Sermon 2/15/26
Notes
Transcript
The Temptation of Christ
The Temptation of Christ
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 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.
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 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. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
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. For it is written:
“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
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Intro
—> As we head in to Lent…
If we aren’t making a plan, we are planning to fail.
Part 1 of the plan —> include the Holy Spirit in a big way
Part 2 of the plan —> Include fasting
Temp. 1 - The Temptation to Bribe. Give material things.
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.
—> Fasting during Lent isn’t a chance to impress God into doing what we want.
—> Fasting is about allowing God to provide in our weakness.
Temp 2 - The Temptation to compromise. Give in a little bit to evil to get more.
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 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. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
—> Fasting isn’t a short cut to our success.
—> Fasting is an act of love to and submission to God.
Temp 3 - The temptation to do something sensational for the people.
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. For it is written:
“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah.
—> Fasting isn’t about impressing the people around us. It isn’t another chance at our New Years Resolution.
Finally…
When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
