Sermon Tone Analysis

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Defeated Temptation

None the Text will intro itself.

Text: (ESV)

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Text:

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If [since] you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If [since] you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If [since] you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple

Defeated Temptation

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple

4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Text:

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If [since] you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple

6 and said to him, “If [since] you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’

”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’

”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

6 and said to him, “If [since] you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’

”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple

6 and said to him, “If [since] you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’

”

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan!

For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’

”

11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

The main point of this sermon is that Jesus Christ has defeated all the past, present, and future temptation for all who trust in him; therefore, we can follow in his footprints and trust that our temptations have been defeated.

These Temptations come at an important time in Jesus’ ministry (in between his baptism and the start of his ministry).

Before we get started into the text I want to point out that this principle is one that applies to us as well.

Many times, in our lives right before God is about to do something amazing it seems like we go through some major trials and testing.

It seems like the closer you get to Jesus the more the devil’s soldiers come and tempt you.

I always say this is because the devil wants his soldier back.

But be advised that, if you’re a Christian, your temptations have already been defeated.

Jesus already crushed the devil’s head by living the life you couldn’t live, dying the death that you deserve and three days later was resurrected, so that all who trust in him may have eternal life.

Furthermore, know that this passage clearly teaches that Jesus can relate to us during our temptations.

,

15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

3 Observations about the text:

1.

What you are led by matters.

(v.1-4).

This whole temptation is a mirror image of Israel in the Old Testament, where they wondered around in the wilderness for forty years because they broke the commands of God.

God guided them and was leading them to the promised land, but they continued to rebel and grumble about their lives, even though God was feeding them and taking care of them they were focused on food for their physical wants rather than their spiritual needs (although God was taking care of their physical wants as well).

Therefore, where Israel failed Jesus prevailed.

And how did he do this?

By relying on the Spirits lead not on his own physical needs.

Notice, v. 2 says that Jesus “fasted for forty days and nights.”

This is a supernatural reliance.

The average person would die after about 21 days without food and about 3 days without water.

But Jesus fully trusted the Spirits lead, and the Spirit supernaturally sustained Jesus.

Jesus wasn’t going to rely on food, he was trusting God the Father’s will and God the Spirits lead.

Jesus didn’t need the stones to create bread he created the universe out of nothing.

tells us,

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’

”

6 and said to him, “If [since] you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’

”

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’

”

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Although Jesus is fully God, we’ve got to remember he is also fully man – he is the God-man.

This means that although he is fully God, he humbled himself and submitted to the Spirits lead.

And in this particular case, the Spirit was leading Jesus to be tempted by the devil.

But don’t hear me wrong, the Spirit of God is not tempting Jesus, He is leading Jesus to be tempted.

There is a difference, and this difference is one that we need to grasp to understand what you are led by matters.

This is the same kind of leading that the 23 Psalm powerfully talks about.

4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

When you are being led by the Spirit of God through a test in life it is meant to strengthen you; but…

This is a principle that we fall short on constantly.

We will blame God and shake our fist at him for letting us go through a test when we don't let him lead.

We will make excuses up and say, “I feel like God is leading me to date this girl even though I know she is not a Christian, and even though I know she has had sex with several guys.

I think God is leading me to be salt and light to her by being a good Christian boyfriend.”

NO, God is not leading you.

And don’t you dare blame God when the Devil has you right where he wants you, because you were so conveniently not hearing God speak to you!

You know the Word of God tells you in ,

14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.

For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness?

Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

15What accord has Christ with Belial?

Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

Who are you kidding, coming at me saying “I thought God wanted me to go to the party and be salt and light, how was I to know that I was going to get drunk off of 2 beers; then I wouldn’t be able to control myself, so I got high and had sex with that girl.”

If God would have just called down from heaven I would have had a better understanding of where the Spirit was leading.

So, it’s not my fault the Spirit tempted me this way.

No, that’s not how it works.

God doesn’t work like that he doesn’t tempt anyone.

says,

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’

”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

And this is what the Devil is trying to get you to do – bring forth death.

What you are led by matters!