The Deceitfulness of Sin

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Nevertheless  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  39:39
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We continue our Easter series "Nevertheless" by looking at how Jesus overcame the deceitfulness of sin.

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Hey, man, you got your Bibles open up to Matthew chapter 26 starting in verse 36. This is our jumping-off text. As I mentioned. It says this then Jesus went with them his disciples to a place called Gethsemane and he said to his disciples sit here while I go over there and pray taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee. He began to be sorrowful and trouble then he said to them. My soul is very sorrowful even to death remain here and watch with me. Going a little further on he fell on his face and prayed saying.

If it be possible, let this cup pass from me yet. Nevertheless. Not as I will. but as you will Last week we began to unpack the the amazing depth of this prayer. Here is Jesus and he knows what is coming him to him. He knows what he is going to endure and suffer. He knows what the father has asked of him. And here in this moment of great anxiety great distress in his soul. He is crying out to God and the essence of his prayer it is this. I know what you're asking me to do, but if there's another way let's do that. And I think that's one of the sanest prayers in all of scripture that Jesus knows the full totality of the physical pains, but of the spiritual abandonment in Desolation that awaits him on the cross when the father turns his back from him when the wrath of full cup of the wrath of God Almighty is poor. About and drain to the drags on the cross Jesus knows what is awaiting him. And so he says God. Can we do something else?

but Nevertheless, that's what that were nevertheless. At the end of the day when it's all shake and a half no matter what God hears where my heart really is not my will but yours be done. Got it. I'm not ashamed to say I'd Rather Go a different direction.

But not my will your speaker? That's more time thinking about this text this week and thinking about that. The essence of the Temptation that's going on. Jesus is in the middle of spiritual battle just like you and I experience on a daily basis. He's being tempted at the word of God says no temptation has come upon you that's outside of God's hand that that is unfamiliar to what Jesus experienced Jesus faced every Temptation and yet was without sin here is a moment again in the life of Jesus where he is being tempted. And the essence of his temptation I was thinking about this. What what is it that Jesus is being tempted with he's being tempted to believe. That there's a better way than Gods with. But the essence of the Temptation right here for Jesus Is God has asked him to do something. He said I want you to go this way. I want you to do these things and I want you to trust me in that and the essence of Jesus's Temptation expressed in his prayer. And again, it's not a sin to be tempted. It's not a sin for Jesus to say hey if there's another way do it in order for us to learn to be instructed by this. We got to understand. What is it? He was being tempted with and what he's being tempted with is to believe that there's a better way than God's way.

Being tempted to believe that his wisdom is better than God's wisdom. His perspective is clearer than gods that his gold are better than Gods to believe that God is holding out on him.

But there is an easier way. That's right. As I really thought about that. It was just so crystal clear to me that you know what that that is and always has been and always will be the essence of all temptation.

The difference between God's way on our way. The difference between God's wisdom and our wisdom his perspective on our perspective his love and our love will we trust?

The God desires good for us. And that his way is the right way his way is the best way even if it takes us places. Would rather not go even when it leads us through experiences. We would rather not have

Jesus was being tempted just like you and I are tempted everyday. by the deceitfulness of sin But a seat on the subject the essence of sin is to deceive us the God's way is not the best way that there's a better way. That God doesn't hold our ultimate good that God isn't the greatest treasure that God can't give us the best satisfaction that if we pursue a different course of action if we walk a different path than the one God sets before us we will be happier. We will be more satisfied. It will be for our good deceives us on this core reality that God is for us.

That's where the Temptation was for Jesus and at the end of it. He overcomes the Temptation by say nevertheless not my will but yours be done. Jesus is essentially saying Lord, I would rather not do this, but I'm going to trust you more than I trust me.

I'm going to trust what you say over what I can see. I'm going to dig in to watch you have before me and no matter what you bring before me God. I'm going to do what you ask me to do everything in Jesus's body at that moment. Don't forget. He is literally sweating blood. The levels of anxiety and distress within his body has raised his blood pressure to the point that capillaries are bursting underneath his skin and he is sweating blood. Everything in my body says don't do what God is asking me to do there's a better way, but nevertheless.

Not my will but yours be done.

