Mat 4:8f | Luk 4:5-7
George Fox explains the great temptation of Christ and the devil's pride, highlighting God's sovereignty and ownership of the earth.
George Fox preaches about the temptation to prioritize worldly glory over God, referencing the devil's attempt to entice Christ with power and riches in exchange for worship. He challenges the audience to examine if they are being swayed by the lusts of the flesh and the pride of life, despite professing scriptures. Fox highlights the importance of not bowing down to falsehood and staying true to the seed appointed to defeat pride and evil. He emphasizes that the earth belongs to the Lord, and God alone has the authority to govern and establish kingdoms according to His will.
Text
GF4:48 (1655): O the glory of the world has swallowed up many of you! O! you have entered into the great temptation. What would the devil have given Christ to have bowed down to him? [Mat 4:8f | Luk 4:5-7] Have you not the lusts of the flesh? Have you not the pride of life? [1 Jn 2:16] And yet profess scriptures and bow down to him who is out of the truth [John 8:44]: have you not your heart's desire in these things? [Mat 6:21 | Luk 12:34]
JN1:53 (1653): But there is a seed thou couldst never bring to fall down before thee, though thou hast often attempted it and divers ways: sometimes by great threatenings, even to destroy the whole seed at one blow, as in Haman to Mordecai and all the seed of the Jews, because he would not worship thee [Esth 3:6]; and sometimes by great promises and large dissembling proffers, as unto Christ the Son of God, showing him all the riches of the world and the glory thereof, saying, all this I will give thee if thou wilt fall down and worship me [Mat 4:8f].
But this seed is that which is appointed to bruise thy head [Gen 3:15] and lay all thy pride in the dust [Psa 7:5].
IP3:79 (1668): [Lodowick Muggleton] affirmeth that that "saying of the devil was true" which he said to Christ, "all the kingdoms of the earth are mine" [Luk 4:5f]. Observ. The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof [Psa 24:1]. The devil hath no right to it. God never gave it him: but God himself is Judge, who throweth down one and setteth up another [Psa 75:7], disposing of the kingdoms of men according to his pleasure [Dan 4:25].
Sermon Outline
- I. The Temptation of Christ
- 'A. The devil''s offer: all the kingdoms of the earth'
- 'B. The devil''s method: using great promises and threats'
- II. The Seed of God
- A. The seed that cannot be brought down
- B. The seed that is appointed to bruise the devil's head
- III. The Devil's Pride
- A. The devil's claim to the earth
- B. God's ownership of the earth
- IV. God's Sovereignty
- A. God is the Judge of the kingdoms of men
- B. God disposes of the kingdoms according to his pleasure
Key Quotes
“O the glory of the world has swallowed up many of you!” — George Fox
“The devil hath no right to it. God never gave it him:” — George Fox
“God is the Judge, who throweth down one and setteth up another” — George Fox
Application Points
- Recognize the devil's tactics of using great promises and threats to tempt us.
- Understand that God is the Judge of the kingdoms of men and disposes of them according to his pleasure.
- Acknowledge God's ownership of the earth and the devil's lack of right to it.