Identity and temptation
Matthew • Sermon • Submitted
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Matthew 3:13-4:11 Identity and temptation
Into: This is an important topic today, and it seems like many are very confused and seeking a true identity. As Marius would say this is a very practical sermon, in the sense that if we really trust and believe God about what he says about our identity it will have a huge impact in our lives and the lives of the people around us.
Then Jesus comes to John, and asks to be baptized, John is trying to stop Jesus, Jesus’ does not give us a long explanation, he said it was to fulfill all righteousness. -
As Jesus is baptized verse 16 and 17 Jesus is baptized, the heaven spilt open and the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus like a dove and rests on him. And God speaks form heaven this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. Psalm 2:7 and Isa 41:1
3 in1 God displayed. In the voice of the father, the son being baptized and the Holy Spirt descending on Jesus like a dove. (Crazy)
Why? To encourage, empower and show who Jesus was to people and to himself, to give identity, to the God man, Jesus, that God is his father and that he is well pleased with him. The Holy Spirt resting on Jesus the sign that Jesus was anointed, empowered by God.
Jesus could rest in what God had spoken before he achieved or preached or healed because of who he is. Not what he did. Rest before doing. Sabbath before work. Identity before living.
True and lasting identity is given, by God, all other “Identity’s” can be taken away or change. (I am this or I am this well what about next week?) Examples, parent – only as long as the children live, my job – only as long as you have the job, I am the best, turned in to I was the best, - more?
We see the rhythm again of life. The back and forth… God acts the devil tries to confuse and get us to reject what God said – or distrust what God said.
The Spirt leads Jesus toto the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, a test of identity. Will Jesus make it? Where Adam and Eve failed?
Frist temptation seems to be about food, but it is not really, Jesus is hungry after fasting 40 days and nights. (Don’t start with 40 days). Maine accusation is if you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread. Jesus very hungry reply with the scripture from Dut 8:3 “Man shall not live by bread alone, but from evert word that comes from the mouth of God”. Great response, Jesus does not start arguing. Saying I am the son of God, - and I will show you, - no, instead responds with the words of God. (Confident in his identity, are we?) Jesus did not prove him self to the devil or satisfy him self with bread, using his power to get what his body craved at the moment. (Jesus knew his mission). This was not the time and the way to show that he was the son of God that day was coming. Jesus is going to fulfil this, because Jesus is the bred that has come from heaven to satisfy us. Not like the manna in the wilderness, that had to be gathered every day. Jesus is the word of God as John writes in the beginning of the gospel of John.
2.temption. The devil quote scripture like Jesus had just done (not all scripture quoting is done for the glory of God) (When scripture is used remember it is a whole and is not to be used a against itself but in respect of the whole.). Don’t miss use scripture to your advantage, and don’t do dumb things so God needs to help you out, or test if God loves you by doing strange and dangerous things. – God will help us in our needs we don’t have to create problems and issues we are going to have enough.
The devil is trying to get Jesus to jump of the temple. In attempt to get Jesus to prove that he is the son of God, Again, testing or attacking Jesus’ identity “if you are the Son of God”.
Jesus responds with scripture also, - Don’t test the goodness of God, by distrusting God, and don’t try to prove yourself to the devil, no Jesus is living for God. What about us? Many today, live to prove them self, that they are good enough, prove others wrong, impress the father or mother, the people in class, the people at work, the ones that hurt us, said we could not do it, we not make it.
Who are you trying to prove your self before? And why? Why did Jesus not do it or did he?
Jesus again rested in the power of the Holy Spirt and believed what the father had spoken at his baptizem. This is my son with whom I am well pleased. Are you resting in your identity? And what is your identity?