What Jesus shows us? Is that what Paul says in 2nd Corinthians? 5:7 is absolutely true. God wants us to walk by faith not by sight.

He wants us to walk by faith not by sight. That's the essence of Jesus's Temptation. He's looking at what's coming his way and all that. All of you can perceive along that route is death and pain.

God is the one that has asked him to walk down that path. So he walks by sight.

Not going to do what God asked him to do. Jesus Then walked by said he walk by faith. God has not asked us to walk by sight. He's asked us to walk by faith.

So we're God's been really impressing upon me. Is that what we're to learn from Jesus in the garden? Is is the reality that we live in a constant battle for our heart and our mind and our soul we're constantly being drawn. The either walk by faith or to walk by sight. This is the essence of the battle that Jesus was in in the garden and it's the essence of the battle that you and I are in every single day. Will we trust God or we trust ourselves?

and the reality of that is that we're not in a blank slate reality. We're in the middle of a battlefield. And so we've got an enemy that's constantly seeking the Terrace down. We have a world that is constantly offering to satisfy us. outside of God

Made me think this week about the parable of the sower and the soil. Jesus told the parable man goes out. He's casting seed everywhere he goes and that seed falls on different types of soil. It's a third type of soil that really caught me this week at Jesus said this others are sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word. But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word and it proves unfruitful. Do you hear what Jesus is saying? They're there see that gets song and its own among Thorns among other plants. It's all as it begins to grow up and gets choked out. not because the seed of God's word is bad, but because the other plant

is deceitful it convinces us that there is something better than got the deceitfulness of riches the deceitfulness of wealth the deceitfulness of possession. It tells us over and over again in our culture in order to be happy. We have to have more and more and more and more stuff. In the realities that that chokes out the fruit of God's word with that.

I thought you know, this is really nothing new is it? Jesus in the garden

I don't think so. I think it's supposed to take us back in the story of God's Redemption. I think it's supposed to take us back to another Garden Doug Garden.

We see Adam and Eve Place their dwelling with God and a tempter comes in. What's the essence of the Serpent's temptation? Hey, you see that fruit if you eat that fruit. You'll get something better than God. God is holding out on you. If you eat this fruit, you're not going to die know your eyes are going to be opened. God doesn't want you to have that which is really good for you reject God's will come this way and you'll get something better than

that was the essence of the Temptation and went when they get called out by God on it. No surprise that Eve responds this way the Lord. God said to the woman. What is it that you have done? The woman said the serpent deceived me.

And I ate it.

Serpent deceived me not just tricked me. This is not just an external thing. She's saying I internalized this heat deceived me. I thought what was wrong with right? And I thought that what was right was wrong. The sermon the serpent deceived by the serpent deceived me. and I ain't

she was lead to believe a lie over the truth.

And the essence of her sin. Was the result of her deception? Which means we have to be on our guard doesn't not against deception. If deception is where is the Fertile ground in which sin is bread and grows and matures that we need to be on guard against deception.

That's exactly what Paul says in 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 verse 3. He's crying out to this church. So jacked up the church in Corinth. What do you love them? So deeply I'm afraid just as the serpent deceived by his cunning. Your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. That was the essence of all the problems in the church in Corinth. They started with Jesus now, they're moving onto other stuff have a little Jesus and have some sins have a little Jesus have some religious obligation start with Jesus move on to something better. Paul is crying out for his church stay with Jesus do not be deceived. There's nothing better out there than Jesus.

Which serves as a great tool for us to examine ourselves? To look at our hearts. To take stock of our desires. What are we hoping for? What? What are we belonging for? What do we daydream about when you're stuck in traffic or in a line or watching a commercial on TV in your mind just slips into neutral and you just start thinking. Without thinking you know what? I mean? What is it that you think about those things reveal? What owns are hard what we truly delighted and desire

when we when we step back and try to look at what it is that our heart is longing for with starting to long for something to satisfy us in ways. The Christ is supposed to satisfy us. We're missing the mark we've been deceived.

You may not like to think about this, but I'm convinced that every single one of us walked in here tonight, and we are deceived in some way. We bought into falsehood. We've accepted untruth as truth. Sometimes it's about the character of God. We think God is holding out on us or we think God can't love us cuz we're too bad a we think God will work with somebody else, but he can't really work with me sometimes, you know, we think it's about the world or about ourselves. We buy into all sorts of lines we get this

And when were deceived when we believe the untruth over the truth when we start to walk by sight rather than by faith?

