Sermon Tone Analysis

“Winning In The Wilderness:Lessons from the Temptation of Jesus”

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” .

Before beginning his ministry, Jesus faces off with Satan after being led by the Spirit into the desert.

Luke makes such leading clear by noting both that Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” and that he was “led by the Spirit in the desert.”

Jesus’ successful encounter with the devil reveals how thoroughly dedicated he is to God’s will and call.

Jesus will take only the road God asks him to follow.

He will not take any shortcuts.

He knows that a successful walk with God only goes where the Father leads.

Jesus’ successful encounter with the devil reveals how thoroughly dedicated he is to God’s will and call.

Jesus will take only the road God asks him to follow.

He will not take any shortcuts.

He knows that a successful walk with God only goes where the Father leads

1.

First temptation

BEFORE BEGINNING HIS ministry, Jesus faces off with Satan after being led by the Spirit into the desert.1 Luke makes such leading clear by noting both that Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” and that he was “led by the Spirit in the desert.”

Darrell L. Bock, Luke, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 127.

Such fasting probably involved minimum drink only

Also important to the event’s background is the fact that it takes place after forty days of fasting

1.

First temptation

1.

First temptation

The event is built around three distinct temptations.

Satan tempts Jesus to act in a way that supports his Sonship.

Of course, his goal behind these temptations is the exact opposite: luring Jesus to act independently of the Father and thus creating a rebellious Sonship.

In each case, Jesus uses Scripture to counter Satan’s attempt.

In each case, Jesus uses Scripture to counter Satan’s attempt.

The first temptation questions God’s provision and care.

Satan’s premise is that Jesus’ Sonship must mean that God does not want him to starve in the desert, so the mighty Son should simply turn stone into bread and meet his basic needs under his own power.

But Jesus understands that the request is not a challenge to be strong, but to be independent.

Such independence is weakness and leads to failure.

Jesus’ reply comes from ,

The first temptation questions God’s provision and care.

Satan’s premise is that Jesus’ Sonship must mean that God does not want him to starve in the desert, so the mighty Son should simply turn stone into bread and meet his basic needs under his own power.

But Jesus understands that the request is not a challenge to be strong, but to be independent.

Such independence is weakness and leads to failure.

Jesus’ reply comes from ,

“He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” arguing that life is run by more than food.

In fact, in the priority of things, life is not defined by bread at all.

Instead, life is defined by doing God’s will and depending on his leading.

In the Deuteronomy citation, the next line refers to living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

To follow God is to live.

While Jesus’ temptations are unique, the satanic challenges to loyalty are not.

Satan may not replicate the same temptations with us, especially since we are not the unique Son of God, but he does use the same key issue, namely, a challenge to faithfulness.

Jesus’ temptations shows he stands solidly with God.

Our temptations should be resisted in such a way that we reveal a similar character.

A final key issue emerges in how Jesus handles these temptations.

He does not think or rationalize his way out of God’s will.

He could easily have said that God would not want his own Son to starve, to suffer rejection, or to die.

We must be careful that the shortcuts that often become possible in life do not in fact reflect rationalization to avoid God’s will.

Jesus’ temptations shows he stands solidly with God.

Our temptations should be resisted in such a way that we reveal a similar character.

We must be careful that the shortcuts that often become possible in life do not in fact reflect rationalization to avoid God’s will.

A final key issue emerges in how Jesus handles these temptations.

God uses tests in our lives to show us where we stand before him.

No argument or temptation could daunt the Lord Jesus.

This temptation by Satan also reveals that though Jesus was human and subject to human temptations, he was perfect because he overcame all the temptations that satan presented to him.

The story of Jesus temptation is an important demonstration of his power and sinlessness.

He faced temptation and did not give in.

His followers should trust in him as they face temptations that will test their faithfulness to God.

No argument or temptation could daunt the Lord Jesus.

This temptation by Satan also reveals that though Jesus was human and subject to human temptations, he was perfect because he overcame all the temptations that satan presented to him.

The story of Jesus temptation is an important demonstration of his power and sinlessness.

He faced temptation and did not give in.

His followers should trust in him as they face temptations that will test their faithfulness to God.

No argument or temptation could daunt the Lord Jesus.

This temptation by Satan also reveals that though Jesus was human and subject to human temptations, he was perfect because he overcame all the temptations that satan presented to him.

The story of Jesus temptation is an important demonstration of his power and sinlessness.

He faced temptation and did not give in.

His followers should trust in him as they face temptations that will test their faithfulness to God.

Satan tempts Jesus to act in a way that supports his Sonship.

Of course, his goal behind these temptations is the exact opposite: luring Jesus to act independently of the Father and thus creating a rebellious Sonship.

The first temptation questions God’s provision and care.

Satan’s premise is that Jesus’ Sonship must mean that God does not want him to starve in the desert, so the mighty Son should simply turn stone into bread and meet his basic needs under his own power.

But Jesus understands that the request is not a challenge to be strong, but to be independent.

Such independence is weakness and leads to failure.

Jesus’ reply comes from Deuteronomy 8:3b, arguing that life is run by more than food.

In fact, in the priority of things, life is not defined by bread at all.

Instead, life is defined by doing God’s will and depending on his leading.

In the Deuteronomy citation, the next line refers to living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

To follow God is to live.

While Jesus’ temptations are unique, the satanic challenges to loyalty are not.

Satan may not replicate the same temptations with us, especially since we are not the unique Son of God, but he does use the same key issue, namely, a challenge to faithfulness.

.arguing

that life is run by more than food.

In fact, in the priority of things, life is not defined by bread at all.

Instead, life is defined by doing God’s will and depending on his leading.

In the Deuteronomy citation, the next line refers to living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

To follow God is to live.

No argument or temptation could daunt the Lord Jesus.

This temptation by Satan also reveals that though Jesus was human and subject to human temptations, he was perfect because he overcame all the temptations that satan presented to him.

The story of Jesus temptation is an important demonstration of his power and sinlessness.

He faced temptation and did not give in.

His followers should trust in him as they face temptations that will test their faithfulness to God.

Studying this account of Jesus temptation can help believers better understand their temptations and how to overcome them.

Jesus took the offensive against the enemy, The Devil, by going into the wilderness to face temptation.

The Word “Devil” in the Greek means “accuser”.

In the Old Testament, the “wilderness” (or “desert”) was a desolate and dangerous place where wild animals lived.

Jesus dealings with Satan in these temptations provide insight into how to deal with Satan’s proddings.

Why was it necessary for Jesus to be tempted?

First, temptation is part of the human experience.

For Jesus to be fully human, he had to face temptation.

The devil’s temptations focused on three crucial areas: (1) physical needs and desires,(2) possessions and power, and (3) pride.