Trouble in the Wilderness

(S1)—Rivers to wilderness—40 days—Barren land of desolation, and hardship—A journey Jesus willingly took

LENT—A self-imposed wilderness...Like Jesus, a place we willingly enter. What we can learn from Jesus wilderness experience, about ourselves, our relationaship with God?

(S2)—

Trouble in River City

TROUBLE in the wilderness— Jesus Comes face to face with what has proven to be humanities greatest undoing.

—We have seen leaders fall under it’s power, faithful marriages ruined by it, men and women broken under it’s control. The healthy have given in to it, and the successful have been swallowed up in pride by it.

TEMPTATION—Jesus comes face to face with his greatest earthly adversary—Baptism—Identity—Time of testing—What kind of “Son” would he be?

(S3)—

When we are Baptized—Conversion—Life of faith—We claim our true Identity as a “child of God.” Yet temptation is a part of our human experience, something we all face.

What kind of child of God will I be?

John 10:10 (NIV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The bad news—Trouble will find us in our wilderness living. The Good news—Jesus gives us the way to stay out of trouble—Without Jesus, we are all vulnerable to fall to temptation in this wilderness called life.

What did it mean for Jesus to be tempted? What does his experience mean for us today?

BIBLES—PRAY

(S4)—

Temptation like cars and people, comes in all shapes and sizes—Giving up sweets for lent?

Donuts—Cravings increase—See it more

Truth is, there are many things we should avoid! There isn’t a day we don’t go without being tempted.

1 Corinthians 6:12 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial.

Just because its within reach, doesn't mean its good for me

(S5)—

Basic step in any rehab program—Don’t go there—Avoid it at all costs!

BOWLING

We all face temptation. To ignore it, is to minimize its power, to trivialize it, is to deny our humanity. To face it alone, is like heading into the wilderness with no food or water.

There was nothing easy about Jesus’ wilderness journey. In his time of testing, Jesus faced the greatest of human need; to be fed.

(S6)—

Matthew 4:1–2 (NLT) Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

Why did Jesus need to face the very thing that exposes the weakest of our human condition?

—Baptized in the waters of the Jordan, who he was was clear—Without sin—All of heaven on his side

Yet...He became very hungry...Jesus would come to know us, and our weakness, by putting himself in a place of vulnerability.

When are we most vulnerable to temptation?—Tired, Hungry, Alone, Bored—Satan, is there waiting for us, when we are the most vulnerable

SWINDOLL—ELEVATOR—

Who will it hurt? Nobody’s looking.

“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”” Mark 14:38

We pray to God to... lead us not into—“It’s a plea for God to protect us, to guide us around situations and circumstances that may lure us into ungodly actions.”

“A mother takes her young children grocery shopping with her and comes to the candy aisle. She knows that taking her children down that aisle will only stir up greediness in their hearts and lead to bouts of whining and pouting. In her wisdom, she takes another route— In this way the mother averts unpleasantness and spares her children a trial.

Praying, “Lead us not into temptation,” is like praying, “God, don’t take me down the candy aisle today.” It’s recognizing that we naturally grasp for unprofitable things and that God’s wisdom can avert the unpleasantness of our own bellyaching

The disciples experienced their own temptation in the wilderness

—Satan cast DOUBT in the storm—PRIDE in arguing over who would be the greatest—Peter’s test of CHARACTER; denial—Judas’ GREED...

Chuck Swindoll—Okinawa—Prostitutes—Run

(S7)—The bible teaches us to RUN or FLEE from whatever may tempt us into sin—Giving us a way out..

“God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Jesus endured his wilderness to show us that temptation does not have to get the best of us. There is always a choice—A way out

Facing temptation is like choosing what kind of FOLLOWER of Jesus will I be...

Ex-convict—Account—One decision away...

3 parts—The tempters question—Jesus’ response—What did it mean for Jesus to be tempted? For Us?

(S8)—

Matthew 4:3–4 (NLT)

During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

The devil exposes Jesus’ vulnerability, falsely claiming the way to fill his basic need is by his own SELF-PRESERVATION. If you really are...Trying to get him to question his own IDENTITY as the son of God...

