How to Survive in the Wilderness

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

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.”,p

Communion

Introduction

Galatians 4:3–7 CSB

In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.

Galatians 4:3–7 CSB

In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.

Galatians 4:3-7

Bread

Hebrews 2:14 CSB

Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—

John 1:12 CSB

But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,

John 1:12–13 CSB

But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 CSB

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Wine

Wine

Hebrews 2:14 CSB

Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—

John 1:12 CSB

But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,

Hebrews 2:14 CSB

Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—

1 Corinthians 11:25 CSB

In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Galatians 4:3–7 CSB

In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elements of the world. When the time came to completion, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then God has made you an heir.

Sermon

When You’re at the River, Soak Up God’s Words

Matthew 3:16–17 CSB

When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice from heaven said: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”

At Baptism, God told Jesus of His love for Him and His relationship to Him.

At your salvation and baptism, God has told you the same things

Hearing God’s words of love for us is water we soak up to sustain us in desert times.

When was a time I was deeply aware of God’s love for me?

If so, who am I to God?

What words did God use to tell me this?

1. Because ... You Can Follow God & Still End Up in the Wilderness

Matthew 4:1–2 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.

Matthew 4:1–2 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.

Matthew 4:1–3 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.”

The wilderness was: A high land, lonely, full of wild beasts, isolated, dry, a place of trials, to test, to prove who Jesus was

Lonely, He was with the wild beasts, isolated up high

The wilderness was: A place of trials, to test, to prove who Jesus was

The fasting was about: Choosing God over food, is my stomach my God?

Choosing God over food, is my stomach my God?

The tempter was: A slanderer, questioning Jesus’s (and our) sonship to God

A slanderer, questioning sonship

Have I ever been in “The Wilderness”? Am I in a time of testing now?

2. Because ... You Can Follow God & Still Up Talking With to the Devil

Matthew 4:3 CSB

Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

“If”: the test isn’t about bread, it’s about are you really a loved child of God?

the test isn’t about bread, it’s about are you really a loved child of God?

The Devil gave Jesus 2 options:

Option A: I’m in an awful place here, I must not be God’s beloved child

Option B: I'm in an awful place here, being God’s beloved child must not be enough

Option B: I am hungry, so I must not be God’s Son

Have I questioned whether I am God’s beloved child?

Have I questioned whether being God’s beloved child is enough?

3. Because ... When You're Thirsty, God’s Words Are All You Have

There was also “Option C”: Remember God’s Words!

Matthew 4:4 CSB

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

Option C: I am God’s and that is enough for me

I am God’s and that is enough for me

God has spoken His love for me, I don’t need anything more

God has spoken His love for me, my situation will not make me doubt Him

God has given me what I need, this hunger does not make me doubt.

What words of God can I bring into the Wilderness to remind me of His love?

Hunger does not mean I am not His Son

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 3

16 When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”

This statement will be tested!!!!! “Son of God?”

Follows His baptism

Voluntary leading, yet compelled, driven

led up: from a low place to a high place

What words do I need to quote to the Devil?

Judean Wilderness, “With the wild beast: in Mark”, alone,

tempted: Tested, tried, proven

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

13 No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God,” since God is not tempted by evil, and he himself doesn’t tempt anyone. 14 But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. 15 Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.

the devil: "the slanderer”

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 12

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say,

The salvation and the power

and the kingdom of our God

and the authority of his Christ

have now come,

because the accuser of our brothers and sisters,

who accuses them

before our God day and night,

has been thrown down.

Why was he tempted?

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

18 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Beginning of ministry testing?

Tempted 40 days! Then, hunger added on, then one temptation after another!

“If you are the Son of God!” (First two temptations)

Jesus is questioned on this issue His whole ministry, demons accept it, centurion accepts it. Does Jesus accept it about Himself?

Temptation: The Son of God shouldn’t be hungry!

Option A. You are not the Son of God, look at your life!

Option B. You are the Son of God, you deserve better than this! You can do anything!

Option C?

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 8

3 He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then he gave you manna to eat, which you and your fathers had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

The problem is we are more hungry for food than for God’s word!

Which sounds harder: Going a day without food or a day without God’s word?

In the wilderness, the voice of God is not heard, silence, wild beasts, hunger, alone.

Have you been in the wilderness before?

Fasting: choosing God over food.

God’s word:

God had told Jesus He was his Son (Do you know this?)

Following God can mean entering a time of testing: Is His word in you?

How much of our life is controlled by food?

We work to eat

We clean dishes, kitchens, and tables to eat

We shop to eat

We plan ahead to make sure we can continue to eat

We save money to prevent financial collapse so that we can know food will continue to be on the table

Do you live based on your stomach?

Philippians 3:19–21 CSB

Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.

God’s Word tells us who we are

EXAMPLE of words being more important than food?

Write a letter to the Devil telling him who God says you really are, RESPOND!

Are you conversing with the Devil? Throwing God’s words in his face?

Do not try to reason on your own, you will lose as Eve did! God’s words will prevail!

Resist, and the Devil will flee from you!

Communion:

The Body and Blood declare how much God loves you.

You ARE a child of GOD! “If”

Sermon:

Guard that message in the face of temptation.

Temptation isn’t really about the bread, it’s about God’s word. “If” you are the Son of God!