Resisting Instant, Trusting in the Ultimate

Recap

Matthew 4:1–12 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.

Shortcuts

Intro talking about taking shortcuts

Time - Instant, Just add water, Frozen, Refrigerated, Dehydrated, Microwaveable, air fryer

As seen on TV - set it and forget it

Future Promises Today

Satan took Jesus

One commonly suggested candidate is Mount Hermon, located in the northern part of modern-day Israel near the border with Lebanon and Syria. Standing at approximately 2,814 meters (9,232 feet) above sea level, it is the highest peak in the region and offers a commanding view of surrounding areas.

third option is Mount Tabor, a distinctive hill in Galilee rising about 575 meters (1,886 feet) above the surrounding Jezreel Valley. While not as high as Hermon or Nebo, its steep, isolated shape makes it a striking landmark, and it has long been associated with significant events in Christian tradition, such as the Transfiguration (though that connection is debated). 

Illustrations

Kids, walking through the toy aisle… and you pick up boxes… I want this… and that..

Adults - driving past homes on the beach or homes in the mountains

watching HGTV or

Can you imagine what it would be like to have_____________

The Ultimate Want Ultimately Will Control You

The Ultimate Want

You can have it today, if you… I would give it to you now. Not just the wealth, but the prestige, and the affirmation of who you are.

Why don’t you have what you want?

What do you want? Whatever you want could be yours if you simply______________

Wealth

A person who promises a new position if you submit to all of their wishes and meet their demands of your time, you work ethic, your priorities

Relationships

A person who will accept you if you acquiesce to all of their wishes

Starting Position or Lead Role

Kids starting positions on teams if you bow to a coach

places in clubs or organizations if you prioritize it above everything else

Pleasure

If you browse here or scroll this

not only sensuous content, but also nonsense…. we spend hours wasting life getting instant gratification with every scroll and emptiness hours later.

Relieve your stress with this, one drink, one pill, one…..

You can have whatever you want if you ________________________

All the things he hadn’t received yet:

He knew that one day, all things would be under his feet: You can have it now.

Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord… but I want it now.

God is a rewarder…. but I want to get it now.

The allure of glory

It’s only primarily the kingdom, it’s the glory

Every kid with a basketball hoop

Every kid with a bat… 3 2 count bases loaded

Every kid with a microphone

It’s the feeling when you get a new car and someone at the stoplight glances at you

Its the Awards banquet and your name is called

it’s at a dinner party and a compliment has been made in front of others.

Status

You could set the record straight if you post this

You could put someone in their place and you would be in your place if you said this….

Salvation claims authority over sin.

Be Gone Satan.

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

We live in a culture that revels in victim status…. If I can make you feel sorry for me, I can justify any action.

God did not intend for us to be perpetual victims, victorious

Romans 8:37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

CRT and Intersectionality

Requirement on giving, not a justification for taking.

Ezekiel 16:49–50 “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it.”

We can justify anything: Spurgeon : To plead for sin, to apologize for it, to make excuses for it, is to become the devil’s advocate. God forbid that we should ever twist His grace into a license for wickedness! Sin must be condemned, not coddled."

Worship defines what is ultimate.

What is ultimate in your life?

I need

I want

I desire

I got to have

I wish

Matthew 4:9–10 “And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ””

You shall worship the Lord your God

place ultimate allegiance, praise, and value in the Lord

I belong to you

I ascribe to you

I want to please you

Service is reserved for your Lord.

For most everyone, the temptation is not to deny Jesus or turn away from God, to worship God and get things by other means.

Go ask for mom, Go ask your dad, Go ask your grandparents

I’ll ask God, but if I have another means

I’ll get it where I can get it….

Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

Application:

Saying No is often the best way to say yes

to say yes at the altar is to say no to millions of others

Saying no solidified the ultimate yes.

Just because you have an opportunity, doesn’t mean it is from God

Sin becomes patterns and behaviors that are so familiar they seem natural.

James Clear: He bases his framework on the habit loop—cue, craving, response, reward

Peterson’s long obedience: Repentance is not an emotion. It is not feeling sorry for your sins. It is a decision. It is deciding that you have been wrong in supposing that you could manage your own life and be your own god."

Worship will define your will and the strength of your will