40 Forward Week 1
Notes
Transcript
As we kick off our 40 Forward series, I just want to take a moment and thank each of you for being here tonight. Your commitment to spiritual growth and reaching the lost is encouraging to me and I believe God is going to bless you and strengthen you spiritually as a result.
With that said, over the next 7 Wednesday nights, we are going to make spiritual growth and reaching the lost a central focus as we approach Easter weekend.
And in order to do that, we are going to spend a few minutes each week looking at different passages of scripture that I believe will help us in our desire to grow and reach more people.
And so to kick it off, for the first three Wednesdays we are going to spend some time in . A passage that outlines a 40 day journey that Jesus took as He prepared for the ministry God had called Him too.
A passage known as “The Temptation of Jesus”. A series of three temptations that Jesus faced following a 40 Day fast in the Wilderness. Temptations that were meant to test his readiness, and further prepare Him for what lied ahead.
And so, with our 40 day focus beginning today, I thought it would only be appropriate that we look at how Jesus prepared for the mission God had called Him too and the challenges that came as a result of it.
That being said, tonight we are only going to look at the first temptation as Satan approaches Jesus and begins the testing process. Look at how Matthew says it went down. Beginning in 4:1, Matthew writes:
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.’ ”
Matthew 4:
The New American Commentary: Matthew 3. Jesus Alone: The Messiah’s Temptation (4:1–11)
An important interplay between the work of the Spirit and that of the devil appears here. The same Spirit who has anointed Jesus in 3:16 now leads him to the place of temptation but does not himself cause the temptation, which is attributed instead to the devil. By this phrasing, Matthew warns against two common errors—blaming God for temptation and crediting the devil with power to act independently of God. In the New Testament, God is always so dissociated from evil that he is never directly responsible for tempting humans (Jas 1:13). Yet the devil is never portrayed as an enemy equal with but opposite to God; he always remains bound by what God permits.
Matthew says it all started as the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Which is an interesting statement that raises some questions. Because it almost seems like God is setting Jesus up. So, what’s going on here? Here’s what’s going on:
Couple things I want to point about about that statement.
#1 - If we were to go back to chapter 3, what we would discover is that this 40 day journey for Jesus begins following His baptism. Which is no coincidence. Because the fact is, that’s when the enemy often attacks. He attacks right after we’ve experienced a spiritual high or some kind of victory in our life.
For Jesus, it was the moment of His baptism right after God made an amazing claim concerning Jesus. Listen to how Matthew records it back in chapter 3:
16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 3:
This is a monumental moment for Jesus as God puts His stamp of approval on Him. A moment that would have confirmed everything that the OT had prophesied, that the Angel had told Mary, and that Jesus had been sensing in His own Spirit. This is the moment Jesus had been waiting for since His birth as God now confirms and commissions Him into his calling. Jesus is now ready.
And that’s exactly when the enemy shows up. He shows up at our peak in order to bring us down.
And that’s extremely important for us to understand tonight, especially if you’re just coming off of the Daniel Fast, or you’ve just recently put your faith in Jesus, or you’re coming off some kind of spiritual victory. Because in the moment of your celebration and joy, that’s when the devil sees you as most vulnerable. Because he thinks, if he can somehow pull the rug out from underneath you, you’ll crumble, and instead of rejoicing, you’ll begin to doubt God.
So, that’s the first thing that’s going on here.
#2 - the fact that Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tempted by the devil, doesn’t mean that God was trying to trap Jesus or that He was the one responsible for Jesus being tempted.
The New American Commentary: Matthew 3. Jesus Alone: The Messiah’s Temptation (4:1–11)
It is no coincidence that Jesus’ temptation immediately follows his baptism. Many of God’s people have had similar experiences. Right after conversion or some other significant spiritual event, precisely when a certain level of victory or maturity seems to have been attained, temptations resume more strongly than ever
How do I know that? I know that because Matthew says it was the devil that would be doing the tempting, not God. But God is allowing it to happen. Why?
The New American Commentary: Matthew 3. Jesus Alone: The Messiah’s Temptation (4:1–11)
An important interplay between the work of the Spirit and that of the devil appears here. The same Spirit who has anointed Jesus in 3:16 now leads him to the place of temptation but does not himself cause the temptation, which is attributed instead to the devil. By this phrasing, Matthew warns against two common errors—blaming God for temptation and crediting the devil with power to act independently of God. In the New Testament, God is always so dissociated from evil that he is never directly responsible for tempting humans (Jas 1:13). Yet the devil is never portrayed as an enemy equal with but opposite to God; he always remains bound by what God permits.
The word for “tempt” here is translated from the Greek word “Peirazo”, and it can mean both to test and to tempt.
So, which one is it? Well, if we look at the context, and since the devil is involved, it’s “to tempt”. It’s the idea of trying to entice one to sin.
But context also tells us that God is involved, and in that sense, the word means “to test”.
What that’s telling us then, is that what the devil sees as a temptation moment, God simultaneously uses as a more positive test to prove Jesus’ faithfulness.
