The Temptation of Jesus

Mark 1:12–13 CSB

Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.

Are you directed by the Spirit of God?

(CSB) 12 Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.

THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS

12 Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.

Deep down, who is in control of your life?

(CSB) 12 Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.

Illus: Many times we don’t want to be out of control of our lives. Most decisions we make are centered around what would be best for us.

What would benefit me financially?

What would make me more secure?

What would make me comfortable?

What would make my life easier?

Jesus here, follows the spirit to a place that cost him. He followed the spirit to a place of insecurity. He followed the spirit to discomfort. He followed the spirit into dificulty.

Why? Because Jesus’ priorities are different than ours. Jesus’ priorities were for the kingdom of God not for his own comfort.

Illus: (CSB) 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.

(CSB) 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.

God sent His Spirit to help us to know and follow him.

(CSB) 12 Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.

Illus: Remember a few weeks ago we talked about the trinity. We talked about the authority in the trinity… here we see a way in which the Holy Spirit works. He is sent by the father to guide the Son.

The Spirit does the same today. He is empowered by the Father to guide us. He does this by convicting us of our sin, through speaking through the word of God, and also by giving us strength as we follow Jesus.

Illus: (CSB) 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. 15 Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.

(CSB)

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. 15 Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.

Where is your strength found in a world of sin?

(CSB) 12 Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.

We are still tempted by satan today.

(CSB) 12 Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.

Illus: With Satan we do one of two things.

We ignore him, because we deep down believe that there is no spiritual world around us. IN this our sin is all about our poor choices So we think, If I do good, then I make God happy, and I will try not to make mistakes. When we sin, we just call ourselves or a hot mess.

The other extreme is to try to blame the devil for everything. You know the Devil made me do it. We say things like, the devils out to get me, or the devil made me do it. — The devil did not make you sin, you did that all on your own.

Illus: (CSB) 12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. 13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide a way out so that you may be able to bear it.

(CSB) 12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. 13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide a way out so that you may be able to bear it.

12 So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall. 13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide a way out so that you may be able to bear it.

Our strength is found in our dependence on God himself.

(CSB) 12 Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.

Illus: The Matthew version of this story shows what the spirit led jesus to do. It says he went to the wilderness to fast. Fasting is depleting yourself of your own strength to find strength in God. It is emptying yourself. Jesus knew that his mission could not be accomplished without complete dependence of the Father and Spirit.

Neither can ours.

Illus: (CSB) 4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”,

(CSB) 4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS

Matthew 4:1–4 CSB

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”,

Find your strength in God alone.

(CSB) 12 Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.

God has promised to minister to us, when we follow Him.

Illus: The christian road will leave us broken and empty. Chosing God’s mission will cost us. That said, our hope is not in this world.

Illus: (CSB) 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(CSB) 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”