Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Foreign.
[00:00:04] I'm Pastor Chuck Allen and thanks again for joining me on another weekday podcast where I'm in day three of a five part series on spiritual warfare. And today I want to talk about a story, maybe you've heard it, about Jesus. Hungry, alone and wandering the desert. Jesus tells us in Matthew 4, beginning of verse 1. Then Jesus was led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For 40 days and 40 nights, he fasted and became very hungry. Hungry, which I would just say that's just a radical like reach. Just assume after 40 days he was hungry. But 40 days, nothing to eat, the land itself dry cracked, endless vulnerability all over the air.
[00:00:48] You know what, when I think about spiritual warfare, I cannot get away from the picture of Jesus being tempted and the devil by the devil in the desert. I think sometimes we are in the desert, we just don't recognize it. Sometimes we find ourselves finding face to face with Satan while we're in the desert and we don't recognize it. That's where the tempter shows up.
[00:01:11] Listen. Listen to what happens here. In Matthew 4, verse 4. It says, if you are the son of God. Did you hear that? If you are the son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread. Jesus is starving. Y' all stones look almost like bread when you're in. When you're that empty. Whoa. I'm going to pause for a second and let you think, when's the last time you were that hungry?
[00:01:36] The first temptation is about taking matters into your own hands, about using power to fill yourself, about answering physical cravings.
[00:01:45] But Jesus answers and catch this. No, the scriptures say. I love those four words. No exclamation point. No, the scriptures say we have to know the scriptures to know what they say and we have to be in the scriptures to know them. No, the scriptures say people do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Spiritual warfare, it turns out, starts with hunger. Real hunger, the kind that makes you question everything.
[00:02:15] And the enemy's first tactic is always, you deserve more, man, so why not take it now?
[00:02:23] But Jesus knows sometimes the real fight is letting God's voice be enough before the craving is satisfied. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's say that one again, if I can say it again.
[00:02:36] But Jesus knows sometimes the real fight is letting God's voice be enough in your life before the craving is satisfied.
[00:02:45] Then comes round two. The devil takes Jesus up to Jerusalem to the highest point of the temple. He says, if you are the Son of God, jump off. For the scriptures say he will order his angels to protect you, and they will hold you up with their hands so that you won't even hurt your foot on a stone. Now isn't it interesting, y', all, how the enemy twists scripture, quotes the Bible, but uses it to push Jesus into proving himself with a spectacle. But once again, in the midst of all of this time in which, if he was ever going to be radically tempted, it's now he's at a weak and vulnerable state. But Jesus says again in verse seven, the scriptures also say, you must not test the Lord your God.
[00:03:31] Ever been there looking for a sign, wishing God would show up? Do something cool in your life. Do something that you just can't ignore. And sometimes the battle is trusting God without demanding proof, trusting his timing rather than our need for certainty.
[00:03:47] And finally, one more.
[00:03:49] The devil offers all the kingdoms of the world and their glory if Jesus will kneel just once and worship him. Power, influence, control. Take the easy way. But Jesus again refuses. Listen to what he says in verse 10. He says, get out of here, Satan. For the scriptures say, did you notice this, y'? All? He doesn't tell him, just get out of here. For the third time in real, he says. But the scriptures say, one more reminder. This is why we need to be in the scriptures daily. But the scriptures say, you must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him. Here's what's wild. Every temptation was about identity and trust. If you are the Son of God, just prove it. Just take what's yours. Just shortcut the pain. But Jesus stands his ground again and again with scripture, with what's true.
[00:04:40] His Father's words echoing louder in his soul then the voice of the accuser.
[00:04:47] Then the tempter leaves and angels come and care for him. Maybe spiritual warfare isn't about fighting shadows. Maybe it's about standing, even when you're hungry, tired or misunderstood. Or letting God's words be your anchor. It's choosing the truth over shortcuts, faith over proof. It's about worship over control.
[00:05:09] Jesus went toe to toe with darkness, y', all, and showed us what it looks like to win. Not by shouting louder or flexing harder, but by holding onto what's true, letting God's voice be enough. When the desert feels endless, Whatever desert you walk through today, remember, this isn't just Jesus story. It's an invitation to live the same faith, to trust the same God, to find life in every word he speaks, even here, even now.
[00:05:37] Friend, this is what it's like to be in spiritual warfare. Let him fight for you. Because when he does, it'll be with and through scripture. So get after it this this day and trust God. He's got you. God bless you, friend. Thanks so much for joining me on today's weekday podcast.
