Sunday 1st Service
Title/Scripture: The First Ministry of Jesus Christ and Our Beginning (Matthew 4:1-11)
Speaker: Pastor Ryu Kwang-su
Date/Location: January 2, 2022 / Immanuel Seoul Church
Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Summary
▷ It is the beginning of a new year. What should we start with? Verse 1, “At that time” — after Jesus was baptized, He broke the power of Satan without anyone knowing. When He was about to begin His ministry, He went alone to a desolate place and fasted for 40 days. At that time, Satan appeared and tempted Jesus. This temptation was not a test meant to destroy, but a test meant to put Him to the test. Satan knows you well. He knows clearly whether you are someone who has found the complete answer in Christ or not. Jesus completely broke this Satan.
▣ Introduction_ The first thing we must do without making it visible to others in every area when we begin
1. We have been given the identity and authority to break the darkness. This is because Christ has overcome. We must always keep this in mind.
2. What must be known first
1) Matthew 12:29 “How can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?”
2) Satan, who created the events of Genesis chapters 3, 6, and 11 — uses something very good to tempt people, brings them to complete ruin, and attacks the next generation to the very end.
3. The reason there is no need to worry — Christ
1) Genesis 3:15 “The offspring of the woman will strike the serpent’s head.” The main character is Christ.
2) Genesis 6:14 Christ who becomes the ark when a great calamity is encountered.
3) Exodus 3:18 On the day the blood covenant was applied, they came out liberated.
4) Isaiah 7:14 When taken captive to Babylon: “A virgin will conceive and bear a son, and you shall call His name Immanuel.”
5) 1 John 3:8 “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
▷ Satan stood before Christ knowing all this. Jesus made Satan completely bow down and flee.
▣ Main_ How shall we go forward?
1. Take the time of decision in the wilderness. — Satan’s method
▷ Because Christ has overcome, we are guaranteed to be victorious. Prepare to break this power of darkness. As I looked at the field of evangelism and the field of the world, I discovered the reason to pray after coming to know the existence of Satan who has seized the world invisibly. If you know Satan’s method, you will receive great answers. Satan attacks knowing he absolutely cannot defeat you. That is why you must not be deceived. If you hold the covenant, he will without fail crumble.
1) “If you are the Son of God, make these stones into bread and eat.” (verse 3) — “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (verse 4)
2) “If you are the Son of God, jump down from the pinnacle of the temple. Will God not send angels to hold you up?” (verse 6) — “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”
3) Showing the world and saying, “I will give you all this, so bow down and worship me.” (verses 8-9) — “You shall worship only the Lord your God.” (verse 10)
▷ Satan was completely broken. Do not be deceived by Satan’s methods. You must have your own time of decision alone. There are things people can help with, and things they cannot.
2. Do not let your worship be taken away. Do not lose the flow of the Word. — Satan’s content
▷ If you know what content Satan possesses, you can save yourself, your family line, and the entire era.
1) Satan touches you with food, clothing, shelter, and material things. There is no need to be deceived.
2) Satan touches your sense of honor and pride. Do not be deceived.
3) Satan is trying to take away your worship.
▷ If your worship is taken away, everything is taken away. Because the future is determined by what you worship, Satan tells you to change the object of your worship. Do not let your worship be taken away, and hold on accurately to the Word. If you do not let your worship be taken away, you can save everyone.
3. The moment you hold on to the accurate Word, Satan will completely flee. — The answer of only, uniqueness, re-creation
1) Verse 4 — Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 8:3: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
2) Verse 7 — Jesus quoting the accurate Word of Deuteronomy 6:16: To Satan who told Him (verse 6) to jump down by quoting Psalm 91:11-12: “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”
3) Verse 10 — Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 26:10: To Satan who said (verse 9) “Worship me”: “You shall worship the Lord your God.”
▷ Because Israel had to be liberated from Rome and from Satan, when Satan the ruler of the world appeared before Jesus, Jesus broke him with the Word. If you are not deceived, you will be victorious.
▣ Conclusion_ The devil leaveth him, and angels came and ministered unto him (verse 11).
