The Temptation (Part 3)

The essence of sin is misguided gratitude, not ingratitude. As dependent creatures we all, by nature, thank somebody or something (usually ourselves!) for what we experience and achieve. And the ultimate object of our gratitude becomes the object of our worship. In turn, the object of our gratitude becomes the object of our service, since we inevitably serve whatever or whomever we think will meet our needs (see Matthew 6:24). This is why, in Romans 1:25, worship and service are linked together: the object of our worship always becomes the master of our behavior. This is a law of human nature, inasmuch as God made us to worship and live for him. The sin of idolatry, whether in the age-old worship of nature or in the modern worship of ourselves, is consequently the same: worshiping and serving the creature rather than the Creator (see Romans 1:25).

Idolatry, whether ancient or modern, is thus the futile attempt to look for our lives to anyone or anything other than the one true Creator and Provider. Whom do I thank when things go well? To whom do I look when things go badly? What is my source of security? Where do I gain my sense of worth in the world? What am I striving to achieve in life, and why? The answers to questions like these will help determine whether we are honoring God as God or whether we are idolaters—whether that means we are praying to a stone image as in the prophet Isaiah's day, drooling with envy over the car in our neighbor's driveway, or latching onto the latest self-help strategy.

Idolatry … this is the biggy. This is the one that we have got to be really honest with ourselves today. For some of us believe we are innocent of Idolatry because we are not literally bowing down to an Idol. It is understandable in that the word come from the Greek eidololatreia which means worship that is given to an image. But we do know from the scriptures that Idolatry is not just bowing down before an Idol. The things of the world can be an Idol.

Colossians 3:5 NLT

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

Does our affections, passions, desires, and worship go to the things of this world instead of God? Idolatry is a powerful and easily besetting sin. For many of us, there isn’t even a least bit of temptation, it is just a way of life. It is said that one of the most powerful things that the devil does to us today is to make us believe that we are OK with God when we are not.

But one of the most distracting things about Idolatry is that much of what we want is not given directly from the Idol, but what the Idol gets for us. I mean money or gold… we don’t get it form them directly, its what they can get for us. We should understand that it was not directly the worship of the Canaanite Idols by the Israelites for the sake of bowing before an piece of wood or metal. The worship services of these gods entailed the performance of the hottest and most popular musicians of the time. There were hallesuenogens and insences and chemicals that would cause altered states of consciences. And as a part of worship there was opportunities to engage in sexual encounters with the preisteses of the gods who were recruited because they were the most beautiful women in the world.

These worship services were nothing but sex drugs and rock and roll. These gods help them to live the life. To live the life they want to live. Do what they want to do. Experience all they want to experience. And not only that they hope to receive the promise that the gods will do all that they promise to do for them. This is just scratching the surface as to how deadly and deceptive and destructive Idolatry can be. So much that we will give up for the pleasures and promises from the world. So much that we will sacrifice to gain the whole world. Many of us today are willing to lose our own soul so that we can gain the whole world. Let’s take a look.

Matthew 4:8–11 NLT

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. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

The grass withers the flower fades but the Word of our God stands forever.

Idolatry

The Good News

The first thing we will look at today is some of what comes with the practice of Idolatry. Second, we will see how Christ cares for us and gives to us more than we could have ever hoped for.

Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world cause us to desire to gain the whole word by losing our souls, it is the truth of the scriptures and the power of the Holy Spirit that will cause us to see that through Christ we get so much more than ever could ever ask for.

I. Idolatry

-Will we sell our souls to the Devil?

A. The devil failed twice and and he is gonna give the mother of all temptations to Jesus in a grand spectacular way. He is gonna give it all to Jesus. Now there is a ton of speculation as to whether this was literal or was it a kind of vision. We will not take time to discuss the endless interpretation, but it might be hard to literally see all the kingdoms of the world from 1 mountaintop. It has to be some kind of vision that Jesus sees.

B. But here it is … Jesus is tempted with all that the world has to offer. It is showed and he sees it all. It is right there in his grasp. Anything anyone could ever want was given and all he had to do was worship Satan. So what we see here… all of this can be yours and the price is to give to Satan the position that belongs only to God. He is tempting Idolatry. But its in the form of what he will give for his allegiance. Give me what belongs to God and I will give you all that you want.

C. I recently watched one of my favorite movies growing up. Its a guitar movie that stars the Karate Kid. Its called crossroads. It is essentially based on the legend of the blues legend Robert Johnson. The story goes that Robert Johnson when to the crossroads and sold his soul to the devil to become a blues great with much fame and fortune. It is said that many who accomplished much in this arena of deep south delta blues make the same deal as Robert Johnson. And I wonder when faced with these kinds of temptations how many of us today would make the same deal. Lots.

