Jesus Tempted

Introduction

Fall Series - “LIKE & KNOW | LIVE & FOLLOW”

You ask many students they will agree - they like Jesus

You ask many students they will agree - they know Jesus

You ask many students, does it reflect - they LIVE for Jesus

You ask many students, does it reflect - they FOLLOW Jesus

We find at the end of Matthew 4 Jesus calls His first disciples to LIVE & FOLLOW.

as we look at these comparing statements over the next 10 weeks across the Gospels and life of Jesus - WHAT DO WE MEAN?

LIKE: list things I like (food, people, activity) — As much as I like, I can live without. How often do we treat Jesus this way?

KNOW: list things I know (electrical/wiring, Sonny Shroyer, know how fish/clean fish) — As much as I know and who I know, but there is no action or relationship; what does it matter? How often do we treat Jesus this way?

LIVE: live everyday as a fiance to Kiersten (talk, text, facetime, encourage, support, ask for help). live for my job (8-4:30, study, plan, encourage, minister, grow, develop). LIVE for Jesus (talk, text, not facetime, encourage, support, ask for help, 8-4:30 (no time), study, plan, encourage, minister, grow, develop)

FOLLOW: have to follow my GPS when driving because on more than one occasion I have kept driving straight not thinking about when to turn (save those stories for the semester). Follow my calendar to make sure I don’t miss a task, meeting, assignment, hangout with Kiersten (I don’t think there are any stories there - I hope not) FOLLOW Jesus means I listen to where He says go, stop where He says stop, turn where He says turn, because if not I will keep on driving out of the will of God. FOLLOW Jesus means I give each part of my day to Him so I am available and attentive for where He calls me to be.

Many people LIKE & KNOW

We’re focusing on LIVE & FOLLOW

As we venture into the wilderness, you can see that Liking&Knowing the Bible will only get you lost BUT Living&Following will open your eyes to the Light.

Hope you have found your way to Matthew 4 — let’s see “IT IS WRITTEN”

Matthew 4:1–11 ESV

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 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.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 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.’ ” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Through this passage we see Satan appealing to Jesus and tempt Him

hunger — a flesh desire

visible Son of God before the city — pride as if Jesus has to prove who He is

showed kingdoms — an eye desire

Two simple points that will begin to align us from “LIKE & KNOW | LIVE & FOLLOW”

Satan Statements

Who is this Satan figure in the wilderness? He’s got different names…

Satan: adversary, enemy

Devil: diabolical (gr: diabolos) — slander/accuser

Tempter:

The enemy loves nothing more than finding a way to your mind to whisper slanderous statements & accusations & distractions

nobody loves you

you’ve really messed up

don’t live like a Christian now, people will make fun of you and think you're weird

the Bible isn’t that important, play with your friend - do something funny

These thoughts are from the enemy! If you listen to his dumb but desirous voice, it will leave you at Liking&Knowing - never Living and Following

What does the Devil say to Jesus?

The slander/accuser - devil noticed Jesus was..

HUNGRY (command the stones to become bread) — fasted 40 days, about time for some food

(10:30am comes around somedays and I’m ready for lunch)

Jesus in the form of a physical body hungered; there was a weakness to His flesh

Allow the angels to save you so that you can prove before everyone that your are the Son of God

Psalm 91:11 “11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

Forget this whole ministry thing and teaching and showing the world who you — just do this

Notice Satan is using Scripture, thats what Jesus responded with each time to Satan

“Just because someone has a verse doesn’t mean they are right!” —Josh Howerton

Showed Jesus the earthly kingdoms

Isn’t this who Jesus came to save — all the people of the kingdoms?

The devil has him on this high mountain (lot there) and tempted Him with what is desirable to His eyes

The devil brought Jesus with a great view of His creation and prized possession — humanity

The Devil is a slanderer & accuser. He’s a tempter and deceiver. But guess what students…

Satan is beatable because he is predictable —Josh Howerton

1 John 2:16 “16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.”

The same tactics the devil used on Jesus in the wilderness were used in the Garden of Eden. The same tactics from the Garden up to the wilderness and to now — are used by Satan.

what is desirable to your eyes

what is desirable to your flesh

what is desirable for self (PRIDE)

Satan and his demons are watching you to see your weakness. Where is their armor lacking? That is how he attacks.

