Untitled Sermon

Week One The Necessity of the Word of God

Reason & Result of Jesus’ Testing in Wilderness

Prepare Him for Ministry &:

Lk. 3.23; When He began His ministry; directly before being lead into the wilderness

Mk. 1. 14-15; Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God - directly after John’s imprisonment

Mt. 4.17; From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Future trials which He would soon face:

Lk. 4.13; When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. Luke anticipating a future time of trials

Lk. 23.3; And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot

After being betrayed Jesus is to face His biggest trials yet, ultimately leading to the cross of Calvary

Teach Him depend & obey the Father & the Spirit:

Mt. 3.15; I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”; Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Jn. 4.34; “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work, Jn. 8.29; And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him

He is filled by the Holy Spirit, Lk. 3.21-22; while He was praying, heaven was opened; the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove

Lead by the Spirit, Mk. 1. 12; the Spirit *impelled Him to go out into the wilderness; Mt. 4.1; Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Learned Obedience: Heb. 5.8; Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered, The first temptation which we will look into: Mt. 4.4 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”, He had to depend on the word spoken by His Father just prior in Mt. 3.17; This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” Only other time God the Father speak from heaven is in Ex. 20.

Prove His Readiness for the Mission:

Heb. 2.10; For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. Heb. 5.9; And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, Mt. 1.21-22; She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus[lit. Salvation or YHWH Saves], for He will save His people from their sins.”

Jesus fasting and being tempted for 40 days is an allusion to the Israel wanderings in the desert spoken of in Deut. 6-8, which Jesus uses in each of His responses to the devils temptations. I want to point out, Israel is referred to as a Son in Ex. 4.22-23; Israel is My son, My firstborn. ; Let My son go that he may serve Me & Isa. 63.10; But they rebelled And grieved His Holy Spirit; Jesus goes to show that He is the better Son the one fit to reign on the throne.

And now we don't have to fear because He does begin His ministry, showing He was fit to be the Savior of the world, he overcomes every temptation as we have seen together.

Jn. 16.33; These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Now being able to sympathize with our weaknesses:

Heb. 2.17-18; Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Heb. 4. 15-16; For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

He successfully overcame temptation: Mt. 4.11, & Lk. 4.13; The devil left Him

QUESTION: Seeing Jesus needed to be taught to trust & obey, how much more so do we need to learn this as believers in Christ Jesus?

Gen 3.6; When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 1 Jn. 2.15-17; Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

ἐπιθυμία: Desire, Lust, a craving.

in Lk. 22.15; I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer & Phil. 1.23; But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; it is here actually used in a good way

HOWEVER...... When used......

Of the flesh. Sensual appetite. The desire which resides in the flesh..... - word studies in the New Testament

the lust which has its seat and source in our lower animal nature - JFB

The cravings of sinful man are the sinful interests and desires that draw us away from God - HNTC

We can see that the lust of the flesh is being drawn away from God and fulfilling our fleshy desires for food, water, shelter, comfort in a self seeking way, that does not honor God.

Jesus’ First Temptation Mt. 4.3-4

Three ways in which Jesus was tempted:

His Son ship (identity) is brought into question, Mt. 4.3; “If You are the Son of God, Satan is trying to get Jesus to doubt what He had just been told by His Father

give example of how our identity is brought into question:

Satan accuses: You cannot be a Christian, Christians wouldn’t do something like this, how dare you call yourself a christian.

His divine authority is urged upon, Mt. 4.3; command that these stones become bread.” Satan is not only trying to get Jesus to fulfill His hunger -to use His abilities for self gain which is not according to the will of His Father- Jn. 5.30; I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. Satan is also trying to get Him to prove Himself to be Divine by using His divine power to do a miracle to provide for Himself.

He is tempted to fulfill His need for food instead of submitting to the will of His Father, Jesus is led into the wilderness in order to be tested, and Jesus seems to be very aware of this fact by His three times reference to Duet. combating temptation

Ways in which Jesus overcame temptation:

Recognizing who He is (not doubting)

Jesus was just told in Mt. 3.16-17; and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

Resisting the urge to satisfy His hunger and standing firm in the Father’s provisions

I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. Jn.5.30

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. Jn. 6.38

Jn. 5.20; For the Father loves the Son, Jesus knew what it meant to be loved by the Father. Mt. 7.9; Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Jesus trusts the Fathers provisions!

Using Scripture (having an answer to Satan’s charge)

Jesus’ response to Satan’s temptation is an amazing one, He recognizes that Man Shall not live on bread alone.

Scripture about the importance of the Word of God:

Mt. 4.4; Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”

2 Tim. 3.16-17; All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work

Heb. 4.12; For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Eph. 6.17; And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Psa. 119. 105; Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.  

Psa. 119. 11; Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You  

1 Jn. 2.1; My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.

1 Jn. 2.14; I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Eph. 6. 10-18; Full armor of God, which is found in the Word of God.

My question to you is...

If physical food is absolutely necessary for our very own nourishment and survival, what weight does this give the Word of God if Jesus says that we do not live on bread alone? 

It shows it is as absolutely necessary if not more so than our daily sustenance, considering it will determine our eternal abode if we are to neglect God’s provisions through His Word