Sermon Tone Analysis

This past week the word temptation kept popping up in my head, it kept coming up at work and even on TV.

So I finally took the hint and started to write a sermon on Temptation.

So I wonder if any of you this past week have been dealing with temptation of some sort.

I’ve found that it comes in all shapes sizes and colors and smells and even tastes.

Before we go on turn with me to the book of Matthew ch 4 verse 1-4.

Matthew 4:1-4

 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

 

*Let us pray*

* *

*Today I want to give you Biblical evidence that Jesus was 1st fully human and 2nd fully God.

Believe it or not that is one of the biggest arguments in the Christian Community.

The importance of Christ humanity is what most of our faith is based on.

So as we read and study feel free to write down what you feel the need to.

Because sometime in your life someone will ask you or bring it up in a conversation, even an excuse while you are witnessing to them, and how would you come back, what would you say?*

* *

*Now if you were Satan, and I’m not saying some of you are, so no letters or emails.

*

* I want to ask you, What temptation would be worthy of Christ?*

* *

*  What could satan honestly temp Christ with?*

*    Certainly not:*

*1.   **Lust of the flesh: material things or sexual things*

*2.   **Lust of the eyes: flashy shinny things such as jewelry and such *

*3.   **Vanity of life: status symbol or power.*

After being baptized The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert  (Traditionally near Jericho; for a period of testing.

This period was a necessary time under Gods direction, to where the Son  obeyed.

Hebrews 5:8

Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.

Even though Christ was absolutely with out fault  or imperfection: Temptation was still required to prove His strength.

His strength of what?

     !!!!!!Faith!!!!! His Faith!!!!

After fasting for 40 days He was hungry and that’s when the test begain.

AFTER 40 DAYS He was hungry and very weak.

At His weakest point.

The 1st piece of proof is that Satan attacked or tempted Jesus human side 1st , and His son ship.

Satan knew Jesus was hungry.

Satan knew Jesus had the power to turn all the stones around Him to bread.

But the Son knew that was not the will of the Father.

[Application] there are a lot of times in our lives when we think we can handle the problem at hand, but is it the will of the Father or our will.

Gods will was for Jesus to be hungry and submit to Satan suggestions, and to obey.

Proof that Jesus was human is that if our Lord had not become flesh He could have never been tempted, For temptation is not possible for God.

God is above all temptation.

But God knew we needed temptation to reveal the reality and depth of our faith.

If we built a ship and told everyone that it would hold up to any storm and never sink, but we never took it out of the harbor, How would we ever know it was true unless we rode it through rough stormy seas.

See we need proof of it’s strength.

So I give you absolute proof that Jesus lived a human life.

Satan attacked His human needs not His spiritual needs.

Matthew 4:2-4

2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

 

40 days with no physical food just spiritual food.

Now there was no sin in making bread from rock.---On 2 occasions Jesus used His heavenly power to make bread for people.

The real problem lies in Satan’s purpose for creating the bread.

Satan was challenging who Christ was, “If you are the Son of God”

  Satan was doing was he does best, he was trying to cause doubt.

What he was saying is that, “I know how it feels to  be hungry and suffer with humanity, he’s saying millions are hungry and sick, cold and homeless----You have the power to remedy this, make bread and earthly supplies to relieve them and stop their suffering.----You

can make this earth a paradise.

But Jesus did not respond with a worldly answer, “He  said Man can not live by bread alone, He was saying we must have spiritual healing which can only come through the Cross.

Jesus knew a renewed Eden was not the answer.

Look at this, ( Satan set out to defeat Christ’s purpose to seek and save the lost, which would end up at the Cross.

Matthew 4:5-7

   5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.

6 “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.

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.

Satan knew the bible but Christ knew it better!!! ( He wrote it)

 

The Jesus looked down from the height of the temple upon the people who would be crying out for His death and crucifixion within 3 years.

Jesus had the power to awe the people into obedience--- But Christ was there to prove His faith---If Christ would have put us in a state of submission, we would have never cried out for His death, So the Cross would have been avoided, Leaving man in his own sin.

It would have compromised sin instead of atoning for it.

Matthew 4:8-10

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

9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!

For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.

In this 3rd temptation after he has shown all the Kingdoms of world in panorama, Satan seems to be saying” If you will join forces with me with all your infinite power and wisdom, you can easily rule over mankind, but if you resist me there will be rebellion, and separation from God.

But Christ knew He came to save not rule over a lost world!!!!!

 

Look at all Christ Temptation’s, they all came from without not from within.

Proof of Christ in the flesh---It was spiritually impossible for Christ to sin but not physically impossible.

After Satan knew he could not cause doubt or weaken Christ faith he left for a time.

When Jesus looked toward the Cross and when the hour drew near Jesus was faced with temporary separation from God in death as a penalty of all sin

   !!!!!!!!! Which is separation from God in Hell!!!!!!!!!!!!   

 

 

Jesus had to bear physical pain just as any human would.

And even in death Satan was still tempting Him.

When Jesus cried out  MY GOD, MY GOD WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME!!!!!!!!1

{SEPARATION}

 

 He then finally cried out and said “IT IS FINISHED”

 

His purpose was fulfilled!!!!!!!!!

 

In closing ----We can see and know what Jesus stood for.

The bible tells us how he handled His trails.

How do we handle ours?

Do we take matters in our own hands or do we lean on Christ and lay them down at the Cross?

Do we have enough faith to let God take control and lead?

We get so caught up in our own will we loose site of the Fathers will.

Is Satan tempting you?

If he is do you know how to fight back and resist his attacks.

Is Satan causing doubt in your life?

We need faith and prayer to fight this battle, and with out either of these the church will dry up and rot away.