The Sinners Victory Over Tempation Matt 4 1 11 Invocabit
February 22, 2026
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Invocabit, The First Sunday In Lent 22-February-2026 Sermon Text: Matthew 4:1-11 Sermon Theme: “The Sinner’s Victory Over Temptation!” I. He Fills Us With Living Bread From Heaven.(vs.1-4) II. He Saves Us Through Simple Means!(vs.5-7) III. He Brings Us To His Everlasting Kingdom! (Vs.8-11). by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
Invocabit, The First Sunday In Lent 22-February-2026
Sermon Text: Matthew 4:1-11
Sermon Theme: “The Sinner’s Victory Over Temptation!” I. He Fills Us With Living Bread From Heaven.(vs.1-4) II. He Saves Us Through Simple Means!(vs.5-7) III. He Brings Us To His Everlasting Kingdom! (Vs.8-11). by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. Psa 91:15-16 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. (16) With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." “He shall call upon Me” in Latin: “invocabit.” Our Lord’s Word of invitation and promise found in the 91st Psalm. The 91st Psalm is the soldier’s psalm, often prayed by chaplains with their soldiers before going into battle.
This Psalm comforts the Christian soldier with God’s abiding presence and protection on the battle field. Our God promises to protect us from evil through the ministry of His holy angel army as we face evil.
The 91st Psalm is for you. You are a Christian soldier. On the day of your baptismal enlistment you renounced the devil and all his ways and all his works. You were equipped with the shield of the Faith as you confessed The Apostles’ Creed. You were clothed with the living armor of Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Now you are in this battlefield world, but you are not of this world. You are a citizen of Heaven by the Father’s good and gracious will through His Son by the Holy Spirit. You are a soldier in Christ’s Church - militant.
The first Sunday in Lent calls you, “Rise! To arms! With prayer employ you, O Christians, lest the foe destroy you; For Satan has designed your fall. Wield God’s word, the weapon glorious; Against all foes be thus victorious, For God protects you from them all. Fear not the hordes of hell, Here is Emmanuel. Hail the Savior! The strong foes yield To Christ, our shield, And we, the victors, hold the field.” (LSB 668).
The battle is at hand! Morning, noon, and night take up the weapon of prayer! Call upon God the Father through Jesus Christ for God the Holy Spirit to hallow God’s Name, establish His kingdom, and let His good and gracious will be done! Take up the Sword of the Spirit - the Word of God as you look only to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your Faith. See in Him: “The Sinner’s Victory Over Temptation!” I. He Fills Us With Living Bread From Heaven.(vs.1-4) II. He Saves Us Through Simple Means!(vs.5-7) III. He Brings Us To His Everlasting Kingdom! (Vs.8-11).
I. Jesus of Nazareth came to His cousin John the preacher who baptized sinners of all ages in the shallow water of the Jordan River. John was reluctant to baptize the “Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world.” Jesus told the Aaronic priest John that it was necessary for them to fulfill all righteousness. According to the Levitical law the priest, descended from Aaron, had to lay his hands upon the innocent Lamb to transfer the sins of the people upon it that it might bear them into the wilderness to be sacrificed and die as their Substitute.
After the priest John poured the sins of the world over Jesus with Jordan River water. Heaven is torn open in baptism. The Holy Spirit descends bodily in the form of a peaceful dove to remain upon the Lamb of Sacrifice. God the Father preaches, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.”
The battle for your salvation begins! History records (vs.1-2) Immediately God the Holy Spirit leads the Lamb of God to face the fierce Satanic wolf and his demonic pack in the wilderness. Far from the verdant Garden of Eden that the first Adam and his wife face the fallen angel masquerading as a subtle serpent. They had food in abundance. Jesus had nothing to eat. The curse of Adam’s sin was all. The wilderness filled with thorns, thistles, rocks, unwilling to bring forth food for the creature who had rejected his Creator. Mankind. Just as mankind originated from the first Adam, now all of sinful mankind is honed down the One Man - the Second Adam - Jesus.
