“The Devil Is In The Details” is part of the sermon series “Paying Ransoms and Making Deals.” This sermon focuses on the real spiritual battle between Jesus and the devil, emphasizing the temptations that Jesus faced in the wilderness (Luke 4). With powerful scriptural references, the message highlights the devil’s desire for worship and control over the kingdoms of the world, but it ultimately showcases Christ’s victory and the necessity of worshipping God alone.
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Luke 4:1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and
was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Luke 4:2 being tempted for forty days by the devil …
Luke 4:5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the
kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Luke 4:6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory;
for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
Luke 4:7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written,
‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
Luke 4:13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from
Him until an opportune time.
DETAIL #1. THE DEVIL EXISTS AND IS A REAL ENEMY.
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.
Ephesians 2:2 “… walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
DETAIL #2. THE DEVIL’S WORLDLY OFFER TO JESUS.
Luke 4:5 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the
kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Luke 4:6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory;
for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
Matthew 12:25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom
divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against
itself will not stand.
Matthew 12:26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will
his kingdom stand?
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government
will be upon His shoulder.
Revelation 11:15 … “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of
our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”
Psalm 2:7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Psalm 2:8 Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance,
DETAIL #3. THE DEVIL’S MAIN DESIRE IS TO BE WORSHIPPED.
Luke 4:7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
Matthew 4:9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down
and worship me.”
Revelation 13:15 He was granted power to … cause as many as would not worship
the image of the beast to be killed.
Revelation 13:16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and
slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads,
Revelation 13:17 And that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark
or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
What is worship? It is giving glory to God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all
to the glory of God.
Romans 1:25 ” … and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator
Whatever you offer your body to is your object of worship
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice …
DETAIL #4. THE DEVIL’S BARGAIN FOR SOULS.
Mark 8:36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his
own soul?
Mark 8:37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
1) Nobody ever gained the whole world.
2) What part of the world they do gain will not satisfy them.
Ecclesiastes 1:8 … the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
3) What part of the world they do gain, they can not keep.
Jim Elliot’s quote, ” He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain
what he cannot lose. ”
Luke 12:15 “… “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not
consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.
What do people sell their souls for? The passing pleasures of sin!!!
Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the
son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
Hebrews 11:25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to
enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
2 Corinthians 4:4 (GW) The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who
don’t believe …”.
Charles F. Kettering said,”We should all be concerned about future because we will
have to spend the rest of our lives there.”
In the Journal of Psychology is a survey of 160,000 was conducted asking people
what their most important personal values were:
56% Economic security
46% Home & Family
25% Liberty & Freedom
13% World Peace
10% Education
8% Religion
4% Decency & Morality
2% Being a good citizen
Question: Do you see the word “soul” anywhere mentioned on the list?
DETAIL #5. JESUS CHRIST IS THE VICTORIOUS SAVIOR-KING.
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is
written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
Luke 4:13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from
Him until an opportune time.
Isaiah 59:16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no
intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own
righteousness, it sustained Him.
Psalm 106:23 (NLT) So he declared he would destroy them. But Moses, his chosen
one, stepped between the Lord and the people. He begged him to turn from his
anger and not destroy them.
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to
God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Worship gets us into trouble and worship will get us out of trouble.
‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
Colossians 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease
to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will
in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Colossians 1:10 That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being
fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power,
for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers
of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and
conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness
of sins.
I. INTERCEDING MEANS PRAYING FOR ONE ANOTHER AS ONE.
Colossians 1:9 “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease
to pray for you, …”
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in
one hope of your calling;
Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all,
and in you all.
John 17:20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in
Me through their word;
John 17:21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You;
that they also may be one in Us,
Romans 8:34 “… It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Lyrics “And He’s ever interceding”
And He’s ever interceding, to the Father for His children;
Yes, He’s ever interceding, to the Father for His own;
Through Him you can reach the Father, So, bring Him all your heavy burdens;
Yes, for you He’s interceding, So, come boldly to the throne.
Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience,
in all things desiring to live honorably.