1. Exodus 14:19-20 When walking the wilderness road, the angel of the Lord led Moses from the front and protected him from behind.
2. 2 Kings 19:35 “That night” — on the night that King Hezekiah was praying, He sent the angel of the Lord and struck 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.
3. Daniel 10:1-21 When Daniel prayed for 20 days, God sent the archangel.
4. Acts 12:1-25 When the apostles were imprisoned, the church leaders gathered for an all-night prayer — the angel of the Lord sent by God struck King Herod, and he was eaten by worms and died.
▷ Try this with this covenant today, even if just for a moment. Pray sincerely. “God, I stand alone before You. Please let the work of breaking the darkness truly come about for me, my family line, and those around me. Tear down the strategy of Satan that is stealing worship from all the world and from the next generations. Give me the accurate Word.” That is all. It is recorded that Satan bows his knees and God sends His angel of the Lord to serve. I bless you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that this experience will occur this week.
Transcript
It is the beginning of a new year for us. What should we start with — that is the question. Today’s text is the timetable for when Jesus begins His ministry. In verse 1 it says “at that time.” That means, after Jesus received baptism to begin His public ministry — “at that time” — that is what it means.
What must we start with at this moment? It is recorded only in the Bible, the Word of God. It is an event that happened without anyone knowing. What is it? It is in no other book on earth. That is why the Bible is the Word of God. He broke the power of Satan without anyone knowing. Jesus, in order to begin now, went alone — alone, with no one else — into the wilderness.
I have heard that the wilderness was about 57 kilometers wide. It is said to be a mixture of sand and limestone. It is recorded as having geological strata twisted and contorted. It was so dangerous that the mountains were in a state as if about to collapse. And the remaining rocks were in a wilderness with sharp, jagged boulders that looked as if they might crumble at any moment. You can find records of it being described as “like the inside of a furnace,” it was so hot. There was no one there. So it was a place with no houses where people lived. There Jesus went to a solitary place when He was about to begin His ministry.
He fasted for 40 days there. You can picture the scene, can’t you? It is like Elijah at Mt. Carmel — he fought alone against 850 prophets. When Jezebel tried to kill him, he fled alone, collapsed under a broom tree, and said, “I can do no more.” It is like that kind of situation.
I visited the castle where Martin Luther translated the Bible. There is a room just barely large enough for one person. He translated the Word there alone, in prayer. Without fail, it was at that time that Satan appeared.
“He tempted Jesus,” it says. The important thing here — our theologians will know — is that when it says “tempted,” what kind of word was used? There is a temptation done in order to destroy, and on the other hand, there is a temptation that intensely tests. In the original text of this Scripture, it was the testing kind of temptation, not the destroying kind. That word is the same word used when God tested Abraham.
This Satan knows full well who Jesus is. He also knows that he actually cannot win. And yet he came to tempt Jesus. It is the temptation that arises when one is about to do something great. Do not worry — this Satan knows full well why Christ came. He knows well what He will do going forward. That is why he set such a monumental temptation.
Satan knows you well. There is no need to worry. He knows clearly whether you are someone who has found the complete answer in Christ or not. Satan knows far too well whether you are truly of the gospel or not.
And yet he appeared directly before Jesus. He set an extremely decisive temptation. Jesus completely broke this Satan. At the cross He completely shattered his authority, but before that, the record already shows that right there Jesus completely defeated Satan.
▣ Introduction_ The first thing we must do without making it visible to others in every area when we begin
What does this mean? This is explaining the first thing we must do without making it visible to others in every area when we begin.
1. We have been given the identity and authority to break the darkness.
We have been given the identity and authority to break the darkness. Why? Because Christ has overcome. You must always keep this in mind.
2. What must be known first
1) Matthew 12:29
Jesus said it, didn’t He. “How can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?” That is what He said. Put simply: “Can you win without binding Satan?” That is what it means. It is an explanation given in Matthew chapter 12. And it is also the answer given when religiously blind people said, “Why do you talk about demons?” Those with blind spiritual eyes say, “Why do you talk about Satan?” This is what must be known first. Jesus broke that.