Jesus is fully human. The first Adam was created in the image of God, righteous, holy, knowing God face to face. Sin robs us of our true humanity. It twists and bends us so that what we excuse as only human is perversion and rebellion against our Creator. Those who practice the discipline of fasting, not to earn God’s favor, but to bring their own sinful desires into subjection to their Creator’s will, understand the weakness of our flesh. Skip a meal intentionally to have more time to read God’s Word and pray - and soon your stomach rumbles - all you can think about is food. Jesus is fully your Brother, yet without sin. Still after not eating for forty days he was hungry - very hungry.
The historian Luke adds the fact that for these forty days Jesus was being attacked by the devil. Our first father Adam, had only lasted a few minutes in silence, before he followed his stomach and ate. Jesus fought for you fully forty days.
Now Satan appears to the Man Jesus. Paul reminds us that the devil loves to masquerade as an angel of light. Perhaps that is how he adorns himself to battle with this Second Adam.(vs4) He now appears to Jesus in person. “What kind of Son of God are You?” “If God is Your Father, why has He abandoned you to starve in the wilderness?” The devil is the murderer and liar from the beginning. His tactic from the beginning is to whisper in our ears, “Has God indeed said....” Adam and his bride surrendered God’s clear life giving Word for Satan’s lie. They followed their feelings and desires to puff themselves up in pride and to be their own gods.
You are a fallen son and daughter of Adam. God never tempts you to sin, but the devil plays your desires. He whispers, “has God indeed said...”“You have to honor authority?”“Forgive?”“Reserve sex only for the life long commitment of marriage between one man and one woman?”“Work for your daily bread?” “Protect the name of that idiot?” “Be happy with the little you have, while the rich have it all?” “Be content with your family, spouse, and work?’ Satan plays your desires. You listen. Your desires give birth to sin, and full grown sin only yields the crop of death - stones never life giving bread.
Sinner - behold your Victor! (Vs.5) The Lord God freed the children of Israel from 430 years of slavery, but soon all they could think about was their stomachs. They deluded themselves that they got free food as slaves. The Lord God was disciplining them - to teach them - our life is never sustained by the food we stick in our mouth. It is always and only sustained by God’s Word.
Mercifully the Lord God would feed them Bread from Heaven - for 40 years six days every week they went out gathered, and ate angels food. Still they complained. When you fall to your sinful desires - Satan will accuse you, “Some son of God you are - you are damned - you are mine!” Say, “Satan, you lie!” “I am baptized into Christ” “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have claimed me as their own!” “I live by their Word - not yours” I am a sinner, but Jesus alone is my Savior! He is the Bread of Heaven - He is my feast, my life, my righteousness - the only path to God my Father.
II. The devil isn’t content to surrender the entire human race to this Jesus of Nazareth. (Vs.5) Now God the Father allows the devil to take His only begotten Son to Jerusalem. To the very pinnacle of the temple overlooking the valley 600 feet below. Learn from this to be on guard - Satan and his demons love to infiltrate every Christian congregation as the faithful gather to steal the living Seed of God’s Word from your ears, so that it may not be implanted into your heart. You can sit for hours on hard bleachers watching a basketball game, but your flesh quickly grows bored in the Divine Service, especially hearing God’s Word being preached.
Satan now becomes the white devil. The demons can quote Bible passages - beware! (Vs.6) “If you are the Son of God....If you really believe His Word...just do it....jump...take a leap of faith!” “Doesn’t God promise to send His holy angels to protect you?” The white devil pretends to be super spiritual - he whispers to you...”Did God speak to Abram in visions...to Joseph in dreams...trust in your dreams and feelings....forget gathering together with the saints every Sunday in Church...you can be spiritual without ever going to church!”
The Lord God provided water for the thirsty exiles to drink in the wilderness. It flowed from the Rock that followed them - that Rock was Christ! At Massah and Meribah - the place of complaining and contention - Moses finally lost patience - instead of speaking to the Rock - he struck it taking honor to himself. For this sin of pride - he would not be allowed to enter the promised land. Jesus will not puff Himself up in pride - though He is the only begotten Son of God from eternity - He will use the means that God has provided. (Vs.7) Jesus doesn’t need to jump down from the pinnacle of the Temple - there are perfectly good set of stairs to descend upon.
Learn from Jesus - to trust in God’s simple means of grace. We don’t need a spiritual rally in the park to spark our nation into renewal. We don’t need visions or dreams - the Lord God has provided us with life giving drink flowing from the pierced side of the Rock - Jesus. It washes you forgiven in baptism, quenches your sin parched soul in absolution, strengthens you for the journey with His living forgiving blood in the Sacrament! Do not tempt the Lord your God!
