True Story_pt2: In The Wilderness
True Story 2018 • Sermon • Submitted
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True Story_pt2: In The Wilderness
True Story_pt2: In The Wilderness
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
[THIS WEEK] - Learn how temptation comes… it may come in ways you weren’t expecting.
[GO WITH ME] – Temptation is not just those BIG things
Sexual sin
Recovered alcoholic, tempted to drink again
It’s any desire or urge designed to pull you our of God’s plan and into the enemy’s plan.
The plan of the enemy
The plan of the enemy
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
1. Steal your relationship.
1. Steal your relationship.
(v3) “The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God…”
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
(v6) ““If you are the Son of God…”
(v6) ““If you are the Son of God…”
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
“If you are the Son…”
Just before this experience, Jesus was baptized and He heard those words…
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.
And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
We see the enemy doing his best to create insecurity in the heart of Jesus, about His relationship with God.
This is just what happened with the first temptation/sin.
The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Now, we have the enemy challenging Eve, telling her that she wouldn't die, God just wants to keep her from being like Him – God is withholding something…
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Relationship destroyed!
So, what should Eve have done?
Exactly what Jesus did…
ü Trust in Him!
Trust in Him!
Trust in Him!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Turn rocks into bread – Jesus replied, I live by what comes from the Father’s mouth…
“Led by the Spirit…” Jesus was out there because God told Him to be.
So He was trusting in God, obeying His plan, no matter how hungry He was, that was His food!
2. Kill you with pride.
2. Kill you with pride.
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Bread might have killed him
“Prove it by providing for yourself!”
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Prove it by God’s care for you!
Here, he even uses Scripture!
[Note: temptation will even play on what God has said, twisting truth]
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.
“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
[I imagine this pierced Eve’s heart, remember she is being tempted!]
Pride is often associated with arrogance,
But pride is also insecurity; pride is also low self-esteem.
Why is a poor view if self pride?
Because it’s preoccupied with view of self. It won’t allow you to say, In Christ I am free, In Christ I am strong, In Christ I am approved and accepted. It’s the focus on self and lack of trusting the In Christ part! Remember, trust in Him!
The enemy will attack us in our needs – Pride, love of self, responds one way, Jesus commands us to respond another way.
(v7-9) “Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
I don’t need to defend myself, protect myself or prove myself.
You just need to…
Keep your eyes on Him!
Keep your eyes on Him!
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Solomon -
3. Destroy your authority.
3. Destroy your authority.
The third temptation reveals, deeper, the enemy’s plan.
We also witness a new response out of Jesus
Matt 4
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Matthew
Worship = lay prostrate. In other words, submit His authority.
It’s the plan of the enemy to Destroy your authority.
- All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Exercise your authority in Him!
Exercise your authority in Him!
- I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
Take Away
Take Away
[Note: Notice the proximity of the enemy – Came to Him, took Him, took Him.]
o 1- Temptation is always close and intimate.
1- Temptation is always close and intimate.
Not just being tempted with something big…
Fear of not enough
Offense and hurt
Selfishness and jealousy
Mistreating others
2- This was close even for Jesus!
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.
It’s so close, it’s so near, how do we defend?...
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Get closer to Him!
Get closer to Him!