Dear Christian friends:

Tonight we focus upon the way to climb the Mount of Temptation. The success comes through Christ, who overcame temptation for our sake, so that he might redeem us and aid us in our trials.

Out text tells us of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. By this God declared war on Satan's stronghold. Since Jesus was devoted to his Father's will he won that war. This devotion to God's will, the same devotion he instills in us, shows itself with God-given courage, with an awareness of ministering angels, and with trust in God's love.

We climb the Mount of Temptation with God-given courage. Christ showed this courage while he was being tempted in the wilderness.

At his baptism in the Jordan river Christ was publicly declared to be the Son of God and anointed by the Holy Spirit to be the Christ, the Savior of the world. However, Satan here in the wilderness tempted Christ to misuse his power as the Son of God for selfish purposes. Nevertheless, Christ was faithful to the heavenly Father's will.

He resisted the temptations, as Matthew and Luke in their accounts of this incident tell in more detail. They show that Jesus quoted God's Word to blunt Satan's attacks. Christ prevailed by using the power of God's Word.

We need to do the same. Like Jesus, we need to use God's Word in order to stand up courageously to all that Satan has to offer, as we sing with Martin Luther: "Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us; We tremble not; we fear no ill; They shall not overpower us. This world's Prince may still scowl fierce as he will. He can harm us none; he's judged; the deed is done! One little word can fell him."

We climb the Mount of Temptation successfully by having God-given courage, and also by being aware of God's ministering angels.

As Jesus was being tempted by the devil and his agents, symbolized here by the wild beasts, he was aware that God could command angels to effect his will. Later on in Gethsemane, too, an angel came to strengthen him. (Matthew 22:43)

Angels are God's messengers, often sent to announce or do God's will on earth, (Psalm 91:11) says, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent." In tempting Jesus, Satan misused this Scripture verse, but understood properly, it gives great comfort to us when we are tempted.

Even though we do not see them, God may very well command angels to watch over us as we climb the Mount of Temptation. They help us by limiting the evil that Satan may try to do to us. God has promised us through his apostle St. Paul: "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

There are several Biblical examples of God freeing his faithful followers by sending angels. Remember Peter? An angel freed him from prison. In the Old Testament we have Daniel in the lion's den and the three men in the great furnace being protected by angels. We also have the angels on Jacob's ladder.

As we climb the Mountain of Temptation we need to be aware of God's ministering angels. We also need to trust God's love as we climb the Mount of Temptation.

Our text tells us that after his temptation in the wilderness Jesus "went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. The time has come, he said, The kingdom of God is near, Repent and believe the good news." (verses 14-15)

We Christians still have our sinful nature and as a result we are inclined to sin. Consequently we are like sitting ducks to Satan. We tend to and sometimes do say bad things about others because that makes us feel that we are better than they are. We tend to tell lies because it may keep us from being caught in sin. In witnessing we tend to be cowards because we don't want to lose "goods,fame, child, wife and life." We feel natural and comfortable in our sinful ways.

But Jesus says, "The time has come, the kingdom of God is near, Repent and believe the Gospel." Repent means to turn away from your sinful ways, stop running. Still we don't want to stop. However, Jesus says more than just "Repent." He says,"believe the good news!" The Good news is that God loves sinners and receives and forgives sinners. God gives us Jesus' holiness to replace our sinfulness.

Because Jesus resisted Satan's temptations in the wilderness and in Gethsemane and went to the Cross on Calvary, we are forgiven and are holy before God and the world, and have eternal life. Think of what Jesus offers in trade for our sin! Think of his great love in going to Calvary for us! Trust his love, and you will be empowered to triumph over temptation! Then you will not have to say bad things about others to make yourself look good, for he has already made you look good.

He calls you his son, his daughter. You don't have to tell lies anymore to justify your wrongs or to hide them. You can be honest now and confess them all because you have already been forgiven. You will no longer be tempted by earthly riches, because in Christ you have the true, heavenly riches. Threats of temporal death will no longer tempt you to be a coward, for you have eternal life in Christ!

With faith in God's love, with an awareness of God's ministering angels and with God-given courage, we master the Mount of Temptation.

Amen.