Sinner the victory is found in baptism, absolution, preaching, and the Sacrament of the Altar - cling to God’s means of grace - don’t fall prey to the lies of the white devil.
III. Now Satan reveals His foolish pride. (Vs.8) The devil transports Jesus to a high mountain. In an instant all the kingdoms of this world and their glory are flashed before the second Adam’s eyes. Satan claims that this all belongs to him, and he can give them to anyone he wishes. Satan now masquerades as the king of the world.
The devil is called the prince of this world, but it never belonged to him. He is the thief that broke in and stole creation from its Creator. He did it by promising the caretaker of Creation - Adam - that he could have it all - if he just broke God’s one commandment. Instead of eating of the Tree of Life - if he ate of the Tree to know evil. Our first parents fell prey to the lie and sin ensnared them and all creation into the devil’s trap.
Satan now reveals his pride. (Vs.9) He want Jesus to break the 1st commandment - forsake the cross -fall down and worship the devil as God and you can have it all. False king Satan still preaches this theology of glory in the guise of Christianity. He whispers, if you give to Jesus you can have health, wealth, and prosperity. Millions are ensnared by this false theology as they turn back to their own works - ultimately bowing to the idol they see in the mirror - themselves.
When Satan tempts you to seek glory instead of fixing your eyes on the cross of Jesus - repent! The spirit in you is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak. (Vs.10) Cry out Father, Let Your Kingdom Come! Give me Your Holy Spirit so that I believe Your holy word and by His grace live by faith under the cross of Jesus. Daily dying to self and daily rising to new life in Jesus’ cross won - empty tomb certified victory. Sealed upon me for I am baptized into Christ.
History records. (Vs.11) The Lord’s holy angels now come. Satan leaves Jesus to attack Him at opportune times, but our Father sends His holy angels to care for His Son.
Dear Christian soldiers now is the favorable time, now is the day of salvation. You are a member of Jesus’ army against the devil and his evil allies of our fallen world and weak flesh. Never trust your own thinking or strength. Cling to Jesus. You will be attacked by the devil, the world, and especially your own sinful flesh - but in Jesus you will finally overcome them and win the victory. Jesus proclaims to you, “Son, daughter, be of good cheer, I forgive you all your sins!” Amen.
Sermon Text: Matthew 4:1-11
Sermon Theme: “The Sinner’s Victory Over Temptation!” I. He Fills Us With Living Bread From Heaven.(vs.1-4) II. He Saves Us Through Simple Means!(vs.5-7) III. He Brings Us To His Everlasting Kingdom! (Vs.8-11). by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. Psa 91:15-16 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. (16) With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation." “He shall call upon Me” in Latin: “invocabit.” Our Lord’s Word of invitation and promise found in the 91st Psalm. The 91st Psalm is the soldier’s psalm, often prayed by chaplains with their soldiers before going into battle.
This Psalm comforts the Christian soldier with God’s abiding presence and protection on the battle field. Our God promises to protect us from evil through the ministry of His holy angel army as we face evil.
The 91st Psalm is for you. You are a Christian soldier. On the day of your baptismal enlistment you renounced the devil and all his ways and all his works. You were equipped with the shield of the Faith as you confessed The Apostles’ Creed. You were clothed with the living armor of Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Now you are in this battlefield world, but you are not of this world. You are a citizen of Heaven by the Father’s good and gracious will through His Son by the Holy Spirit. You are a soldier in Christ’s Church - militant.
The first Sunday in Lent calls you, “Rise! To arms! With prayer employ you, O Christians, lest the foe destroy you; For Satan has designed your fall. Wield God’s word, the weapon glorious; Against all foes be thus victorious, For God protects you from them all. Fear not the hordes of hell, Here is Emmanuel. Hail the Savior! The strong foes yield To Christ, our shield, And we, the victors, hold the field.” (LSB 668).
