Two Lords of Life
Pastor Tan Thai · Mar 23, 2014
This sermon explores the devil's temptation of Jesus Christ in the wilderness as an image of two fundamental choices in life: the way of the world or the way of God. The pastor points out that every person must choose one of two lords — either God or the devil — and that choice will shape all of life, family, and society.
The sermon opens by analyzing the three temptations of Jesus Christ in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), showing that each temptation was an invitation to choose the way of the world over the way of God. The devil tempted Him to turn stones into bread to satisfy physical needs, to demonstrate supernatural protection to win the people's hearts, and to bow down in worship in exchange for dominion over all kingdoms of the world. All three times, Jesus Christ refused by quoting Scripture, affirming that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
The pastor uses extensive historical and social evidence to illustrate the consequences of choosing the devil's path. He lists a series of wars from 1979 to the present with millions of casualties, demonstrating that even though all people desire peace, the world remains full of war and suffering. He also analyzes American society — materially wealthy yet burdened with enormous national debt, broken families, and empty hearts — to illustrate that bread and power cannot fill the deepest spiritual needs of humanity.
The sermon emphasizes that the real battle is not external but within every person's soul. The pastor quotes Romans 7:15-23, where Paul describes the internal conflict between what one wants to do and what one actually does, to show that the devil is humanity's most fearsome enemy — not war or disease. The devil does not appear ugly and frightening but may come as a beautiful, wise figure, finding every means to draw people away from God.
The pastor concludes with a practical encouragement: the Word of God in Scripture is the primary means by which believers resist temptation and continue walking the narrow path. Just as Jesus Christ used Scripture to answer all three temptations, allowing God's Word to penetrate daily life will transform one's worldview, conduct, speech, and actions. Choosing to follow the Lord does not mean life will be all blessings or all suffering, but a path that includes both — and ultimately leads to eternal life.