Bible character who demonstrates this is Herod the Great (Mt. 2).
8. This man was told that a new king (Jesus) had been born.
9. This worried Herod. He was not a full blooded Jew.
10. His ascension to the throne had been less than honorable.
11. Because there was talk of a new king—a Jewish king who was legitimate—Herod was scared.
12. He was so afraid of losing his position he ordered that male children in a certain area be killed.
13. King Jeroboam was also concerned about losing his power.
14. He thought the people in his kingdom might go to southern Israel and stay with Rehoboam.
15. To insure that he stayed in control he made some changes.
16. One of his changes is found in verse 28.
17. The people in northern Israel were presented with two golden calves.
18. Instead of going to Jerusalem the people were told they could use these calves for worship.
19. Jeroboam’s reason for the idolatrous worship is in the text.
20. He told the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem.”
THE KING SAID, “GOING TO JERUSALEM IS NOT CONVENIENT. WORSHIP HERE WITH THE OBJECTS I AM PROVIDING. AS KING I WILL MAKE THINGS EASY FOR YOU.” THIS WAS CONVENIENT BUT IT WAS WRONG.
A. In our day and time we appreciate convenience.
B. We want convenience.
C. Many willingly pay for convenience.
D. Instead of going to Wal-Mart or Krogers for ice cream, some use the Schwan man.
E. At a grocery store milk might cost $2.00 a gallon.
F. At a convenience store many will pay close to $3.00 a gallon.
G. People like and they will pay for convenience.
H. There are some things in life that make daily life easier.
I. There are drive through lines at the bank and the drugstore.
J. There are remote controls to change t.v. channels.
K. We have cordless phones and self-adhesive stamps.
L. People want life to be convenient.
2. When it comes to our spiritual life some also want things to be easy.
3. People want God and Christianity to be convenient.
4. The devil understands that a convenient faith is an attractive faith.
A. Perhaps this can best be demonstrated from Mt. 4.
B. Jesus had been baptized in the river Jordan.
C. The Bible says the Spirit immediately led Him into the wilderness.
D. While in the wilderness Jesus did not eat for 40 days.
E. Jesus was tempted for this 40-day period but He did not succumb to the temptations.
F. After being unsuccessful for 40 days (the devil is persistent) Satan made a last ditch effort.
G. He tried to ensnare Jesus with three powerful temptations.
H. These temptations were all related to convenience; the easy out.
5. If you compare Matthew and Luke’s accounts of the temptations you find that they are different.
6. Matthew and Luke reverse the order of the last two temptations.
7. It appears that Matthew based his order upon chronology and Luke used geography.
8. Let’s start with Mt. 4:1-4.
A. The devil knew that Jesus was hungry.
B. Satan proposed that Jesus make some bread.
C. Making food was not sinful. There was no inherent sin in making bread.
D. At a later time in His life Jesus somehow miraculously made bread.
E. Bread was important to the Lord but on this occasion something else had a higher priority.
F. The Lord knew that when it was time for Him to eat the Father would provide food.
G. Jesus knew He was to live a life of suffering.
H. Making bread to satisfy His physical hunger would have sent Jesus down another path.
I. Jesus would have been turned away from a life of suffering and hardship.
J. Satan craftily proposed that Jesus take the easy way out.
K. He suggested that Jesus do what was convenient—make some bread to fill His stomach.
9. The second temptation is found in verses 5-7.
A. The Lord was taken to the temple.
B. Here Jesus was encouraged to perform a stunt.
C. When people do crazy things others watch.
D. People like to watch daredevils.
E. People pay to watch others walk tightropes, ride a bicycle on a wire, or jump from a platform.
F. Satan took Jesus to a high place and suggested that He “jump.”
G. The devil was not suggesting that Jesus commit suicide.
H. He apparently believed that Jesus would be rescued.
I. The point seems to be this.
J. The temple was a very public place.
K. If Jesus jumped from a high place people would see Him fall.