3.Temption – Power, money fame and glory. (The ultimate test)
All this I will give to you, if you fall down and Worship me, (This is just as crazy as when Adam and Eve was tempted in the garden, - they were made in the image of God, and the temptation was to be like God but they already were). Jesus owns all things they are made by and for him, Jesus does not say that but again rebukes Satan “Be gone” one translation beat it… This is the test Adam and Eve failed, the were enticed by the words of the devil and the apple, and mistrusted that they were already like God made in his image and failed and sinned. Jesus does not sin or fall for the ticks of the evil one, instead he corrects with Scripture, No, I will not worship you… because the is the truth “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve”. (this would also be a violation of the 1 comandment).
And story from my life, in Sunday school, that was on a Friday I can recall a teaching on this story, I guess that is good, it was if someone shoed up with a suitcase full of money at your door, would I worship the person to get the money. I got that okay don’t do that so I never did well no one came with a lot of money… I think there is a lot more here in this story, - worship is not only what we physical bow down to, but also in our mind and what takes our time and money, what is our mind occupied with. (The many other failures and sin in my life was worship of something other than the Lord God). The let us be ware that when we fear or hold other things or people higher that Jesus, we are failing to only worship God. (Examples, sports teams are you more passioned about your team that Jesus? Politics, are you more passioned about your party and candidate than Jesus, Children, spauce? Do you worship them more that Jesus? Your Job? What really gets you exited? You hunt the praise of others, then you bow an become the person you think others would like you to be, you worship money, well you might not say so but you do believe that if you had enough that will solve your problems or did have already solved your problems). Sex, relationships, - drugs, alcohol, etc. Being a good Christian, helpful serving, nice, liked by all. Being a good witness, so that I prove to others and to me that I love God. That can also be an idol a worship of being seen as good. It is the other way around.
We are all made in the Image of God, from there, there are 2 identities:
Children of wrath (Judgment turn to God, to Jesus for his life and forgiveness) and Children of God. (by grace vi faith experienced that Jesus is Lord, savior and King and we serve him, and have been adopted in to Gods family.) Where are you? And do you stand firm in your identity?
My plea with you if you’re in the child of wrath is to turn come to Jesus for new life and identity, one that does not change. Or you can spend your whole life, changing who you are, there are many that would like to give you a new identity, most likely like the one that they have, and for the most part worshiping that lifestyle, or person that comes with it. It will not last. I invite you to Jesus not me, Jesus.
If you’re a child of God, amen praise the Lord, he has been so faithful and will stay the same, but how much do you rest in that you’re his, that Jesus did live, die, rise for you, and is coming back? Is that your sure and steady foundation of who you are? In your daily life? Are you marked by Jesus, the work that the Holy Spirt has done in you, the fruit that Jesus have ability to produce?
What did we see in Jesus baptizem and his temptation? That identity is given by God. And our only sure foundation of who we are. Where do we find that, in the words of God that Jesus also quotes to rebuke and counter the evil one. We have the words of God in the bible, to read to understand by the guiding of The Holy Spirt.
Jesus trusted what God that spoke it over him (His identity), And was able to stood against the devils’ temptations to prove, to test God, He refused to worship any other that God. Jesus was the only one to passed the test where all others has failed, that is how Jesus proved who he is. That all his life he did the fathers will, that is true worship. To live for the will of the father as we enjoy, and live our lives the way Jesus did always obeying God. Our life as true worship of the one true living God.
When we fail, we look to Jesus, where he proved that he is the son of God, by his life with no sin, his death, for sin, his resurrection for our righteousness, and we can turn to back to God because that our identity is to belong to our God, and run to him for forgiveness. If we are more aware of all that is ours in Christ, we can silence the world the flesh, and the devil, because our prize is so much better that anything that he can give. Co hairs with Jesus, all the fathers have is ours, adoption by God. Land the plane.
What is your identey? Have you recived it from God or did you make it your self? Have you lost your identity? what about you?
The only true identy is made in the image of God. Child of God by faith in Jesus Christ adopted in to Gods family. Child of wrath rebelling against God to make and seek your own identity apart form God.