D. I spent a great deal of time in the music business, sure it was Christian music, but there was so much crossover into dealings with the secular industry, it sometimes felt like there was no difference. Many will flat out say that there is no difference. Me and my former band member witnessed what we would call the selling of their souls for success. The things we saw that even “christian” bands would compromise for success was astounding. In the secular world it was always a selling of themselves for the sake of a record deal and your success based on how much of your soul you are will to give to the world. Some of the things we see being leaked in the Diddy investigations indicate some very compromising things musicians have done for the sake of fame and fortune. Worship the world and you will receive your desires.

E. To protect the innocent … a relative of mine has a neighbor who was a part of the Hollywood scene as a former agent. She tells my relative stories of all those in the industry who I will not name, as to what they did to get the part. Movie stars whose motto is I will do anything for a part. Awful awful things that they will do for success. You know the Epstein stuff.

F. Even in the business world… a successful business woman who became a christian, left that world behind to care for her husband and children. In her story she tells of all the corrupt and immoral things she did to get to the top. Men she fornicated with to get to the top. There is so much competition and everyone is more than qualified for the job … what is it thats gonna set you apart. The men who would step on others, lie and cheap to get to the top.

G. A friend of mine who is a political analyst in Hawaii tells me often of the soul selling going on in public service. The stealing from the very people you were sworn in to protect. The unthinkable. How much worship are we gonna give the things of this world to get what it is that we want. Today we are selling our souls to the Devil all the time.

H. Oh, but Shane we in the church. The amount of souls selling and world worship in the church is outstanding. I remember listening to a pastor who lost his mega church because of immoral behavior. He just flat out said that he never really believed in all that stuff, I just saw how stupid people are and saw how much money could be made in religion. Shane if you are willing to compromise you can be very successful in ministry. The scriptures warn of this.

1 Timothy 6:5 NLT

These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.

I. Are we even tempted at all, or has idolatry become just a way of life for us. The real God that we serve is self. Christian… hear the warning from puritan Samuel Bolton. In his book True Bounds of Christian freedom he said…If you will serve God to get something, you will serve the Devil for more. In other words… if Christ is just a means to an end, we will switch to the Devil if it brings a better end. For ends always justify the means.

J. But Christ did not waiver… And did not change tactics even when the devil did. He still defeated his foe with the Word of the living God. Jesus then rebukes the Devil and casts him away after quoting Deuteronomy.

K. So you see the Bible is and must always be at the heart and in the heart of every believer. In the face of temptation and to have victory over sin we have got to know the Bible. It cannot just be in our heads its gotta be in our hearts. Its not enough to just read it, we have got to meditate on it, now I say more than ever before with all the falsity that surround us.

Psalm 119:11 NLT

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

II. The Good News

-Jesus Cares for Us.

A. But let me show you something important here. Did you know that we have the same deal from our Lord Jesus. Exalt the Lord, worship the living God, believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God and we will have life. We are brothers with Christ and we call the Father Abba… if we are brothers with Christ then we are co-heirs … we are also kings and queens of the kingdom of heaven. The Father says that all that He has is ours. The Devil and the things of the world don’t own that stuff, God does. God gives us the same deal. So how come we would rather take the Devils deal than God’s?

B. Hmmmm. This is the reality of sin and it shows just how much we are affected by it. We see good as bad and we see bad as good. Our hearts are deceitful it lies to us. We think we know what is best for us. We instinctively reject what the Lord says is good for us. Sin causes us to believe that Idolatry is life when in reality it brings death. It tells us to sell our birthright for a bowl of stew. It so easily besets us. And we are all affected by it.

C. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. There is no one righteous no not one.  There is no one on earth who always does good and never sins.  So, you see we are in trouble.  How much trouble? 

D.  The place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Outer darkness.  Eternal darkness.  The smoke of torment and anguish never cease.  The worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.  The place reserved for the devil and his angels. 

E.  So, Shane then I’m in trouble.  Can I be saved from this?  Yes. Salvation has come and we find it in Christ and in Christ alone. This is the one whom John the Baptist pointed to.  He said that Jesus was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Yes.  Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures and he was buried, and he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.  Jesus came into this world to seek and to save that which was lost.  The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners.  He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.  He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.  He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 

F.  All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  Repent and believe the gospel.

G.  Rejoice today. By the power of Christ, we are freed from the curse and consequence of the sin we commit. Even testing Him.  But by the Power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of the scriptures, we can defeat the tempter and the accuser. We are more than conquerors. We have overcome by the blood of Jesus.