In other words, God is allowing the devil to tempt Jesus in order to prove the devil wrong about Jesus. Because the devil is betting that he can make Jesus fall. He’s out to prove to God that Jesus isn’t who He thinks He is.
The New American Commentary: Matthew 3. Jesus Alone: The Messiah’s Temptation (4:1–11)
Peirazō can mean both to test and to tempt (NIV). As something the devil does, it must here be taken as to tempt, in the sense of to try to entice to sin. But what the devil sees as a temptation, God may simultaneously use as a more positive test to prove Jesus’ faithfulness.77
And that’s exactly what the devil wants to do to us. That’s why the attack comes. In the midst of your victory, in the midst of your celebration, the devil wants to prove that your only celebrating because it’s going your way. You’re only celebrating because God has blessed you. But, if the tables were turned, and if you had to face a difficulty, you’r faithfulness in God would be disproven.
And that’s exactly why God allows the test. Because He’s going to prove to the devil, that your faithfulness, when tested, will prove true.
All that to say, God isn’t leading us into temptation, instead, He’s giving us an opportunity to prove our faith. And ultimately, an opportunity to rely on Him more. Because that’s exactly what Jesus did.
The New American Commentary: Matthew 3. Jesus Alone: The Messiah’s Temptation (4:1–11)
As something the devil does, it must here be taken as to tempt, in the sense of to try to entice to sin. But what the devil sees as a temptation, God may simultaneously use as a more positive test to prove Jesus’ faithfulness.77
Look at what Matthew says happened next:
Matthew 4:2-
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.”
The New American Commentary: Matthew 3. Jesus Alone: The Messiah’s Temptation (4:1–11)
Jews commonly practiced fasting in order to spend more time in prayer and to develop greater spiritual receptivity.78 Here the devil uses the result of Jesus’ fasting—hunger—as an entrée for his temptations. The “forty days and forty nights” offer another significant parallel with the forty years of Israel’s wanderings. Matthew’s wording does not preclude earlier hunger on the part of Jesus or earlier temptations by Satan
Matthew begins by telling us after 40 days of fasting, Jesus was hungry. Aren’t you glad we didn’t do that fast.
And it’s in this moment of that the enemy seeks weakness, and he attacks. And knowing that Jesus is hungry, he starts there, and he says, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
An interesting statement that deserves our attention.
The first thing I want you to notice is the devil says, “If you are the Son of God...”
This is a conditional clause, which is not meant to imply doubt on the devil’s part. Because the devil knows exactly who Jesus is. What’s in question is the type of Son Jesus will be.
In other words, will you be a Son that trusts God, or a Son that doesn’t trust God.
And the fact is, the devil does the same thing to you and me. He says, “If you are a child of God.” Not implying that we’re not, but questioning what type of child we will be. Will we be a child of God that obeys and trust God, or a child that rebels and does our own thing.
So, how does Jesus respond? Matthew writes:
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.’ ”
Matthew 4:
Jesus replies by quoting .
The New American Commentary: Matthew 3. Jesus Alone: The Messiah’s Temptation (4:1–11)
The first-class conditional clause, “If you are the Son of God,” does not imply any doubt on the devil’s part (cf. Jas 2:19). Rather, what is in doubt is what type of Son Jesus will be.
Why this passage? He responds with this passage because it’s a passage where Moses is reminding the children of Israel before they enter the Promised Land on how God had taken care of them during their wilderness Journey. In we read:
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.
Moses says, “Don’t ever forget how the Lord provided food for you in the wilderness. How he provided the Manna every morning from heaven. How he showed you that he’s the bread giver. That He’s the one who provides.
You see, Jesus quotes this passage to demonstrate his dependence on God. He quotes this passage to remind Satan that God is the one who provides provision. That God is the one who sustains us. That God is the one he puts His trust in to provide for His needs.
Yes, He could provide it Himself. Yes, He has the power to turn stones into bread. But to be the servant God’s called him to be, and to accomplish what God’s called Him to do, He’s going to lay aside His own abilities, and trust His Father to provide.
And that’s exactly what happened. Because if we fast forward to the end of the temptations, look at what happens:
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
The word “ministering” here is translated from the Greek word “diakoneo”, and it means “to serve food and drink to those who are eating”.
In the end, Jesus’s trust in God paid off. Because when the temptations had passed, God provided food for Jesus.
So, at this point, a great question would be, “How does this apply to us and our 40 day journey”.
It applies in several ways:
#1 - It applies in the sense that as we get serious about growing deeper and reaching people for Jesus, the devil is going to get more serious about trying to detour or derail us. And because you’re here tonight, there’s a good chance in the near future, he’s going to try and tempt you. He’s going to try and somehow discourage you. He’s going to do His worst to try and get you to question God.
Some of you are like, “Pastor, I came here tonight to be strengthened and encouraged, and now you’re telling me the devil is coming after me. Pastor, not what I was hoping for tonight.”
I’m just trying to shoot straight with you. Because the devil doesn’t like the fact that you are here. So, we need to be aware.
