Luke: The Story (11)

Introduction

You don’t know until you try

Trying something verifies whether you can

Perhaps it’s why some kids try to fly like superman

We some times need to test things out to see

This morning we come to the testing of Jesus

Who is Jesus really and can he be trusted?

Test

The test has been there from the beginning - Gen 2 &3

Why would God test Adam and Eve when everything was good?

We often talk about God not wanting robots. Free will/choice

Which is true

But also because God is just, he could not force faith on people

It is unjust to force someone into something ie. slavery. It demeans and misuses people.

And so God could not do this

However, God’s justice also means that those who don’t choose him and his ways as creator he will bring justice on them. wrath, judgement

But also for us as humans, it is easy to say we believe if we have never been tested.

And so any time we are faced with a choice between following God or not, it is a test.

The choice is the test and as James says we are faced with many trials/tests of many kinds.

Some are just part of this world, some the Lord brings into our lives and others are brought on by the enemy

2. Battle

The other part this story show us is that there is a battle going on

The reality is we don’t usually know there is a battle going on until we put our faith in Jesus

When we do, we switch allegiances, and find our selves **right in the midst of the battle

Jesus said if they hated him, they would hate his disciples

And this battle is more than just human hatred and discord there is a deep battle going

That’s why Paul says:

Ephesians 6:12 ESV

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

By the way the battle was there from the beginning as well

And here Jesus enters directly into that battle, led out of the waters and into the wilderness and fire

Read passage

I. Testing vs Temptation

Again James says that the life of a Christian is filled with trials of many(various) kinds

Those trials can go one of two ways described by these two words

All three of these words have the idea of being tested to see what is true

Trials test us

If we understand a trial as anything that challenges whether we will trust God or not

A test is an opportunity to trust God

A temptation is a draw to distrust God and go our own way

And in every trial we can go one way or the other

Jesus was tested as to show who he was - the perfect lamb of God

Jesus was tempted to abandon the Father’s purpose and plan

Look go back to James

James 1:12–15 ESV

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

James says if we are steadfast through our trials we will receive the crown of life

There is a promise if we endure - not just grit our teeth but seek to trust

Which shows that we love him and in whom we find true life

Temptation he says is when in the midst of our trial we are enticed not by God but by our own desires to not trust God and pursue our own way

He says that leads to sin and sin leads to death

And so Jesus had to be fully human or he wouldn’t have been tempted.

It isn’t implying our desires are wrong but they can lead us to desire what we want over what God wants and when we follow them over God we fall into sin which leads to a life of death.

And so the devil here has one objective: turn this test into a temptation and the down fall of Jesus and his purpose

So he questions his identity and tempts his humanity.

He wants to do the same to us.

The battleground truth

II. Truth vs Lie

Truth

Michael Heiser states, that the reality of Spiritual warfare is not fought through “shouting matches” with spiritual beings but is really a battle over truth. In other words, it is fought by holding up the truth.

What is true? And who can we trust?

Who really wants to lead us to what is true?

A test reveals the truth

Proverbs 17:3 ESV

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.

Psalm 66:10–12 ESV

For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

truth will lead us to life, that’s what James tells us

And a test will show us the reality of our hearts and who we can really trust.

They are like “fire” - can burn or purify

And so tests are hard and we often want to avoid or subvert

It’s easier to get angry and lash out, then to be as James says, “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.”

He goes on to say because man’s anger does not produce Godly righteousness.

And so the truth revealed leads us to choose, God’s way or our own

And if we choose God’s the promise is life

2. Lie(Deception)

Satan/the devil is called the father of lies

We see this in Gen 3 and we see it here now with Jesus

He looks to deceive Jesus with promises of life now and easy

End this test, feed yourself, if you are the Son of God

Take what you’re here for now, rather than death

Can you really trust the Father? test him

He wants to deceive you and I to believe this is the way to life but really if we choose it will bring death

If Jesus chose at any point to say yes to these temptations, they would have destroyed his integrity and his purpose.

Lies lead to shortcuts, and short cuts lead to death.

III. God vs World, Flesh and the Devil

Scripture seems to indicate we have 3 enemies that fight against being faithful to God

World - all things contrary to God and his will in our world

Flesh -

Luke 2. Jesus, Fully Human, Fully Divine

Jesus was divinely conceived, but he was also fully human. He came into the world in the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom 8:3). Paul uses “flesh” (σάρξ) to represent our creatureliness, and he does not disparage it. The problem with the flesh, however, is that it is “highly combustible material.” Temptation is powerless unless there is something to respond to it, and the flesh is the normal responder. It is susceptible to temptation and is easily inflamed.

Our desires gone wrong

And then the devil (slanderer, accuser, tempter) - here a specific spiritual being but also a picture of rebellion and all that is contrary to God

That’s why Jesus says to Peter

Matthew 16:23 ESV

But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Do you realize that we can be “satan”(slanderer, accuser, tempter) to others?

And so we might feel that we are surrounded and facing defeat

For one that’s why Jesus calls his disciples to count the cost, in fact right after his statement to Peter Matthew records Jesus’ call to deny self, pick up your cross and follow him.

Know what you’re getting into and be prepared to battle

But all the devil can do is tempt us, he can not make us do anything.

It is our choice

So let’s conclude with the good news.

Jesus here went before and conquered all temptation, sin and eventually death.

Jesus still had to make a choice and here remained faithful to the Father and His purpose and plan despite what it would entail

Which in the end would be his death, though sinless for our sins. The creator come to us as both God and man would give up his life for us and then rise again victorious.

2. We can also walk in victory!

How?

A. Renew our minds

Rom 12:1, 2

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

How do you know what is right and true? Renewing our minds with God’s truths

B. Walk by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16–17 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

This is what Jesus did?

Last time we saw him in the temple asking questions and learning, growing in wisdom (knowing good from evil) - renewing his mind

Today we saw him lead into and through the desert by the Spirit - John says the Spirit will remind us and teach us.

But the choice is still ours whether we will listen and follow.

Conclusion