Gluttony

Introduction:

· Possibly the most misunderstood sin: “overeating Gluttony.”

BUT I COULDN’T GET AWAY FROM THE FACT HTAT JESUS’ FIRST TEMPTATION HAS TO DO WITH FOOD; WHY IS THAT?

I) What does the “Desert” teach about obedience

A. Jesus Obeys in the wilderness of testing (vv. 1, 2)

i. Jesus repeats a pattern: God Leading His People into the wilderness

1. The Spirit lead Jesus into the wilderness as a place of testing

2. Moses must learn that salvation would come God’s way (Acts 7:30)

Acts 7:30 ESV

“Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.

ii. A Challenge to God’s Authority: Would Jesus obey the father, or act on his own?

1. After 40 days, Jesus is hungry: is it gluttony to have a snack? (vs. 2, 3)

2. NOT quantity, but heart: Would he depart from the Father’s mission and use his power for personal gain

iii. Jesus obeys the Father in our place

1. Jesus’ TRUE bread is obedience to the Father (John 4:34)

John 4:34 ESV

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

2. Self-denial is at the heart of the Father’s work so Jesus refuses (vs. 4)

3. So: Jesus obeys where Israel had failed so HE is our righteousness!

B. The Righteousness we need comes from the one who obeys in my place

i. Can my righteousness be found in my diet?

1. EXAMPLE: C.S. Lewis example of fastidious eater

2. EXAMPLE: “My righteousness comes from what I eat”

3. But others: “The guilt and shame” that accompany eating

4. APPLY: Your righteousness comes not from diet (or lack) but Christ!

ii. We may trust the one who obeys in our place (Heb. 2:18)

Hebrews 2:18 ESV

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

1. Jesus learned obedience to help us when tempted

2. APPLY When gluttony is stubborn, Jesus stands ready to help us

THAT BRINGS ME TO THE SECOND PIECE HERE.

II) What does our hunger reveal about our trust?

A. Jesus is Challenged concerning God’s goodness to His children

i. Challenging God’s Goodness: (Matt. 3:17)

Matthew 3:17 ESV

and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

1. At baptism, Jesus heard the soul-satisfying affirmation: “You are my son!”

2. Satan now appeals to this to undermine God’s care (vs. 3)

3. Israel’s 1st temptation: “No food = God doesn’t care.” (Ex. 16:3)

Exodus 16:3 ESV

and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

4. Prioritize hunger over trust: “take care of yourself; God won’t.” (vs. 3)

ii. Using food to do what God alone can do

1. From food to alcohol, we indulge to heal pain, sooth loneliness, mask grief

2. At its heart, this is our failure to trust God to care for his children

B. Disciplining ourselves to Trust God’s Word

i. Jesus trusts God’s promise (vs. 4)

1. In the desert, with no food…trust God’s “RHEMA” !

2. In the wilderness, God provides supernaturally!  (Ex. 16, Matt. 4:11)

Matthew 4:11 ESV

Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

ii. God’s promises will nourish us too

1. Food satisfies us temporarily, but not long term – God satisfies our soul!

2.  “When his children come for bread, God doesn’t give a stone.” (Matt. 7:9)

Matthew 7:9 ESV

Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?

3. APPLICATION: Are you bringing your needs to God?

iii. Practices to Trust God & His Word:

1. Fasting: Disciplines us to say no, and to seek to identify what controls us

2. Feasting: acknowledges God as the giver of gifts meant to be enjoyed

C. Jesus is the Bread of Life who Gave himself for us

i. Jesus is the bread of life

1. Food can satisfy us temporarily but you are meant for more

2. Jesus calls HIMSELF bread, he means tha the will feed a far deeper hung

3. He became hungry so that we might be filled; he would not use his power to turn the stones to bread to feed himself, but he himself became bread to feed us

ii. Jesus Gave himself for us

1. On the cross, he shows us the extent of his love: no matter what wilderness we may be in, lift up to Jesus:

2. “He who did not spare his own son…how will he not also give us all?”

Conclusion

Communion