L. If as He fell those watching saw angels swoop down and rescue Him what would they think?
M. The Jews would have said, “This is the Messiah.”
N. “This is our new military leader. This is the man who will help us defeat Rome.”
O. Satan again offered Jesus a convenient way to become popular.
P. This was the easy way out; this way avoided the cross.
Q. Satan proposed that Jesus did not need to suffer.
R. The Lord could be surrounded by caring angels if He listened to Satan.
10. The Lord said this plan “made trial” of God (verse 7).
A. This meant that God is not to be provoked.
B. We must not seek proof of God’s power or love when He has already provided them.
C. For this reason Jesus would not jump.
11. Since Satan was unsuccessful he tried again – verses 8-9.
A. The devil took Jesus to a place where He could see all the kingdoms of the world.
B. This may be somewhat similar to Deut. 34:1-3.
C. God took Moses to a mountain and showed him many places.
D. Satan let Jesus see the nations and all their magnificence.
E. Satan then offered to let Jesus rule over these nations.
F. Instead of going to the cross and suffering Jesus could become an instant king.
G. This offer was the ultimate convenience.
H. If there was an easy way to avoid the cross this was it.
I. Jesus could be made an instant king, and He would not only be king over one nation.
J. He would rule over all the nations.
K. The offer to rule over these nations contained another benefit.
L. A ruler has an opportunity to impose his values and his morals on his subjects.
M. If Jesus were given instant authority over the nations He could have said, “This is the law.”
N. He could have immediately imposed His will upon the nations.
O. This would have been a lot faster than finding a few men, training them, and then sending them into the world.
P. The devil offered Jesus convenience if the Lord worshipped him.
Q. Jesus said “no.”
R. This temptation seems to have been so distasteful Jesus told Satan to go away (verse 10).
12. Jesus was the perfect and sinless Son of God.
13. If Satan hoped to overcome the Lord he had to use his best weapons.
14. The Bible shows that he appealed to convenience and the easy way out.
A. There are religious leaders who speak about an easy Christian life.
B. There are some who preach a gospel that I would describe as cheap grace.
C. Casual Christianity is a popular gospel.
D. If we are taking the way that is easy we are on the wrong road.
E. The easy way is Satan’s way.
F. The convenient way is wrong way.
15. Jesus once said that we must bear His cross.
16. That imagery is anything but convenient and easy.
17. In Acts 14:22 Paul said, quote.
A. There are some other passages that say that the Christian way is not easy.
B. Listen to Mt. 10:34.
C. Many passages show that Paul was imprisoned because he was a Christian.
D. Others were also incarcerated.
E. God’s people were beaten, mocked, disfellowshipped, chased, hated, and opposed.
F. Christianity is not convenient.
G. Some preachers seem to have favorite verses.
H. These passages seem to be worked into sermon after sermon.
I. A preacher Teresa and I listened to for many years was fond of 2 Tim. 3:12.
J. I’m not sure why he was so taken with this verse but he quoted it often.
K. Paul said, quote.
18. Christianity is not easy.
19. It is not always a convenient way to live.
20. Because it is not easy and convenient Satan is never too far away.
21. It is as if he wiggles his finger at us and says, “There is an easier way.”
A. You don’t need to study the Bible too often.
B. Attend services when you want to.
C. Make God part of your life but not the central part of your life.
D. You can pray but you don’t need to depend upon God.
E. Help from time to time with things but you don’t need to be a worker in the church.
F. Know the plan of salvation but you don’t need to teach it to anyone.
G. You can tell your children about God but you don’t need to ground them in the faith.
22. A faith that is convenient and easy is what people want.
23. This is the type of faith that many accept.
24. The Bible says that Christianity is not easy and it is not always convenient.
25. If we are a Christian are we trying to life a Christian life that is convenient and easy?
26. If anyone here needs help as a Christian or needs to become a Christian…