Man's Temptation, Round Three. Whom do you serve?

Good morning!

It is good to be with you and to worship with you this morning.

Last week we began looking at the temptations of Jesus and covered the first temptation.

We were asked the same question that Jesus was asked through this temptation, whom do you trust?

The enemy's goal in this temptation was to entice Jesus to fail in the same way that Israel did.

We took a long look back at Israel’s failure in the desert to trust God for their every need.

They got so focused on their needs that they forgot that God had already proven that he was more than capable of providing for them.

I didn’t mention this last week, but I was reminded this week of the manner in which Israel left Egypt.

Do you remember?

God had used Moses and Aaron to deal with Pharaoh.

He didn’t listen, so God sent plagues to show that He is the one, true God.

The final plague was the death of the firstborn unless they painted their door frame with the blood of a sacrificial lamb.

Let’s pick up this story in chapter twelve and verse 29.

Exodus 12:29–36 CSB

29 Now at midnight the Lord struck every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the prisoner who was in the dungeon, and every firstborn of the livestock. 30 During the night Pharaoh got up, he along with all his officials and all the Egyptians, and there was a loud wailing throughout Egypt because there wasn’t a house without someone dead. 31 He summoned Moses and Aaron during the night and said, “Get out immediately from among my people, both you and the Israelites, and go, worship the Lord as you have said. 32 Take even your flocks and your herds as you asked and leave, and also bless me.” 33 Now the Egyptians pressured the people in order to send them quickly out of the country, for they said, “We’re all going to die!” 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls wrapped up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 The Israelites acted on Moses’s word and asked the Egyptians for silver and gold items and for clothing. 36 And the Lord gave the people such favor with the Egyptians that they gave them what they requested. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.

What does it mean, “Israel acted on Moses’ word”?

God told Moses to go assemble the elders of Israel and tell them that God has seen their suffering, and He is going to deliver them from the Egyptians.

On top of that, before it is over, the Egyptians will give you anything you ask of them so that you will leave.

Exodus 3:21–22 CSB

21 And I will give these people such favor with the Egyptians that when you go, you will not go empty-handed. 22 Each woman will ask her neighbor and any woman staying in her house for silver and gold jewelry, and clothing, and you will put them on your sons and daughters. So you will plunder the Egyptians.”

God has shown Israel so many times that He loves them and is going to take care of all their needs.

Think about the fact that this people group was completely enslaved and, in the span of a few days, became a superpower in that region.

We also learned in our Exodus study that those lands that God promised them, their inhabitants, heard of this great nation in the wilderness and feared them.

God is doing exactly what he said he was going to do and take care of Egypt.

The question that God was asking Israel when he led them into the wilderness was, do you trust me?

Through this passage in Luke, God is asking us the same question, do you trust God?

The devil asked Jesus to turn the stones into bread, but it wasn’t about bread or even being hungry.

It was about trust.

This was temptation one.

The second one, which we are covering today, is a different kind of question.

It is one that all people struggle with.

It is a temptation that has always existed.

I’ll use what, in my opinion, is the greatest film in cinema history to illustrate this point.

Its a little Disney film called Aladdin. The original with Robin Williams.

In this story there is an man named Jafar.

From the outset of the movie, you can tell that something isn’t quite right about this guy and his parrot.

But think about what it is that Jafar wants.

He is the sultan’s most trusted advisor.

But that isn’t enough.

He wants to be the sultan.

To that end he tricks many people into going in to the cave of wonders to retrieve the genie’s lamp.

As the story goes, Aladdin gets it instead, and becomes Prince Ali.

Fast forward, Jafar realizes that Prince Ali is Aladdin, and steals the lamp back.

What does he wish for?

To be Sultan. poof… he’s sultan.

but not everyone listens to him.

So he decides to become the greatest sorcerer in the world. poof… greatest sorcerer.

But Aladdin cleverly reminds him that the genie gave him his power and can take it away.

So, he ask to become the most powerful genie. poof… ultimate cosmic power, itty bitty living space.

What was it that Jafar was after?

Power. He wanted to be the one in control.

Let me ask you this, how many times in your life have you wished that you were the boss, the oldest sibling, the team leader, etc?

This desire for control and power is found in so many movies and stories because it is a universal struggle.

Those that have no power want it, and those that have power want more.

What are some stories or movies that follow the theme of wanting more power?

Let’s open to Luke and read this second temptation.

I bet you will see this same theme playing out in this story.

Luke 4:5-8

Luke 4:5–8 CSB

5 So he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 The devil said to him, “I will give you their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want. 7 If you, then, will worship me, all will be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”

The Devil offered Jesus a shortcut to accomplishing His mission.

I don’t think we ever see just how sneaky this temptation is.

I mean, we gotta give the devil some credit on this one.

He’s a sly dog.

What he is offering Jesus is the ability to control his own story.

At first glance, that doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it is.

Have you ever met a four year old?

Did they say, “no, i’ll do it myself”? yeah, they did.

This is born into all of us.

It is the result of the fall, and it is the same temptation the devil used on Eve.

Genesis 3:4-6

Genesis 3:4–6 CSB

4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

You will be like God...

That was a play for power.

God created everything, including them; imagine what they could do with that kind of wisdom and power!

But, as we know, it was a cleverly packaged lie.

Did they gain wisdom? Yes, but not Godly wisdom.

They gained wisdom and experienced evil.

This desire for wisdom and power separated them and the rest of humanity from God.

