Temptation
Luke the man, the physician • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 6 viewsJesus is led to the wilderness by the Spirit - how much more us!
Notes
Transcript
Luke 4:1-15
Luke 4:1-15
If you need a bible we can get one to you - it is our desire to study the bible chapter by chapter - book by book - and currently we are on a chronological journey as we study each book in the New Testament as it was written historically. Just some quick announcements - there is no youth today, worship
I realize this is Labor Day weekend, a sign that Summer is ending, nights get cooler, leaves start turning. Days get shorter.
This final summer weekend is often celebrated by spending time with our family for activities like BBQ’s, catching up on household chores, and getting ready for college football but for me, it’s getting back to the pulpit again to teach God’s word on the last day of August.
I discussed my trip to Costa Rica last week at Baker Bay called “Working on rest” and we followed with four baptisms Katt, Bronwen, Lyric and Paxton - we have some certificates for you - This is my brother Dave who owns a restaurant where I played in the courtyard in the background. Please keep praying - He’s so close to salvation - he even texted me last week and asked me to write a prayer he could pray over dinner he was buying for all the owners within the courtyard. This is a huge step - believe me!
I learned that while I may wanted to just lay around and do nothing, I found myself serving and helping my brother shop for the restaurant - I realized we were created to work. Even Jesus confessed “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” True, we do get rest from the usual grind at home when we go on vacation but we always claim we need a vacation from our vacation! When we get home we are exhausted!! Then we feel guilty because we stayed busy. But if our work was for benefit of others it’s working but in rest!
This morning we return to the gospel of Luke chapter 4.
Last time we considered John the Baptist and his unfortunate end whether it was his destiny or his own mistake that got him killed. But before that, he faced the challenge of baptizing the Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the world.
While John thought it should be him that must be baptized, Yeshua assured John that this act was to fulfill all righteousness meaning His future death on the cross as our substitute and Advocate. Both the Great High Priest and sacrificial lamb who gave His life for all of us.
The old hymn is correct: Jesus paid it all - all to Him we owe!
So while we may be thinking of the final weekend of the summer, Yeshua is beginning his ministry in the desert. Now these days we might have church gatherings for such an event. Lay hands on them and pray over them - After all, His mission was an important one but it was a mission that Yeshua must face alone.
For the next three years, His life is going to change radically.
As a man, He will need power from on high to perform and prove that He is the promised Messiah, Yes, he will heal people, mainly Gentiles but some Jews. He will need to be prepared to lose everything on earth, even family members, to live a life of devotion, deepen His relationship with His father, appoint his disciples to join Him in sharing the gospel but also face evil personified! Let us begin!
Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was being led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had finished, He was hungry.
Matthew 4 says Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Right away we see Yeshua being put to the test. Something we all must prepare for if we are planning to be in ministry. Which is all of us. Ministry just means service and Jesus was the spear head to it all.
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things like we are, yet without sin.
I love the carnivore diet but it was hard to do in Costa Rica a Spanish phrase meaning "rich coast" given by Christopher Columbus in 1502. Yeshua would fast for 40 days and being into intermittent fasting I wonder how long I could do it. I’ve gone 7 days on water and I felt fantastic! But 40 days can be dangerous. Now it appears he drank water but why 40 days?
The number 40 symbolizes significant events in scripture. Noah’s flood lasted 40 days, Moses receiving the Law and fasted for 40 days, Israel’s time in the desert was 40 years, Ezekiel laid on his right side for 40 days, Jonah warning Nineveh of judgement in 40 days. But there’s something else we will discuss later. After 10 days you lose your hunger but can still think clearly but 40 days of no food the body begins to consume the organs - the heart, liver, and kidneys so hunger returns to alert the person they need to eat or die! This is when the devil comes to tempt the Son of God.
Please note that the devil is not described as a spirit brother of Jesus but is later defined as a murderer from the beginning who does not stand in truth - the father of lies! They are not equals at all! Paul called him the god of this age to whom Adam handed over the title deed of the earth. He blinds lost sinners and Peter adds he’s like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. So the time has come to spoil the promise given to the serpent in Genesis 3.15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.”
The devil’s desire to change this prophecy against him at Yeshua’s most vulnerable moment. Starvation! Notice the devil knows who Jesus is but he’s given permission my God to tempt His Son...........
And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
Notice that Yeshua quotes the word of God with each temptation and this is how we can resist the devil as well! - this quote is from Deuteronomy. 8:3 regarding God’s provision to Israel.
“And He humbled you and let you be hungry and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this dominion and its glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. “Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
Yeshua then quotes from Deuteronomy 6:13 regarding the fear of the LORD and allegiance to His name for He magnifies the word even above His name! [Ps 138:2]
“Yahweh your God you shall fear; and Him you shall serve; and by His name you shall swear.
