Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our text is today’s Gospel Reading from
the fourth chapter of St. Matthew, the example of Jesus “Fighting Temptation.”
It seems that the very notion of
“Fighting Temptation” is passé, old-fashioned, obsolete. Instead of “Fighting Temptation,” our
attitude is, “Don’t fight it. If it
feels good, DO IT!” Don’t worry about
the consequences, DO IT! Don’t think
about the hurt to yourself or others, DO IT!
Don’t consider whether it’s right or wrong, DO IT! Don’t be bothered by God’s commands, DO
IT! Instead of “Fighting Temptation,”
we WELCOME the devil and his wicked ways into our lives.
Paul warns us in Romans, “The wrath of
God is revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and wickedness of
men.” That is what we deserve on account
of our wickedness, the wrath of God.
But, in mercy and love, God does not mete out upon us the punishment our
sins deserve. Instead, our punishment
was meted out upon his own Son, as Isaiah says, “He was pierced for our
transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought
us peace was upon him.”
Today’s Old Testament Reading presents
the sad story of humanity’s fall into sin, in the persons of Adam and Eve. In Romans, St. Paul compares Jesus and Adam
and explains how Jesus’ perfect life and sacrificial death saves you:
“Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men,
so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings
life for all men. For just as through
the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the
obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”
Jesus’ resurrection is God the Father’s
announcement to the world that he has accepted his Son’s perfect life and
sacrificial death as payment in full for the sins of the whole world. The book of Acts says, “Everyone who believes
in him receives forgiveness of sins in his name. . . Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you
shall be saved.” Trust Jesus, he is your
Savior; he forgives all your sins; he has prepared a place for you in heaven,
and he will take you to be with him there.
But, as long as you remain here on
earth, St. Peter warns, “Your adversary the devil prowls about like a roaring
lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist
him, standing firm in the faith.” Jesus
shows you the greatest weapon of all for resisting your adversary the devil,
the greatest weapon of all for “Fighting Temptation.” St. Paul calls it “the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God.”
When Jesus was tempted, every time he
replied: “It is written.” He fought
back! He fought back with God’s Word. Martin Luther says in the Large Catechism:
“Nothing is so effectual against the devil, the flesh and all evil thoughts as
to occupy oneself with the word of God, talk about it, meditate on it. . . [There is nothing] more potent against the
devil than to busy yourself with God’s commandments and words, and to speak,
sing, and meditate on them. This . . .
defeats the devil and puts him to flight. . .
For he cannot bear to hear God’s word . . . we must [therefore] use it
every day against the daily, unending attacks and ambushes of the devil . .
.” In today’s Hymn of the Day,
“A Mighty Fortress,” Luther puts it this way: “One little word can fell
him.”
As a follower of Jesus Christ, you will
follow his example, “Fighting Temptation” with “the sword of the Spirit, which
is the word of God.” “Take up the sword
of the Spirit” by coming to God’s house to hear his word, in worship, Sunday
School, catechesis, and Bible Class.
And “take up the sword of the Spirit”
not only here in God’s house but also in your own house, by your personal
devotions, and prayers, and reading and study of God’s word. As a follower of
Jesus Christ, you will follow his example, “Fighting Temptation” with “the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Are you tempted to be absent from God’s
house? IT IS WRITTEN: “Remember the
Sabbath Day to keep it holy.” “I
rejoiced with those who said unto me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.” “Let us not give up meeting together, as some
are in the habit of doing.” “You shall
worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.”
Are you tempted to neglect reading and
study of God’s word? IT IS WRITTEN: “If
you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples.” “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”
“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth
of the Lord.”
Are you tempted to forget prayer in
your daily life? IT IS WRITTEN: “Pray in
the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” “Do not be anxious about anything, but in
everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests
known to God.” “Ask and you will
receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened unto you.”
Are you tempted to ignore Christ’s
gracious invitation to his Holy Supper?
IT IS WRITTEN: “Take, eat . . . take, drink . . . THIS DO in remembrance
of me.” “I will take the cup of
salvation, and will call on the name of the Lord.” “For as often as you eat this bread and drink
this cup you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
Are you tempted to withhold from the
Lord the offerings he is due? IT IS
WRITTEN: “Bring an offering and come into his courts.” “On the first day of the week each one should
set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up for the
collection.” “Give to God what is
God’s.”
Are you tempted, parents, not to make a
priority the spiritual upbringing of your children? IT IS WRITTEN: “Bring them up in the training
and instruction of the Lord.” “We will
tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power and the
wonders he has done.”
Are you tempted, children, to be
disrespectful to your parents? IT IS
WRITTEN: “Honor your father and your mother.”
“Obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Are you tempted to gossip? IT IS WRITTEN: “You shall not bear false
witness against your neighbor.”
Are you tempted to cheat or steal? IT IS WRITTEN: “You shall not steal.” “He who has been stealing must steal no
longer.”
Are you tempted to lie? IT IS WRITTEN: “Do not lie to each other. .
. put off all falsehood and speak
truthfully to one another.”
Are you tempted to take the Lord’s name
in vain, to use curse words and other improper language? IT IS WRITTEN: “You shall not take the name
of the Lord your God in vain.” “Do not
let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths.” “Nor should there be obscenity foolish talk,
or coarse joking.” “Cleanse yourselves
of filthy language from your lips.”
Are you tempted to lust and adultery,
to join in the wicked ways of the world?
IT IS WRITTEN: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your
earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires.” “Get rid of all moral filth and the evil
that is so prevalent.” “You shall not
commit adultery.”
Are you tempted to anger and hatred, to
get revenge and hold a grudge? IT IS
WRITTEN: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger. . . be kind and
compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God
forgave you.” “Do not seek revenge or
bear a grudge . . . but love your neighbor as yourself.” “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Are you tempted to worry and
despair? IT IS WRITTEN: “Do not let your
hearts be troubled; trust in God.” “Cast
your burdens upon the Lord, for he cares for you.” “Fear not, for I am with you.”
“We plead with you,” St. Paul says in
today’s Epistle Reading, “not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says,
‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped
you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
“We plead with you not to receive the
grace of God in vain,” but when you are tempted, resist the devil, standing
firm in your faith. Fight back with the
sword of the Spirit, the word of God.
“One little word can fell him.”
And if you fail, when you fall, turn the Lord, confess your sin, receive
his forgiveness, and continue the struggle—as a follower of Jesus Christ
following his example, “Fighting Temptation.”
Amen.
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