This separation is seen throughout scripture, and we saw it with Israel in the desert.

We talked about this last week.

God told them He was going to provide mana but only gather what their household needed for the day because tomorrow, God would provide more.

What did some of them do?

They gathered what they wanted in an attempt to take control back from God, and the result was rotten, stinky, worm-infested bread.

This human desire for power and control is what the devil is trying to lure out of Jesus.

It is the same thing that he tries to lure out of us.

The devil tries to convince us that his way will also bring us around to what God wants but through the avenue of what we want.

How have you experienced the temptation of shortcutting God’s process?

Did it turn out the way you expected it?

Not only is he trying to trick us into disobeying, but he’s also doing it by offering something that isn’t his to give away.

Jesus was offered what was not the devil’s to give away.

What is so alluring about power and control?

Look at verse 6 again in Luke chapter four.

Luke 4:6 CSB

6 The devil said to him, “I will give you their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want.

Now that is a bold statement.

And it makes you wonder a bit, does the devil own the world?

Is it his to give away?

Now we know there are verses in the Bible that may allude to this, but let’s look at a few.

1 John 5:19 CSB

19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.

Let’s take a closer look at the word “sway”.

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) DBL Greek 1845

1845 ἐμμέσῳ (emmesō): adv.; ≡ Str 1722 + 3319—among (Rev 1:13 v.r. BAGD; 2:1 v.r. BAGD; 4:6 v.r. BAGD; 5:6 v.r. BAGD; 6:6 v.r. BAGD; 22:2 v.r. BAGD); not in LN

The world is “among” the evil one.

John 12:31 CSB

31 Now is the judgment of this world. Now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

John 16:11 CSB

11 and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

Here is what we know, the evil one is among us.

But his reign is temporary and restricted.

Think about the story of Job, and let’s look at that real quick.

There is an important detail that we need to see.

Job 1:9–12 CSB

9 Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Haven’t you placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 12 “Very well,” the Lord told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power. However, do not lay a hand on Job himself.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

The enemy did not have control over Job; God had to grant him permission.

If he actually had control and complete dominion over the whole world, he would not need God’s permission to test Job.

The devil is trying to give away something he has no control over.

How does it make you feel to know that the devil’s power is limited?

How can that change the way you think about temptation?

His best bargaining chip doesn’t belong to him.

He is offering something he can’t deliver on!

Yes, the devil is among us, and yes, he has some control over the world and the people in it, but that power will not last forever.

He is living on borrowed time.

That is what Jesus is saying in both of the John passages we just read.

The enemy has been judged, and he will be cast out.

In order to overcome this temptation, Jesus goes back to God’s word.

He leans into the promise, the covenant that God made with Israel way back in the desert.

Jesus defeats this temptation by obeying the Shema.

Or as we call it, the greatest commandment.

Look in Deuteronomy at what Jesus is quoting.

Deut 6:4-5

Deuteronomy 6:4–5 CSB

4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

Listen, this lie that the devil is trying to pull on Jesus is one of the same ones that he pulls on us daily.

This idea that we need to be the ones in control.

That this is our life, and we can live it how we please.

Truth can be what I want it to be.

Why do you think the idea of relative truth is so pervasive in American culture?

How can our obedience to God reveal absolute truth to the world?

This is not the case.

Jesus came and faced this temptation.

He looked that lie in the face, and His rebuttal was the promise of God.

What did God promise his people? Deuteronomy 28:1

Deuteronomy 28:1 CSB

1 “Now if you faithfully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all his commands I am giving you today, the Lord your God will put you far above all the nations of the earth.

With this temptation, the devil is striking right at the heart of what God wants and desires from his people.

Obedience is followed by the blessing presence of God in our lives.

Paul warns about this temptation in his letter to the church in Rome and gives the answer to how to overcome it.

Romans 12:2

Romans 12:2 CSB

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

In response to this temptation, Jesus pulls out the trump card.

He reminds himself and the devil that God’s command, God’s desire, is for us to obey Him.

The way we pull this trump card when facing temptation is by being transformed into Jesus’ likeness.

If only we had been warned...

Oh, wait, we were.

Jesus taught about this temptation.

John 14:29–31 CSB

29 I have told you now before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe. 30 I will not talk with you much longer, because the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me. 31 On the contrary, so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do as the Father commanded me. “Get up; let’s leave this place.

Jesus told his disciples that this time was coming for them.

They were going to have to deal with those temptations when He wasn’t physically with Him anymore.

How does he tell the disciples to fight this, and how do we fight this lie?

We fight it by abiding in Christ.

If we are one with Him, His desires become our desires, and we are in harmony with one another.

John 15:1 CSB

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

John 15:5–8 CSB

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

God’s desire is for us to know Him.

The enemy's desire is for us to not know God.

We are going to be tempted daily to take control, seek power, and write our own stories.

All of those are going to lead to sin and separation from God.

The question we are left with today is, Whom do you serve?

Is it yourself, or is it God?

Are you the one calling the shots in your life, or are you letting God?

If we follow the teachings of Moses, Jesus, and Paul by living in obedience, we will experience the joy of knowing God and being blessed by his presence.

From the beginning, the devil has worked to separate us from God.

By living for yourself, you are falling into the same trap that Adam, Eve, and Israel fell into.

We have seen the results of that separation from God.

Give yourself the opportunity to experience union with God by abiding in Him.

Let’s pray.

Closing

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