The battle is at hand! Morning, noon, and night take up the weapon of prayer! Call upon God the Father through Jesus Christ for God the Holy Spirit to hallow God’s Name, establish His kingdom, and let His good and gracious will be done! Take up the Sword of the Spirit - the Word of God as you look only to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your Faith. See in Him: “The Sinner’s Victory Over Temptation!” I. He Fills Us With Living Bread From Heaven.(vs.1-4) II. He Saves Us Through Simple Means!(vs.5-7) III. He Brings Us To His Everlasting Kingdom! (Vs.8-11).
I. Jesus of Nazareth came to His cousin John the preacher who baptized sinners of all ages in the shallow water of the Jordan River. John was reluctant to baptize the “Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world.” Jesus told the Aaronic priest John that it was necessary for them to fulfill all righteousness. According to the Levitical law the priest, descended from Aaron, had to lay his hands upon the innocent Lamb to transfer the sins of the people upon it that it might bear them into the wilderness to be sacrificed and die as their Substitute.
After the priest John poured the sins of the world over Jesus with Jordan River water. Heaven is torn open in baptism. The Holy Spirit descends bodily in the form of a peaceful dove to remain upon the Lamb of Sacrifice. God the Father preaches, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.”
The battle for your salvation begins! History records (vs.1-2) Immediately God the Holy Spirit leads the Lamb of God to face the fierce Satanic wolf and his demonic pack in the wilderness. Far from the verdant Garden of Eden that the first Adam and his wife face the fallen angel masquerading as a subtle serpent. They had food in abundance. Jesus had nothing to eat. The curse of Adam’s sin was all. The wilderness filled with thorns, thistles, rocks, unwilling to bring forth food for the creature who had rejected his Creator. Mankind. Just as mankind originated from the first Adam, now all of sinful mankind is honed down the One Man - the Second Adam - Jesus.
Jesus is fully human. The first Adam was created in the image of God, righteous, holy, knowing God face to face. Sin robs us of our true humanity. It twists and bends us so that what we excuse as only human is perversion and rebellion against our Creator. Those who practice the discipline of fasting, not to earn God’s favor, but to bring their own sinful desires into subjection to their Creator’s will, understand the weakness of our flesh. Skip a meal intentionally to have more time to read God’s Word and pray - and soon your stomach rumbles - all you can think about is food. Jesus is fully your Brother, yet without sin. Still after not eating for forty days he was hungry - very hungry.
The historian Luke adds the fact that for these forty days Jesus was being attacked by the devil. Our first father Adam, had only lasted a few minutes in silence, before he followed his stomach and ate. Jesus fought for you fully forty days.
Now Satan appears to the Man Jesus. Paul reminds us that the devil loves to masquerade as an angel of light. Perhaps that is how he adorns himself to battle with this Second Adam.(vs4) He now appears to Jesus in person. “What kind of Son of God are You?” “If God is Your Father, why has He abandoned you to starve in the wilderness?” The devil is the murderer and liar from the beginning. His tactic from the beginning is to whisper in our ears, “Has God indeed said....” Adam and his bride surrendered God’s clear life giving Word for Satan’s lie. They followed their feelings and desires to puff themselves up in pride and to be their own gods.
You are a fallen son and daughter of Adam. God never tempts you to sin, but the devil plays your desires. He whispers, “has God indeed said...”“You have to honor authority?”“Forgive?”“Reserve sex only for the life long commitment of marriage between one man and one woman?”“Work for your daily bread?” “Protect the name of that idiot?” “Be happy with the little you have, while the rich have it all?” “Be content with your family, spouse, and work?’ Satan plays your desires. You listen. Your desires give birth to sin, and full grown sin only yields the crop of death - stones never life giving bread.
Sinner - behold your Victor! (Vs.5) The Lord God freed the children of Israel from 430 years of slavery, but soon all they could think about was their stomachs. They deluded themselves that they got free food as slaves. The Lord God was disciplining them - to teach them - our life is never sustained by the food we stick in our mouth. It is always and only sustained by God’s Word.
Mercifully the Lord God would feed them Bread from Heaven - for 40 years six days every week they went out gathered, and ate angels food. Still they complained. When you fall to your sinful desires - Satan will accuse you, “Some son of God you are - you are damned - you are mine!” Say, “Satan, you lie!” “I am baptized into Christ” “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have claimed me as their own!” “I live by their Word - not yours” I am a sinner, but Jesus alone is my Savior! He is the Bread of Heaven - He is my feast, my life, my righteousness - the only path to God my Father.
