Lesson 4
RESIST THE DEVIL
Scriptures to Study

Matthew 4:1-11

James 4:7

Ephesians 6:17

I Peter 5:8-9

Hebrews 4:12
Central Truth
The believer must resist satan with the spoken Word of God.
The Spoken Word
“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
To the Teachers:
Jesus came to be our example in everything. He was tempted in all points like we
are, yet He never sinned. He was successful in resisting temptation because He knew how
to respond to satan’s cunning lies. For every appeal that satan made to Jesus, our Lord
resisted with a word spoken from the pages of scripture.
In Ephesians 6:17, we are told to arm ourselves with the sword of the Spirit, which is
the Word of God. The King James version of the Bible hides the true meaning of this verse.
The Greek New Testament used the word “rhema” in Ephesians 6:17, which means “the
spoken word,” as opposed to “logos”, which is the complete Word of God. Therefore, we
must respond to satan’s attacks with a true spiritual weapon – the sword of the Spirit - the
spoken Word of God.
Satan fled from the Lord’s presence because He resisted him with the Word of God.
Thanks be to God, that same Word is available to us. We must stand firmly against the
enemy whether he comes with temptation, sickness, or want. The spoken Word of God is
our offensive weapon that turns him to flight.
ILLUSTRATED SERMON
Resist The Devil
Scriptures to Study:
Matthew 4:1-11 . James 4:7 . Ephesians 6:17 . I Peter 5:8-9 . Hebrew 4:12
Objects Needed:
Bible, machete’, 4 or 5 large apples
How to Prepare:
Practice slicing apples in mid-air with the machete’.
Message:
I.
Satan came against the Lord Jesus with three powerful
temptations.
A.
Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into a desolate place so that satan
could tempt Him.
1.
2.
3.
B.
II.
Jesus was so close to God that satan had no regular chance to
tempt Him.
Jesus had to become weak in order for satan to offer Him
temptations.
The Holy Spirit does not lead us into temptation.
Jesus was tempted in the three ways that all men are tempted.
1.
He was tempted with the lust of the flesh when satan tried to
get Him to turn stones into bread for food.
2.
He was tempted with the lust of the eyes when satan offered
Him the kingdoms of this world and their glory in exchange for
His worship.
3.
He was tempted with the pride of life when satan enticed Him
to jump from the pinnacle of the Temple to prove He was the
Son of God.
Every temptation was designed to kill Jesus.
A.
Sin always leads to death and destruction.
1.
Sin offers pleasure for a short while, but it always leads to
destruction.
2.
When people are tempted to do wrong, they never stop to think
about the end results of the sin. They think only of the
immediate reward.
B.
The things satan presented to Jesus were designed to kill Him.
1.
After a forty-day fast, Jesus would have died had He eaten
solid food immediately.
2.
3.
III.
If He had purposely jumped from the pinnacle of the Temple,
He would have fallen to His death for tempting God.
If He had turned from the Father God to worship satan, He
would have become a sinner like all other men and the hope of
salvation would be lost.
Jesus resisted each temptation with the spoken Word of God.
A.
We have a weapon to use against our enemy, the devil.
(Hold up the Bible.)
1.
We cannot resist satan with ordinary weapons.
2.
We must resist him in the same way that Jesus resisted him.
3.
Jesus resisted satan by quoting scriptures.
B.
When we speak God’s Word in faith, our words become an
invisible spiritual sword.
(Pull out the machete’ and hold it in the air.)
1.
Satan has no defense against the sword of the Spirit.
2.
We cannot be defeated as long as we use the sword.
(Swing the machete’.)
C.
Satan must flee when we resist him.
(Throw an apple into the air and cut it in half.)
1.
God’s Word says that satan flees as in terror when we resist
him (James 4:7).
(Throw another apple into the air and cut it in half.)
2.
When he flees, his work stops.
D.
Jesus prepared Himself for combat with satan by learning the
scriptures He would need in battle.
(Throw another apple into the air and cut it in half. Repeat until all
apples are used.)
1.
Jesus needed more than one scripture to defeat satan.
2.
We must learn scriptures that give us protection form every
attack satan can throw at us.