Who Are You? (2)
A Disciple of Christ • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsChrist's temptation is the ultimate connection between People and Himself! In His temptation He shows us what it is to live as Children of God...
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“Oh! I’d say thank you!”
“Oh! I’d say thank you!”
A four year old boy surprised his mom with this question: “Mom, What do you know about the devil?”
Startled by the question, she asked (the only thing she could think to ask): “What do YOU know about the devil?”
“Well,” he began, “the devil talked to Jesus, and he was mean.”
Then… leaning closer, and talking in hushed tones, he said: “For instance, if we were in a store, and you and dad were on one aisle, and i was on another aisle, and...”
His tones became down right conspiratorial… “The devil would say, ‘You should take some.’”
Curious, she asked, “Honey, if we were at a store, and Dad and I were in one aisle, and you were in another aisle, and there was candy, and the devil said, ‘You should take some!’ What would you say back to the devil?”
He replied, “Oh! I’d say ‘Thank you!’”
It’s not surprising that the boy responded that way…
It’s not surprising that he “missed the point.”
BUT…
How often do we do that?
It’s easier to say “Thank you!” to temptation, then to say “No!”
“No, thank you! I know in whom I believe… I know whose I am… and therefore, who I am! I trust God alone!”
(pause)
[Rise of the “NONES”]
Who Are You?
— Are you a child of God?
— Do you trust Him completely?
— Are you a citizen of HIS Kingdom?
“Great!”
What does that mean?!?
(pause)
Turn with me to Luke 4.
I. Jesus led into the wilderness for 40 days… (Luke 4:1-2)
A. 40 days of fasting and prayer…
B. 40 days in the desert — alone — NO HELP… NO SUPPORT… NO ENCOURAGEMENT from family and friends…
C. 40 days of just Him and the Holy Spirit!
Jesus wasn’t alone.
the Spirit didn’t just drop Him off and say, “Good luck! See you in 40 days!”
It wasn’t a “survivalist moment”!
The Holy Spirit abided with Him…
D. Jesus was at His weakest… (vs 2)
Luke 4:2 (NIV)
2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
E. That is where satan attacks! When we are at our weakest!
Let me pause for a minute…
Why is Jesus’s temptation important to us?
Why do we need to know about it?
You see… Many people in this world… perhaps even some people listening to this today… think that the Bible - that Jesus - has no relevance to their lives…
But He does!!!
I want you to “see” the connection!
II. Jesus knew who He was!
A. Luke 2 — 12 yr old Jesus says, “Didn’t you know, I MUST be where my Father is?”
B. Luke 3 — Jesus’s baptism, The Father says, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased.”
C. Then… the genealogy — connecting Jesus all the way back to Adam.
D. Jesus is both the Son of God, AND the Son of Man!
Fully God & Fully Human.
Why is this important?
E. Jesus’s temptation connects us to Him… In His temptation, Jesus shows us what it means to be both!
We are children of Adam… Born of humanity…
Jesus was born of God… AND humanity!
He shows us the way!!!
Look at what Jesus says to Nicodemus… Jn 3:5-6
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
Paul writes in Romans 8:14-16
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
(pause)
F. Do you see the connection?
Jesus shows us what this identity — as Children of God — is supposed to look like!
What it is about… AND… What it is NOT about!
III. The Temptation Luke 4:3-13
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.
10 For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
A. Do you see what he is doing?
distorting scripture… taking it out of context…
You can make scripture say whatever you want it to…
B. 1st - turn stones into bread — “If you are...”
the same old trick…
he tells Jesus: “Hungry? Fill yourself up! You’re the Son of God, you can do it!”
1. Friends… A messiah who feeds people and heals is popular.... A God who only “approves” of our wants, desires, and actions is popular…
satan is telling Jesus.... “You are, so do what you want! It’s all good!”
2. Who is it that sustained Jesus?
God!
for 40 days!
iii. Look what Jesus says. Luke 4:4
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
“That’s not what life is about!”
It’s about trust in God! (Faith)
C. 2nd Temptation — worship satan Luke 4:5-7
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
“I’ll give you the world!”
“No struggle, No suffering!”
“don’t worry about Isaiah 53… you can do it another way!”
satan claims to be “god” of this world.
out of context again…
he is still under God’s authority.
6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them.
7 The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.
10 “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.
11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
12 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
satan only has dominion “at God’s pleasure”
he has no true power… no authority… no splendor to give to anyone.
Only God — can give good gifts
is in control
can be trusted
has true power
God is the only One who truly loves us… who can transform us… who can give us life!
yet satan claims that he can…
Jesus’s response — Luke 4:8
8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
D. The world says that it can fill our physical and spiritual needs — that we don’t NEED anything else, especially God, but… IT CANNOT!!!
satan knows this!!!
E. 3rd — “Jump!” Luke 4:9-11
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.
10 For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
he knows… so he tells Jesus “Jump!” — “test your identity!”
He gave you life, so test it!
use your powers
He promised in Psalm 91, so the Father HAS to do it!
F. What do all of these temptations have in common?
they ALL lack “love for God” AND “love for neighbor.”
they are selfish — me, myself, and I — and nothing else!!!
IV. We will be tempted!
A. The enemy will tempt us… We will be tested… but the Holy Spirit WILL NOT abandon us!
B. Do we Trust Him?
or, Do we say “thank you” to satan?
(pause)
Jesus has shown us the way… He has shown us what living as Children of God looks like…
Look what He says to the Church — to you and to me: (intro)
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
It is all about FAITH!
— Peter declared, “You Are The Christ! The Son of God!”
What good are the keys, if we do not open the door? If we don’t use them?
“Being a Child of God is not about worship… it is not about church attendance… or giving… or service…”
“It’s about ALL of those things wrapped up in one statement: ‘It’s not about me… It’s about HIM!!!’ … and He is about OTHERS!!!”
Jesus overcame EVERY temptation with a focus on FAITH… FAITH is putting “our complete and total trust in God”
Do you trust Him completely?!?!
Or… Are you saying “thank you” to satan, and don’t even realize it?
WHO ARE YOU?