II. The devil isn’t content to surrender the entire human race to this Jesus of Nazareth. (Vs.5) Now God the Father allows the devil to take His only begotten Son to Jerusalem. To the very pinnacle of the temple overlooking the valley 600 feet below. Learn from this to be on guard - Satan and his demons love to infiltrate every Christian congregation as the faithful gather to steal the living Seed of God’s Word from your ears, so that it may not be implanted into your heart. You can sit for hours on hard bleachers watching a basketball game, but your flesh quickly grows bored in the Divine Service, especially hearing God’s Word being preached.
Satan now becomes the white devil. The demons can quote Bible passages - beware! (Vs.6) “If you are the Son of God....If you really believe His Word...just do it....jump...take a leap of faith!” “Doesn’t God promise to send His holy angels to protect you?” The white devil pretends to be super spiritual - he whispers to you...”Did God speak to Abram in visions...to Joseph in dreams...trust in your dreams and feelings....forget gathering together with the saints every Sunday in Church...you can be spiritual without ever going to church!”
The Lord God provided water for the thirsty exiles to drink in the wilderness. It flowed from the Rock that followed them - that Rock was Christ! At Massah and Meribah - the place of complaining and contention - Moses finally lost patience - instead of speaking to the Rock - he struck it taking honor to himself. For this sin of pride - he would not be allowed to enter the promised land. Jesus will not puff Himself up in pride - though He is the only begotten Son of God from eternity - He will use the means that God has provided. (Vs.7) Jesus doesn’t need to jump down from the pinnacle of the Temple - there are perfectly good set of stairs to descend upon.
Learn from Jesus - to trust in God’s simple means of grace. We don’t need a spiritual rally in the park to spark our nation into renewal. We don’t need visions or dreams - the Lord God has provided us with life giving drink flowing from the pierced side of the Rock - Jesus. It washes you forgiven in baptism, quenches your sin parched soul in absolution, strengthens you for the journey with His living forgiving blood in the Sacrament! Do not tempt the Lord your God!
Sinner the victory is found in baptism, absolution, preaching, and the Sacrament of the Altar - cling to God’s means of grace - don’t fall prey to the lies of the white devil.
III. Now Satan reveals His foolish pride. (Vs.8) The devil transports Jesus to a high mountain. In an instant all the kingdoms of this world and their glory are flashed before the second Adam’s eyes. Satan claims that this all belongs to him, and he can give them to anyone he wishes. Satan now masquerades as the king of the world.
The devil is called the prince of this world, but it never belonged to him. He is the thief that broke in and stole creation from its Creator. He did it by promising the caretaker of Creation - Adam - that he could have it all - if he just broke God’s one commandment. Instead of eating of the Tree of Life - if he ate of the Tree to know evil. Our first parents fell prey to the lie and sin ensnared them and all creation into the devil’s trap.
Satan now reveals his pride. (Vs.9) He want Jesus to break the 1st commandment - forsake the cross -fall down and worship the devil as God and you can have it all. False king Satan still preaches this theology of glory in the guise of Christianity. He whispers, if you give to Jesus you can have health, wealth, and prosperity. Millions are ensnared by this false theology as they turn back to their own works - ultimately bowing to the idol they see in the mirror - themselves.
When Satan tempts you to seek glory instead of fixing your eyes on the cross of Jesus - repent! The spirit in you is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak. (Vs.10) Cry out Father, Let Your Kingdom Come! Give me Your Holy Spirit so that I believe Your holy word and by His grace live by faith under the cross of Jesus. Daily dying to self and daily rising to new life in Jesus’ cross won - empty tomb certified victory. Sealed upon me for I am baptized into Christ.
History records. (Vs.11) The Lord’s holy angels now come. Satan leaves Jesus to attack Him at opportune times, but our Father sends His holy angels to care for His Son.
Dear Christian soldiers now is the favorable time, now is the day of salvation. You are a member of Jesus’ army against the devil and his evil allies of our fallen world and weak flesh. Never trust your own thinking or strength. Cling to Jesus. You will be attacked by the devil, the world, and especially your own sinful flesh - but in Jesus you will finally overcome them and win the victory. Jesus proclaims to you, “Son, daughter, be of good cheer, I forgive you all your sins!” Amen.
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