#2 - It applies in the sense, that while the enemy might see these next Forty Days as an opportunity to tempt you, God is going to use it as an opportunity to test you.
In other words, when the enemy tries to do his worst, this is your opportunity to allow God to do His best. An opportunity for you to put your faith in God like you never have before. An opportunity to press in close to Him. An opportunity to demonstrate your faith in Jesus. An opportunity to show the enemy what kind of child of God you are.
#3 - It applies in the sense that It’s a reminder. A reminder that we need to be in God’s Word and know God’s Word. Because when Jesus was tempted, He didn’t rely on His own ability to overcome the temptation and pass the test. No. When tempted, He immediately went to God’s Word. He immediately reminded the Devil and Himself of who the provider actually was.
And the same must be true with us. When tempted, we pass the test when we put our hope in God’s Word. But in order to do that, you have to be in God’s Word and know what it says.
Finally - It applies in the sense that over the next 40 Days, it’s imperative that we learn to put the spiritual before the physical.
Because that’s what the enemy doesn’t want us to do.
Because in the moment of Jesus’s temptation, the enemy’s goal was to get Jesus to sacrifice the spiritual for the physical. To give into the flesh. To give into physical need. To place a higher priority on physical needs rather than spiritual needs.
You might say, “How would we do that?”
Honestly, there are a number of ways.
When it comes to our finances, it’s you and I not trusting God financially. It when we fail to tithe. It’s when we think we can do more with the 100% than God can do with 90%.
When it comes to our health. It’s when you and I get all freaked out when the doctor gives us a bad report, rather than finding hope and peace as we seek the one who He heals.
When it comes to addiction. It’s when you and I give into the substance. When we let the flesh overpower our trust in God’s ability to deliver us.
When it comes to our marriages. It’s when you and I so quickly move to the “D” word. It’s when we let our emotions and our selfish needs overcome our trust in a God that can reconcile.
When it comes to our kids. It’s when you and I so quickly give up and lose control. It’s when we let our frustrations and our anger get the best of us, instead of allowing our heavenly father to guide and direct us.
When it comes to important decisions. It’s when you and I make rash choices and take matters into our own hands, instead of being patient and trusting that God has an answer.
When it comes to unanswered prayer. It’s when you and I impatiently move forward, instead of waiting on God’s timing.
And the list goes on and on and on as we put the physical need ahead of the spiritual.
So, what do we do? How do we overcome the physical and put our hope in the spiritual?
The Apostle Paul give us some insight. Listen to what he says as he himself struggles with this:
1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” 15 And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. 17 And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. 18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
The New American Commentary: Matthew 3. Jesus Alone: The Messiah’s Temptation (4:1–11)
Jesus, however, replies by quoting Deut 8:3. In fact, for each of the three temptations he will refute the devil with Scripture, always from Deuteronomy, continuing the link with the Israelites’ desert experience. In this instance the text he cites originally underscored God’s provision of manna as an alternative to the Israelites’ reliance on their own abilities to feed themselves. The principle applies equally well to Jesus’ situation and to any other context in which people are tempted to give physical needs priority over spiritual needs.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17 So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Do you see what Paul is struggling with? He’s struggling with putting the spiritual ahead of the physical. And in his struggle he comes to a couple of conclusions.
#1 - He recognizes that by himself, there’s no way for him to overcome the physical. Because listen to what he says next:
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
In this one statement, Paul basically says, “You know what, I’m in a hopeless situation here. I need somebody to help me.
Which means, Paul finally came to the end of himself. He finally realized will power, self control, good intentions, positive thinking, and the like, weren’t enough to help him overcome the sinful physical desires of his body. He recognizes he needs help.
And the same is true for us. Until we come to the end of ourselves. Until we recognize we need outside help to overcome our sinful desires and sinful decisions, until we do that, we will forever be stuck in the sin cycle. So, like Paul, we have to come to the place where we recognize we need help. The place where we cry out, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?”
Which leads us to his second conclusion, because listen to what he says next as he answers this question:
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Paul’s second conclusion is that Jesus is the only one that can help Him. That in his moment of temptation, in his moment of weakness, he has to turn to Jesus. That Jesus is the one who can give him the ability to put the spiritual before the physical. That Jesus can give him the strength to overcome the temptation of the enemy.
And what is true for Paul, is true for us as well. Because the fact is, if we want to put the spiritual before the physical, if we want to learn to trust God for everything we need, Jesus can help us to do that. But for Him to help, we have to admit our weakness and turn to Him.
As we move into our prayer time tonight, and as we being our 40 day journey to Jesus, I think it would be appropriate for us to acknowledge our need for Jesus. That as we move into these next 40 days, and as you face adversity, and as you face challenges, and as you face temptation, that you and I would lean hard into Jesus. That we would look to Him to be our provider. That we would trust that He has the ability to see us through. That we would demonstrate exactly what kind of children that we are.
And so, if that’s you, I want to invite you in the next few moments, to find a place of prayer, and ask the Lord to help you. Ask the Lord to be your provider. Ask the Lord to your sustainer. Ask the Lord to help you put the spiritual before the physical.
Let’s Pray