Send begins to bloom and Blossom within our lives. Every single one of us needs to think about the reality of deception and here's the challenge of it by definition when you are deceived. You don't know it, right. Like by definition if you are deceived in that moment, you don't know your deceived Eve. Didn't know she was to sea serpents on. Yeah, it's going to be great. If you eat the fruit. She's like this is going to be awesome.

Think about it. But this is this is that feeling of a kid on Christmas morning. This is the feeling of a of a bride on her wedding day starting that dream job. You always longed for this is going to be amazing. I've been waiting a long time for this. Eat the fruit. It's going to be the best thing ever in the moment. She eats it her reality.

Naked I'm ashamed. I need to hide I must cover myself now. I'm afraid of God now. I don't know what's going on. She promised knowledge, but Glide

a definition when were deceived we don't know where to see.

So we need the word of God to help us. We can't rely on our perceptions. We can't rely on our feelings alone. We need something outside of us something bigger than us to help us know and understand the truth.

What let me to the beginning of Matthew know this isn't the first time that Jesus was tempted by the devil. The very beginning of his ministry. He baptized by John the Baptist immediately after coming out the spirit descends and lands on him. God proclaims his love and acceptance of Jesus. But then instead of going out in a parade instead of forming an army instead of enjoying the adulation and respect of everybody. It says the spirit led him out by himself into the wilderness. In order that he might be tempted by the devil.

Not vaccinating look at Matthew chapter 4 starting verse one. Then Jesus was led by the spirit Into the Wilderness to be tempted by the devil. I think that's kind of a funny little Freight because when I think about Temptation, I don't think about the desert.

I mean really think about like what's there to be tempted with in the desert? It's not like it says then Jesus was led by the spirit to Vegas to be tempted by the devil.

Then you know what I mean when I say that.

It's not it's not going to be what we normally think of is Temptation. Going to be something deeper. So he's out there have to be tempted. It says that after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. He was hungry and that's when the enemy comes and attacks does the tempter came and said to him if you are the Son of God command these stones to become lobes of red.

If your God son if your God Favored if you are the deity do what only the deity can do turn these rocks into bread. Only God can do that. Jesus responds, beautifully. How does Jesus respond Jesus doesn't respond as God Jesus doesn't respond. Well, I don't feel like that's a good thing.

Jesus response, but he answered he says man shall not live by bread alone. But by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Pasternak Danny and I were talking before the service and then he saw something here that I've never seen before in his response do but Jesus didn't come as deity Jesus surrendered that Jesus came as one of us. He came as a man to Jesus's response. He goes to the word of God and his responses, man.

Will not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the guy and powered by the spirit, and I'm not going to be deceived by you Satan. That I should do what I want rather than what God wants.

Not going there. Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him up on the Pinnacle of the temple and said you and me through the Son of God throw yourself down for it is written. He will command his angels concerning you or on their hands. They will bear you up less. You strike your foot against a stone. I like how this is laid out so comes with the first Temptation based out of Jesus's hunger. We wanted to turn this into bread. Jesus responds with the word of God and the devil goes all you like the word of God.

Because we can take even the word of God and make it say what we wanted to say. Just watch almost all of the TV preachers and evangelist. We can take the word of God to make it what we want to say and be deceived even in that.

Jesus said to them again. It's written. You got understand. You can't pick one verse out of contact. You got to understand the whole story.

Jesus says you shall not put the Lord your God to the test, but I'm here promises aren't parlor tricks for me to test out God's word. Yeah, it says that those angels will protect me it says that I will be watched over but I'm not here to put God to the test. I'm here to do what God asked me to do. I'm not going to be deceived by you saying. Things not done. He says the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their Glory.

All the kingdoms of the world and their Glory often wondered how that works what that really look like. I wonder if if Satan and Jesus were locked into time the same way that we are in that moment. I wonder what it is that sings really showing him everything in all creation. Here it is. All the glory of God's good creation. Here's all of it spread out in front of you Jesus. Here's the Temptation. He says them all these things. I will give you if you fall down and worship me.

This is this is the essence of the temptation.