PROBLEM IN OUR WILDERNESS WORLD—IDENTITY CRISIS

In Self-preservation we try to define ourselves as the world see us, not as who we are in Christ.

Jesus’ response—The WORD of God define you as a follower of Jesus

“In Christ, My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20

(S9)—We find trouble in the wilderness...

I. When we NEGLECT our need for spiritual NOURISHMENT

Jesus fill his hunger? By speaking the very word of God to the enemy—A dual of sorts between the powers of heaven (word) and the forces of evil? A preview to the ultimate showdown when Jesus would be tempted to remove himself from the cross and destroy his crucifiers.

“Jesus was tempted by fast food”—To turn a rounded stone into a big mac

Lent: giving up—going without chocolate is good (sometimes), but going without being fed by his word, is not. When we neglect spiritual nourishment, we become hungry—A void our enemy is always quick to fill.

Choosing what kind of follower of Jesus we will be means daily FEEDING on the WORD of God

Like a con man armed with Rolex's, again, Satan tries to tempt Jesus

(S10)—

Matthew 4:5–7 (NLT)

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

In rebutle, Satan quotes scripture himself, tempting Jesus to be the Messiah the people want, instead of the SAVIOR they need.

Hebrews 11:1 “1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.”

To jump would have been a visible sign of God’s presence and protection…Then there would be little need for FAITH.

Deut. 16 and Exodus 17—The Israelites testing God at Massah—In their own wilderness—No water—Grumbling against Moses

Exodus 17:2 “2 So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded. “Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?”” “7 Moses named the place Massah (which means “test”) and Meribah (which means “arguing”) because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord here with us or not?””

Water from a rock—”Is the Lord among us or not”

“1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test Jesus, demanding that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority. 2 He replied, “You know the saying, ‘Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow; 3 red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!” Matthew 16:1-3

(S11)—‌‌

We find trouble in the wilderness...

II. When we NEGLECT our need for God’s GRACE

I can hear Satan, “Go ahead test God, Jump, do it on your own, he has given you the power to save yourself.” The temptation here is to need Jesus only when we need him! After all, doesn’t he love us? He will save us!

CABLE ON DEMAND

We are saved by Grace…not because of what we have done or what we expect God to do.

Jesus on his own could have commanded the angels to save him, but he came because the world needed a SAVIOR, a restored relationship with God, not a religion on demand.

When we neglect our need for a relationaship with God’s grace, we trust only in self-preservation

BOY SCOUTS—SURVIVAL

In this wilderness called life, facing temptation, that will only get us so far...

Fall From Grace

(S12)—To live and to not fall to temptation, is to know that without a savior the wilderness wins.

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16

Choosing what kind of follower of Jesus means DAILY living under GRACE

(S13)—

Matthew 4:8–10 (NLT)

8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” 10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

To choose our wants, and desires over God’s will for our lives, is thinking the world has to more to offer than a relationship with Jesus

HAVE FUN—ENJOY LIFE

“The screaming whisper of Satan is to compromise your faith for your own desires. When we neglect our worship, we become more vulnerable to the offerings of the world

“ When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”” Luke 18:22

Without Jesus in the wilderness, we become hungry for MORE and become spiritually weak.

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

(S14)—We find trouble in the wilderness...

II. When we neglect our need of TRUE WORSHIP to God

To live and to not fall to temptation is to worship the Lord your God only!

John 4:23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.”

“The screaming whisper of Satan is an offer of palaces and kingdoms, compromise your faith, and it’s all yours.

Choosing what kind of follower of Jesus means offering true worship to God!

Its tempting isn’t it? (candy)

—To neglect our need for spiritual NOURISHMENT— To neglect our need for God’s GRACE— To neglect our need to WORSHIP

(S15)

Matthew 4:11 (NLT)

11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

But there is trouble in the wilderness...and if we choose what kind of follower of Jesus we will you be? Is to claim your identity as a child of God.

The good news is Jesus was your never alone in the wilderness and neither are we—When we daily feed on God’s word—Live under GRACE—WORSHIP only the true and living God.