Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadQuiet Talks by Samuel Dickey: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks About the Tempter: 056. Forestalling the Tempter
TOPIC: Gordon, Samuel Dickey - Quiet Talks About the Tempter (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 056. Forestalling the Tempter
Other Subjects in this Topic:
Forestalling the Tempter
We have talked a bit about the temptation by Satan, in Eden, upon Adam, the first head of the race. Now we want to talk about the second great attack by Satan upon our race, through its second Head, our Lord Jesus Christ. And I want first of all to remind you of this, that the temptation in the Wilderness was a necessity. It was a necessity for Satan because his kingdom was in peril, and he must fight for that which he wanted. It was a necessity for our Lord Jesus Christ as the new Head of our race, because He was to worst the tempter in the temptation, and win back the dominion of the whole earth for our human kind.
I think we will, perhaps, understand a bit better the necessity of the Wilderness temptation if we remember this, that when Adam was created he was given the dominion over the earth; he was the earth's undermaster. He was lord of the creation by the Father's appointment. The prince of darkness was eager to get that dominion for himself from man and over man, and through man, and so he made the attack in Eden, and man fell and Satan succeeded.
Now our Lord Jesus Christ stepped on the scene to win the earth, and the whole race of men, back to its original allegiance to His Father. Satan must fight Him. Satan was stealing men's allegiance by deceiving them. The temptation in the Wilderness was a necessity for Satan because he must fight his way against the new Man, God's new Man. His stolen kingdom was in peril because of this Lord Jesus. The Wilderness temptation was a necessity to Jesus Christ because in it He met the head of the opposing forces and foiled him. The victory of Calvary has the first striking of its note in this temptation. In winning over Satan there He began His victory on Calvary. And, if you mark it keenly, the whole kingdom of evil spirits knew of the Lord Jesus' victory in the Wilderness. Whenever and wherever He came they were afraid and fled.
I want to say what I have to say under three very simple heads. The first, the Holy Spirit's preparation for the temptation. I ask you to mark the fact that the Holy Spirit made preparation for this temptation. He took control, of the situation. The initiative in this temptation was not taken by Satan; it was taken by the Holy Spirit. It says very plainly, "Then was Jesus led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted!" (Mat_4:1.) He took the initiative. He displayed masterly generalship. He did not wait until the tempter came, but obliged the tempter to come. He forced the fighting. It was a fine bit of generalship. We ought to follow His lead far more there. Most of us, may I say, wait until we are tempted, and then, half-scared, seek for help. But we should always pray ahead, and watch ahead, and take the ground before the Evil One can come. That is what the wondrous Holy Spirit does here. He forestalled the evil one.
At one time Mr. Moody was on an ocean liner, in a great storm, and they were sure the boat was going to the bottom. They were all praying; everybody prays in a bad storm, you know. A gentleman told about going to one of the decks, and to his great surprise he saw Mr. Moody standing on the deck, not in the prayer meeting down below, but standing quietly looking put over the raging waters. And he said, "Why! Mr. Moody, aren't you down in the prayer meeting!" And in his quiet way Mr. Moody said, "Oh! I am prayed up."
There is a marvellous generalship in praying ahead. We must not wait till we are driven to pray, if we would forestall the evil one. Do as the Holy Spirit does here. He took charge of the situation. That is the first suggestion in the Holy Spirit's preparation.