All those things are going to be given to Jesus.

They're going to be his the father has promised to give them to him the story of redemption destroy. The scripture is God preparing for Jesus. The Messiah to come the one who will sit on David's throne and Will Rain not for a thousand years or a million years, but forever the one whom all the nations will come one day. The Messiah will be exalted to the right hand of God and everything will be given unto him. Satan tempting him with his Birthright. Satan is tempting him with what God is going to give him.

Take the easy way.

The easy way you want the crown. I'll give you the crown without the cross. You want the Joyce? I'll give you the joy without the sorrow. You want the victory. I'll give you the victory without the battle.

All you have to do. Is choose me over God?

And I'll give it all to you without a fight.

Jesus section get out of my face.

It's written you shall Worship the Lord your God and you shall only him shall you sir?

The devil left him and behold Angels came and were ministering fit him into funny quote that actually comes true but on the other side of the temptation.

Temptation in the wilderness is the hit the easy button. Do you guys get tempted by that as much as I do?

I want the easy way. I want the Safeway. I want the pain free way. I went the way of recognition. I want the way of adulation. I want the way of Victory and success. I want my way to be God's way.

Other than one in God's way to be my way. I'm tempted every single day to hit the Easy Button.

I want the crown.

But I'd rather get it without the cross.

This is the essence of the temptation of Jesus.

I hope you see the night. This is the answers of our Temptation every single day. when we trust God We Trust ourselves when we listen to God or we listen to the world when we submit to God or will we submit to the enemy when we seek for satisfaction in obedience and faithfulness to God

We try to do it our way.

We live in a battle every day. Between walking by faith or walking by sight and and and the essence of our battle is the deceitfulness of sin. We believe the truth of God and his word all we believe the truth. the World the Flesh and the devil

Hebrews chapter 3 says this to us. Take care Brothers. Hey Kara sisters. Church pay attention careful beat beat beat thoughtful by don't don't put your mind on cruise control. Don't open up your heart to every truth as if all truth is equal. Be careful. Take care brothers and sisters lest there be in any of you an evil unbelieving heart leading you to fall away from the Living God. So much in love, how do we fall away from God? How is it that many of us have experienced and we know many others that started well with God. But overtime drifted away. White hot intense love for God and that gets turned into a ho-hum Ian. I believe in God. How is it that that happened what happened when our heart is deceitful? It happens when our heart is turned away from believing in God to believing in anything else.

I want you guys and again this is not is not talking individuals. He's talking to church communities to a spiritual family cuz all y'all brothers and sisters you need to take care.

An evil unbelieving heart doesn't grow within you and cause you to fall away from the Living God.

So he says exhort one another. everyday exhort one another it's not word. We use very often encourage one another call out to each other challenge each other lift each other up remind each other. every Sunday when you come to church we're going to do it. Every Saturday evening when you come to church. That's not any better.

what the text says everyday cuz your challenge is everyday. The deceitfulness of sin is in your face in your grill right up in you every single day. So everyday Church they get all by yourself and fight this he doesn't say get a good Bible study and really dig in. Not saying those are bad thing. But listen to what he says to fight the deceitfulness of sin. He says everyday exhort one another

How long should we do it? I'm glad you asked as long as it's called today. Until there's no more tomorrow. I got till the end week we have to do this you don't ever outgrow. The potential to be deceived by sin. You never reached a point of spiritual maturity where by yourself you won't be to see then of course Again by definition. You won't know you're deceived. That's why the the the solution to deception the deceiving this of of of of sin.

used to be in community the know and be known. Set to live with others that are following Jesus in a consistent and regular and authentic and vulnerable and transparent way. The fit to call each other out. You don't seem like yourself today.

I just don't listen to you for half an hour and and you been talking about how you want this so badly and I don't care anything about Jesus in that.

Brothers remember what God did for you just a few months ago. Do you remember what you committed yourself unto the Lord? Remember what God is calling you into it every day every day. I need to be encouraged.