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you,
always laboring fervently for you in prayers, …”
II. INTERCEDING MEANS PRAYING FOR SAINTS DOING WELL.
Colossians 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease
to pray for you, …
Colossians 1:4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for
all the saints;
Romans 15:30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through
the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,
John 15:5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
John 15:6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been
in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
John 15:8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”
John 15:9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
John 15:14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you
have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.
Matthew 12:43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through
dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.
Matthew 12:44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.
’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.
Matthew 12:45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked
than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is
worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”
III. INTERCEDING FOR SAINTS MEANS NOT CEASING TO PRAY.
Colossians 1:9 ” … we do not cease to pray for you …”
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing,
Scripture records that out of approximately 667 recorded prayers in the Bible,
there are about 454 recorded answers.
Dwight Spurgeon said, “As you are tempted without ceasing, so pray without ceasing.”
Matthew 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
IV. INTERCEDING MEANS PRAYING FOR OTHERS TO BE FILLED.
Colossians 1:9 “… and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will
Psalm 23:5 ” … My cup runs over.”
Colossians 1:9 “… and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will
in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
Isaiah 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth
shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Luke 13:4 “… Those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do
you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem?
Luke 13:5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not … willing that any should perish but that all should
come to repentance.
Turkey the country where Colossae originally was is the least Christian nation
in all the earth.
They say there are only a few thousand Christians in Turkey.
Carl Henry said, “The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time.”
Jude 1:22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
Jude 1:23 But others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, …
Rescue the perishing, Care for the dying, Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Reporter’s question: “What made you decide to volunteer to do this?”
Rescue worker’s answer: “It’s for humanity. We’re all humans. I’m doing my
best to save a life, even one if I can.”
All scripture is from the NKJV or specified otherwise.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine
is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
John 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You
should keep them from the evil one.
John 7:7, “They hate Me because I say their deeds are evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.
Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things
to those who ask Him!
Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving
and being deceived.
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
John 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You
should keep them from the evil one.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common
to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what
you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you
may be able to bear it.
I) EVIL IS REAL.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
1) Lord deliver us from evil that can reside in our own society.
2) Lord deliver us from evil that can reside in our own homes.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put
away from you, with all malice.
3) Lord deliver us from evil that can reside in our own schools.
4) Lord deliver us from evil that resides in our own government.
Isaiah 13:18 “… And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb; Their eye will
not spare children.”
Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
Isaiah 1:15 (NLT) When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. though
you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the
blood of innocent victims.
5) Lord deliver us from evil that resides in our own justice system.
Genesis 4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said,
“I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Why do people do evil?
Because it gives them pleasure.
Because it gives them power.
Because they think that the evil they are doing is righteous or good or necessary.
Because they are indifferent to the suffering of others.
II) EVIL IS PERSONAL.
Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things
to those who ask Him!
Psalm 58:3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon
as they are born, speaking lies.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
Title “Where Evil Grows”
And it never shows
The place where evil grows
Evil grows in the dark
Where the sun, it never shines
Evil grows in cracks and holes
And lives in people’s minds
Evil grew, it’s part of you
And now it seems to be
That everytime I look at you
Evil grows in me
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge
of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
John 7:7, “They hate Me because I say their deeds are evil.”
III. THE ULTIMATE EVIL IS UNBELIEF.
Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief in departing from the living God;
John 3:18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not
believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of
the only begotten Son of God.
IV. DIVINE DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL.
Luke 11:4 (KJV) ” … but deliver us from evil.
Luke 11:4 (NKJV) “… but deliver us from the evil one.”
1) We are admitting that the EVIL ONE exists,
2) We are declaring that the EVIL ONE is in conflict with us as God’s children,
3) We are confessing that God is our deliverer from the EVIL ONE.
4) We are proclaiming the Lord wants us to take our stand against the EVIL ONE.
Psalm 22:4 Our fathers trusted in You: They trusted, and You delivered them.
Psalm 22:5 They cried to You, and were delivered: They trusted in You, and
were not ashamed.
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,…”
Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed
us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is
common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond
what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape,
that you may be able to bear it.