Remember the quote I shared a few minutes ago, “Satan is beatable because he is predictable.” I was giving Kiersten the summarized version of the sermon last night and shared this quote.

few minutes of talking about sermon

through us talking and meditating on the sermon, God used that time to bring a concluding statement.

Satan is beatable because he is predictable — and MY JESUS IS UNBEATABLE

Oh our Jesus is unbeatable! How is He unbeatable?

Perfect

God. Christ. Savior. Creator

Knows how to wield a SWORD

There is more going on here than just Satan Statements, but more importantly there are Saving Statements!

Saving Statements

Rewarding Responses - that’s how Jesus handled these temptation moments!

First Response: Deut 8:2-3

Deuteronomy 8:2–3 ESV

2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger 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 man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

What our flesh desires — will never be satisfied by things of this world. You can keep searching and keep trying but that is living a life of Liking&Knowing.

Liking&Knowing will only get you lost BUT Living&Following will open your eyes to the Light.

Second Response: Deut 6:16-19

Deuteronomy 6:16–19 ESV

16 “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you. 18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers 19 by thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has promised.

Remember Satan just quoted the Bible before this moment. So is this like a memory competition? NO this is a MESSAGE confrontation. Jesus is about declaring the message of Scripture — the message is to OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD. Do what is right in God’s eyes — not from our prideful intentions

Third Response: Deut 6:13

Deuteronomy 6:13 ESV

13 It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.

We look to Jesus, behold His glory and grace, and bow down in worship.

Remembering in Reality

WE have been gifted (UNDERSTAND THIS……) gifted the Bible as Christians to face a real warfare

(Ephesians 6:12 “12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” )

Jesus is showing YOU … showing US how to respond to these tempting moments in our lives.

Who knows the 3-worded sentence that changed our Eternity? IT IS FINISHED

Who knows the 3-worded sentence that can change your Day? IT IS WRITTEN

“IT IS FINISHED” has brought us eternal victory.

“IT IS WRITTEN” gives us weapons against the enemy.

The Word of God was not written to defeat the enemy; it was written to remind him that he is already defeated”

The Word of God is not just Ink stamped on Paper — & — Paper that is bound between a Cover — & — Cover that holds information.

WE CARRY A SWORD - the mightiest of swords. Hebrews 4:12 “12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

You and I need this SWORD because the reality we face each day can be difficult and challenging.

Keep you Bibles and notebooks open while I close with this…

Closing

HOW HAS THE WORD BEEN A SWORD IN MY LIFE

Sexual purity -

Proverbs 6:32 “32 He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.”

2 Timothy 2:22 “22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

Personal discouragement/listen to lies -

James 1:2–5 “2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

God-directed mission -

Psalm 71:17–18 “17 O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.”

Reminder: saved and called to service -

Matthew 28:19–20 “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

Testimony -

1 Corinthians 10:21 “21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.”

Start 1st real job (after snopoc) -

Colossians 3:23 “23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”

Lead students & families -

1 Samuel 1&3

One pastor introduced this question to his congregation: If you were satan, how would you take you out?

Post - Closing

Valued Member

Wanted Guest

>mentoring: life group is offered for you to gather/fellowship/build deep relationships with other students your age. Christians are not meant to be alone. You are not meant to be alone. Discipleship is not meant to be alone. This is where Life Groups offers a chance - offers a plan!

>ministry: attending church is good. Learning and building relationships are good. BUT serving is next level love of Jesus. This is why the ministries of Northside exist so you can serve the Kingdom for the glory of God and lifting up of others.

>missions: when you love learning, love building relationships, love serving in the church — God plants in our heart to be SHARERS. To be on mission locally and globally.

Will you go out this week to REACH & TEACH students?

reach & teach with the Gospel

reach & teach to invite them to church

WILL YOU REACH & TEACH STUDENTS THIS WEEK?

AMEN ——

OH YEAH ——

NORTHSIDE ——