2) Satan, who created the events of Genesis chapters 3, 6, and 11
This Satan never gives up to the very end. The events of Genesis chapters 3, 6, and 11 were created by Satan. He uses something very good to tempt people, brings them to complete ruin, and attacks your next generation to the very end.
3. The reason there is no need to worry — Christ
There is absolutely no need to worry.
1) Genesis 3:15
“The offspring of the woman will strike the serpent’s head.” The main character is Christ, and it is before that Christ that this Satan stood. Even knowing how great He is. People like you are not even a problem. He appeared before Christ, I tell you.
2) Genesis 6:14
Christ who becomes the ark when a great calamity is encountered. No need to worry. Even when you encounter problems, there is no need to worry. He appeared before that very One, I tell you.
Someone who had been a shaman for a long time sent me a letter. “Spirits keep appearing to me — what should I do?” I understand. They had lived that way their whole life. I gave a simple answer. It does not matter at all. Even if all the spirits were gathered together, it would be fine. It is over.
3) Exodus 3:18
Already, in Exodus chapter 3 verse 18, on the day the blood covenant was applied, they came out liberated. Satan stood directly before that Owner, before that main character.
4) Isaiah 7:14
When taken captive to Babylon: “A virgin will conceive and bear a son, and you shall call His name Immanuel.”
5) 1 John 3:8
In 1 John chapter 3 verse 8: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” This Satan, knowing all this, stood right there. Jesus makes him completely bow his knees and flee. A new year is beginning for you, and I bless you in the name of the Lord that it will be a beginning in which all darkness is broken.
▣ Main_ How shall we go forward?
1. Take the time of decision in the wilderness. — Satan’s method
This is the first point. How shall we go forward? Take the time of decision in the wilderness. Like Jesus. The length — whether long or short — does not matter. Take the time of decision in the wilderness. Even right here today is fine. You can make a quiet time while resting — that is fine too. Because Christ has overcome, you are guaranteed to be victorious. Some people need to go a bit deeper. Take the time of decision in the wilderness. Jesus would have already known about this power of darkness. He took that important time in exactly that way.
I have been in the faith from a young age. I did not know prayer and did not know the reason I should pray. I did not know even while going out to evangelize. One day, as I was looking at the field of evangelism and the field of the world, I realized: “Ah, this is it.” Completely invisible to the eye, this power of darkness, Satan, has seized the world. The people doing the New Age movement in America — what are they doing? Are they not worshipping Satan? You should take note. What about the Freemasons? They do the Nephilim movement. So that Satan would enter into them. In that advanced nation, America. It is an astonishing thing.
What must we start with? You need to know. Honestly speaking, after I clearly understood the existence of that being, “Ah, this is why we must pray” — that is what I realized honestly. To be frank with you, God does not need you to pray to Him, you know that don’t you? Jesus said in Matthew chapter 6 verse 32: “Your Father already knows what you need before you ask.” Looking to the Lord and receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit is prayer — but there is a reason for it, and that is what this is about right now. I hope today will be a time for you to pray for your children. Take the time of decision in the wilderness. Prepare to break the power of darkness. This is a very important beginning.
If you know Satan’s method, you will receive great answers. Then let me ask one thing first. Do you think Jesus was caught off guard and flustered when Satan came to attack Him? No. Jesus is God. He is the Son of Almighty God, and He is God. Then let me ask one more thing. Do you think Satan came without knowing what Jesus Christ would do? He came knowing. Let me ask one more. Do you think Satan came thinking he could tempt and defeat Jesus?
This is the important thing. He attacks knowing he absolutely cannot defeat you. That is why you must not be deceived. If you hold the covenant, he will without fail crumble, and yet he still touches you. So you only need to hold the covenant.
1) “If you are the Son of God, make these stones into bread and eat.” (verse 3) — “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” (verse 4)
Now, at the time of decision, look at what Satan did. Knowing that Jesus had fasted 40 days, he brought exactly this. He came with a stone shaped like bread and said, “Make it into bread and eat.” That is not a bad thing to say — He was hungry. This is all Satan can do. Perhaps to cause some confusion regarding Jesus — beyond that, he cannot go.
Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God,” and then Satan set the next temptation. Each time he set a temptation, he said: “Are you not the Son of God?” That is how it came. “If you are the Son of God, make these stones into bread and eat.” That is how it came.
2) “If you are the Son of God, jump down from the pinnacle of the temple. Will God not send angels to hold you up?” (verse 6) — “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”
Jesus firmly refused, and then the same way again: “If you are the Son of God, jump down from this pinnacle of the temple. Will God not send angels to hold you up?” Everyone knows this. This is what Satan does. Do not be deceived. “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” That is what Jesus said. “Do not tempt God.”
3) Showing the world and saying, “I will give you all this, so bow down and worship me.” (verses 8-9) — “You shall worship only the Lord your God.” (verse 10)
And then what does he say? Now he came with a compromising approach. Showing the world directly, he said, “I will give you all this.” Doing it together — this is Satan’s method. Offering something enormous and saying, “(I will give you all this) so bow down and worship me.” Jesus firmly said: “You shall worship only the Lord your God.” This Satan was completely broken. This is Satan’s method. Do not be deceived.
As you go into the new year, this is the time of decision in the wilderness. The time of decision alone. There are things people can help with and things they cannot. There are things parents can do and things they cannot. You must have your own time of decision alone.
So for me, since my role is to serve as an errand-runner of the Word for you, I do this 24 hours a day. That is a bit of a blessing, I suppose. That is my position. I carry paper around all day preparing sermons — the volume is so great. Setting aside the homework. Setting aside what happens when I meet people. For the message alone, I carry paper around all week. To give you an idea of how much time — how great the volume is — writing by hand is faster than the computer. Because with a computer you have to carry it, open it, and so on, whereas this you can just do anywhere. And the computer requires sitting down. This you can do while standing. One day I noticed that I had gone into the shade of a tree on a school campus and was sitting there writing like this, and someone came running from the school. “Where did you come from?” “Oh, I’m just writing here…” That was fortunate enough. So I have to do this 24 hours a day. The answers I receive within that are so many. It probably would not happen with my own character. Take the time of decision in the wilderness.
2. Do not let your worship be taken away. Do not lose the flow of the Word. — Satan’s content
This is the second point. Do not let your worship be taken away. Do not lose the flow of the Word.
Do you know what is being said today? If you know what content Satan possesses, you can save yourself, your family line, and the entire era. First: take the time of decision in the wilderness. Without fail. What is the second? It is not only about the decision. Hold on to the important worship and its flow.
1) Satan touches you with food, clothing, shelter, and material things.
The first thing Satan tempted with was eating. Isn’t that right? That is the content. He touches us with food, clothing, and shelter. He touches us with material things. There is no need to be deceived.
2) Satan touches your sense of honor and pride.
Then what is next? He touches your sense of honor and pride. Do not be deceived. When no one recognizes us, don’t we lose our strength, and when someone does recognize us, don’t we gain strength? Satan knows this. If you truly receive the answer, you do not need that. “Are you not the Son of God? Then jump from the pinnacle. Will God not send angels to hold you up?” That is how it came.
3) Satan is trying to take away your worship.
When even that did not work, what came last? “I will give you everything, so worship me.” Satan is trying to take away your worship. If your worship is taken away, everything is taken. If you are not careful, servants of the Lord can have so much church work that their worship can be taken away. Then your future is failure. Many church leaders are important people, aren’t they? When you do a lot of work, if you are not careful, your worship can be taken. This Satan throws something exquisite and says, “Change the object of your worship.” Because your future is determined by what you worship, “Change the object of your worship.” Put simply: “I will give you a thousand trillion — bow down before me.” That is how it came. This is the content of Satan.
If you know the method and content of Satan, there is no need to be shaken. Whatever happens, it is fine. Do not let your worship be taken away, and hold accurately to the Word. Even if you have failed, you will be victorious. If your worship is taken away, even if you have succeeded, you will fail. That is certain. I said to the Remnant who entered the Blue House: “If you receive the answer, even the president can receive the answer.” So if you do not let your worship be taken away, you can save everyone.