To keep my eyes on Jesus everyday. Everyday, you need to be encouraged to keep your eyes on Jesus. Exhort one another every day as long as it's called today that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

4 we have come to share in Christ's if indeed we hold our original confidence firm. To the end as it is said today if you hear his voice do not Harden your hearts. as in Rebellion

sometimes we live our life like We come to know the truth. I know Jesus I punched my ticket. I'm going to heaven. I'm just going to walk through life now and try to do the best. I can the writer keeper says don't live your life that way. This is not a Sunday stroll. It's not a walk through the park. You are following Jesus in the midst of a battlefield and there are a thousand other voices clamoring for your heart attention. And if you don't stay focused if you don't stay connected, if you don't have other people constantly speaking life into you will be wooed by the deceitfulness of sin and it will harden your heart and turn you away from God.

So don't live like that. Stan community be with others let the word of God roll richly within you. Speak it to each other. Call it out to one another.

Encourage each other as long as it's called. today

imagine most of us know Jeremiah 17:9 the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately sick who can understand it. But you just listen, this is the essence of our challenge our heart. by itself Is easily swayed and deceived?

We need something. Greater than than our own perspective. We need something bigger than just us.

I find interesting as most of us know Jeremiah 17:9, but we we leave off pain which is the end of the sentence. It's the conclusion of the thought and I find it to be under unbelievably comforting Jeremiah 17:9 by itself is a little bit discouraging. Hey, Jeff, your heart is wicked dude, and nobody can control at least of all you. Hey, God, bless you. Have a good night.

Just by itself by itself is not a lot of hoping it but there's 10 by the Lord. Search the heart and test the mind. Some of you may hear that and go. Oh

I'm not sure. I want God searching my heart. I'm not sure I want got testing or mine. And if you feel that way and I felt that way many times in our life. That's just an indication that you've been deceived by the deceitfulness of sin. You bought into the lie that God is against you that God doesn't Delight in you. The guy doesn't treasure you the God sent his son to die for you. You think he's going to be, you know, searching your heart go on thinking that she doesn't know it already. This is not supposed to strike fear into you. This is a precious promise. You can't count on your own Heart Alone. So. I was going to be there for you by the Lord search the heart and test the mines to give every man according to his ways according to the fruit of his deeds. If you're trying to hold on your sin and do things your way, that's a terrifying verse. That is a and should terrify you in a running to God. But if you want to follow God if you want to play with Jesus nevertheless not my will but yours be done. This is a precious promise that my heart is wicked. I mean, I I want you I love you, but I am easily swayed. I can't just count on my heart and God says I know. So I'm going to help you out. I'm with you. I will search your heart and your mind and I will reveal it to you and more than just searching it this and I'm going to work within it. The heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord and He directs it like a Watercourse whichever way he want. Jesus didn't turn the Rocks into bread, but he did come and turn our Rocky Hearts into soft hearts that he writes his law of pain. Your heart without Jesus is wicked and deceitful your heart in New Creation terms has the spirit of God dwelling within a God says I'm here with you. I'm right in the midst of you and when you are faced with the deceitfulness of sin, I will be there with you.

And you can trust me. Your eyes tell you not to follow your eyes tell you go a different way your your your heart may tell you God's not for you. There's something better.

I got says just trust me.

Trust me. I see more than you do. I know more than you ever will. And I'm more for you. And you've ever been for yourself?

I Lord search the heart and test the mind to give every man according to his ways according to the fruit of his deeds know what this verse says to me. And it says everything it says this. Lord searches my heart and mind and you know what he finds now. Find the Lord Jesus Christ.

He looks at me and he doesn't see my sand cuz he's cast my son as far as the East is from the West. He looks upon me and he sees the perfect righteousness of Christ was his promise now stay I the Lord see it and I will give every man according to his waist is going to repay me not for my sin because Jesus already paid for that God's going to repay me for the faithfulness and goodness and righteousness of Jesus. I said it last week. I'm going to say it again Church The Best Is Yet To Come. The Best Is Yet To Come our inheritance is secured not because of what we've done but because of what Jesus has done we're in Christ and Christ is in

So like Jesus, we need to walk by faith and not by sight. We will have our moment. I'm not saying you won't be afraid. I'm not saying you won't have doubt. I'm not saying you won't be tempted you will be.

I am saying is when it comes lean in. Lean into Jesus listen carefully to the spirit lean into the body of Christ.

Trust no matter what your eyes tell you. The word of God is faithful. He loves. Surprised us all. flip everything upside down Have the last word?

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