So the devil changes his tactics as he does with so many to use the scripture to fit their own conceived theology. This is how cults are formed such as JW’s, Mormonism or New Age philosophy, even atheism! They may quote scripture but it’s never in context. Watch...
And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You,’ and, ‘On their Hands they will bear You up, Lest You strike Your foot against a stone.’”
So now the devil quotes scripture to Him as he will with us but twist it out of context. This is from Psalm 91.11-12
[but notice he leaves this part out] “To guard you in all your ways” and that’s exactly what he and the cults will do.
Keep in mind, this was the second temple period - the highest point at this temple was the place of trumpeting where the ram’s horn was blown to announce the Sabbath, daily temple worship and the feasts. It is 120’ or about 8-10 stories high!
Yeshua’s response?
And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again quoting from
“You shall not put Yahweh your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah.
Israel tested the Lord in Massah by complaining about the lack of water before Moses struck the rock. So take note with each temptation, Yeshua cited the Word of God but all from Deuteronomy 6 and 8 indicating He may have been reading this scroll while he was fasting.
And when the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.
And of course that will happen within 3 years when he is betrayed by his nation and one of his own disciples:Judas.
And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. And He was teaching in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
OK, let’s look back at chapter 3:22 when the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus. Matthew 4 adds Jesus was led up or driven by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Luke 4 verse 1 says Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and was being led around by the Spirit in the wilderness and after his victory against Satan’s temptation, He returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit.
This shows us how the Holy Spirit works for the believer in ministry. And by the way, WE ARE ALL IN THE MINISTRY!!
And if we allow the Holy Spirit to abide in us we will produce the fruit of the Spirit. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law…Galatians 5:22-23
Jesus said “The Holy Sprit is our Advocate, our Comforter, the Spirit of truth Who will bear witness of Jesus.“
How do we know we are being led by the Spirit? When Jesus is glorified in our lives!
How is He glorified in our lives? When people see the fruit of the Spirit manifest in our conversation and character.
How is the fruit manifest in our lives? When we instill the word of God in our hearts!
And did you know, the Holy Spirit will teach us as we follow the Lord? John the Apostle reminds us.....
And as for you, the anointing whom you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as He has taught you, abide in Him.
That’s the Holy Spirit! But the temptation for us is to think we can fight our temptations if we just find some good books about it...And I suggest the 66 books of the bible is quite efficient. And when we are following the Holy Spirit, you can bank on the same things Jesus faced!! And that means getting tested!
In school, the teacher would tell us a test was coming and we were to study for it. Why? Because we don’t want to fail.
As James advised:
Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Did you notice that Satan tested Jesus when he was vulnerable? How did Jesus resist? “It is written!” He quoted the word of God!
It’s not a sin to be tempted. But Paul likens the word to the sword of the Spirit!
As James warned in James 1:12–16
Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord 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 by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully matured, it brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
What’s the deception? We don’t really need to study and read the bible, that’s for the ministers...don’t be deceived - we need the word of God to fight off the enemy!
How will you pass the test? By knowing our weaknesses and the proper scriptures that battle those temptations. The Holy Spirit is our teacher and with teaching comes “testing”.
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But Yahweh tests hearts.
The refining pot for silver and furnace for gold is a metaphor of God testing our hearts where impurities are removed through heat. And as the ore begins to boil, the dirt and dross rise to the top and the refiner takes the pure ore to make valuable products. God is not tempter, he’s the tester. He uses temptation or the dross in our hearts to rise to help us see whether we know His word or we are obeying His word! Hence the worship song “Refiner’s fire” my heart’s one desire is to be “holy”, set apart for you Lord, I choose to be holy, ready to do your will.
And I have had my share of passing tests and failing them. And lately I’ve failed when I allowed this person to get to me, as they accused me with vain imaginations, as I listened to accusations, I just lost my temper and it was the first time in 26 years I gave into my flesh to “tell this person” how I really felt about them”. And it wasn’t holy. But immediately I regretted my response but I gave into the temptation and it actually felt good to say it but I failed the test, I wasn’t ready and I assumed it was a sign that I should do something else. I was so frustrated, and angry and ready to give it up.
But then the word of the Lord reminded me of
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Then I remembered: I didn’t become a pastor because I had it altogether, loaded with doctorate degrees and a full education. I became a pastor because God had prepared me beforehand at the Applegate Fellowship that I should walk in it and until then. The same way I came up here will be the same way I go “not in anger but in anticipation to next good work God has prepared!”.
So remember Luke 4:13 And when the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.
Peter was right “He’s like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour”. So temptations will come and we must be on guard with the word of God ready on our lips and the devil will flee!!
COMMUNION