3. The moment you hold on to the accurate Word, Satan will completely flee. — The answer of only, uniqueness, re-creation
This is the third point. The moment you hold on to the accurate Word, Satan will completely flee. At this time, the answers of only, uniqueness, and re-creation come.
1) Verse 4 — Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 8:3
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” What can live on bread alone is a beast. Isn’t that right? The one that eats the most and lives best by eating is the pig. Isn’t that so? “Man shall live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” — what is this? In the wilderness, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy chapter 8 verse 3.
2) Verse 7 — Jesus quoting the accurate Word of Deuteronomy 6:16
Now, this Satan knows the Bible. “Jump down. Angels will come and hold your feet.” Satan quoted Psalm 91 verses 11 and 12. Then Jesus said: “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” That is Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 16 from the wilderness. Jesus held the accurate Word and used it to attack — to cite it.
3) Verse 10 — Jesus quoting Deuteronomy 26:10
“Worship me.” Does that even make sense? What nerve Satan has — saying to Jesus, “Worship me.” “You shall worship the Lord your God.” That is Deuteronomy chapter 26 verse 10. Jesus quoted the Word spoken during the Exodus that happened in the wilderness.
Why is that? Because Israel had to be liberated from Rome. Because Israel had to be liberated from Satan. Satan, the ruler of the world, appeared before Jesus. Because Jesus is God, of course He wins. He broke everything with the Word. You must absolutely remember. If you are not deceived, you will be victorious.
▣ Conclusion_ The devil leaveth him, and angels came and ministered unto him (verse 11).
Here there is an important record at the end. People of the world say things they cannot believe even more. Even people who believe in Jesus say things they cannot believe — this is the Bible. Which one would be right? What is recorded in the Bible is what cannot be understood with your mind at all. Which one would be right? Everything came about just as the Word said.
What does it say at this point? “The devil departed, and angels came and ministered to him.”
1. Exodus 14:19-20
That is right. When walking the wilderness road, He sent the angel of the Lord to lead from the front of Moses and protect from behind Moses.
2. 2 Kings 19:35
In 2 Kings chapter 19 verse 35, it was when the Israelite people were about to be completely killed by Assyria. (During the invasion, Hezekiah) the king put his life on the line and went into the temple to pray. The Bible records it. It said “that night.” What is “that night”? That is to say, “the night that King Hezekiah was praying.” The Bible clearly records it. “He sent His angel of the Lord and struck 185,000 Assyrian soldiers.” That is what it said. It is scientific. It is the same even now. When He calls us home, God sends angels to take us. Isn’t that right? He sent the angel of the Lord who struck them, and 185,000 Assyrian soldiers died.
3. Daniel 10:1-21
When Israel was facing great problems and a crisis in its restoration, Daniel began to pray for 20 days. Isn’t that right? At that time God did not send an angel but sent the archangel. You must believe this.
4. Acts 12:1-25
The early church was all being persecuted, the apostles were imprisoned, and Peter went to prison, didn’t he? At that time the church leaders gathered for an all-night prayer. The Bible records it. “The angel of the Lord struck him, and King Herod was eaten by worms and died.” God sent His angel of the Lord to release Peter, and He sent the angel of the Lord and King Herod was eaten by worms and died.
With this covenant, try it today, even just for a moment. Begin. Pray truly and sincerely. “God, I stand alone before You. Please let the work of breaking the darkness truly come about for me, my family line, and those around me. Tear down the strategy of Satan that is stealing worship from all the world and from the next generations. Give me the accurate Word.” That is all. It is recorded that Satan bows his knees and God sends His angel of the Lord to serve. I bless you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that this experience will occur this week and throughout the entire year. Let us pray.
Prayer. God, we give thanks. We give thanks to God who showed us what must be done first. Please let this be a year in which the power of darkness that is even now invisible to the eye is completely broken. Please let there be a time of decision in the wilderness today. Please let worship be restored. Please let the Word be restored. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.