Tempted in the Wilderness
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12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
This happened directly after Jesus baptism.
We had a great baptism here and was very special. Someone said the best baptism they ever went to.
But as great as our baptism was
Jesus baptism was exceptional.
- The heavens where open to Him
-The Spirit of God descending like a dove
- The Father spoke directly from heaven saying “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well please”
After such a beautiful baptism. Jesus was led by The Spirit to be tempted by the devil.
Jesus started His public ministry by undergoing the most difficult temptation throughout the scriptures.
And Because The Holy Spirit led Jesus in the wilderness. That means theres purpose for the temptation.
Christian Quotations (Temptation)
The devil tempts that he may ruin; God tests that he may crown. St Ambrose
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
The persecuted church in Smyrna was promised a crown of life.
Rev 2:10 “10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
Tony Evan said Temptation opens the door to Gods blessing.
Some of us want to overcome the temptation by escaping . But God wants us to go through them.
Why did Jesus have to undergo temptation?
The temptations must be understood as the consequence of Jesus’ acceptance of his divine sonship, not of doubts about it.
Jesus Divine Sonship forced Him to undergo such temptation.
Not because there was question about Who He was.
Because of Who He was He had to go through temptation.
By us being sons and daughters of Jesus Christ we have to get tested. It comes with the territory.
You’re a marked person and The Spirit leads us there.
The churches that believe that God wants to relieve you of all your pain and promise you deliverance from all your physical issues. Thats really an attack on Gods plan.
Maybe God want you to go through that sickness or pain.
I was talking to two brothers yesterday and they both are dealing with great sickness . and the told me on two separate occasions this is apart of Gods plan.
2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
Not only was Jesus fasting for 40 days and 40 nights which is difficult enough. At the same he was getting tempted by the Devil throughout His fasting. Luke 4:2 And not only was he fasting, and getting tempted by the devil, He also was in the wilderness with wild beast. Mark 1:12,13
In Jesus day fasting was a serious practice of prayer and thinking.
Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights the same length as Moses when God gave Him the law Ex. 34:28, Also Elijah 1 Kings 19:8)
Matthew 4:3 (NKJV)
3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
Satan wanted Jesus to abuse His calling for selfish ends.
Don’t seek the Fathers will. Just operate in your gifts to show how powerful you where.
The Father identifies Jesus as The Son of God . Matt 3:16-17 “16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Now Satan wants to redefine the nature of sonship.
Satan knew who He was tempting. Its not “ If you are the Son of God”
It should be read “since you are The Son of God.”
Satan knew who Jesus was and knew Jesus knew who He was.
So Satan wanted to redefine the nature of Jesus sonship.
The devil didn’t want Jesus to deny His Sonship but to act according to how the He and the world perceived His Sonship.
We are not to allow the world to define the content of our call.
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
When Jesus said “It is written. He saying “It stands written”
He’s stating the reliability and unchangeability of the scriptures.
A life sustained by food only is a very poor life.
3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.
Second Temptation
5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,
The holy city is Jerusalem.
He took Jesus from his present situation and expanded the temptation to Jerusalem.
He took Him on the top of a temple. Not sure exactly which one but only could imagine it was the top of a place with great height.
6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
Now satan is using scriptures now almost to say Jesus you used scripture I know the word to.
He saying to Jesus you can do this quite easily.
He’s setting Jesus up to do a spectacular miracle.
This is how you know the Bible isn’t written by man. Because a good author would’ve had Jesus jump and it would’ve been a great story.
7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
16 “You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah.
Massah - Wilderness
How did Israel tempt God in the wilderness?
Made a golden calf and had a sexual party well worshiping the calve.
They would’ve rather stayed in Egypt then go to the promise land.
They complained about the man of God Moses, who delivered them.
Have you ever tempted the Lord.
One gentlemen told me if his Philly team wins the world series he would come to church
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
The devil took Jesus on an exceedingly high mountain where He can see all the Kingdoms of the world.
When the devil said the world he was making the expression as extensive as it can possibly be.
The devil wanted to make the splendor of the world as attractive as possible .
Its like how they promote places like New York, or LA to the rest of the world. Then you get there and its anti-climatic.
9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
13 You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.
20 You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast, and take oaths in His name.
Interestingly Satan’s temptations of Eve in the Garden of Eden correspond to those of Jesus in the desert. Satan appealed to the physical appetite (Gen. 3:1–3; Matt. 4:3), the desire for personal gain (Gen. 3:4–5; Matt. 4:6), and an easy path to power or glory (Gen. 3:5–6; Matt. 4:8–9). And in each case Satan altered God’s Word (Gen. 3:4; Matt. 4:6). Satan’s temptations of people today often fall into the same three categories (cf. 1 John 2:16 “16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”
Israel failed in the wilderness Jesus succeeded in the wilderness. Every verse that Jesus quoted was a verse where Israel failed in the wilderness. Jesus succeeded in Israels vocation. Deut.
What benefits did Satan offer Jesus?
First temptation- to fill His stomach (thus depend upon His own resources)
