The Path is Already Established (2)
Notes
Transcript
The Path is Already Established
The Path is Already Established
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, 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 shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
This is part 2 of a 4 part series. We are living in uncertain times. We need to follow the example of our Lord and Saviour. He has already established the path. He has already walked the road. We must walk in His footsteps and He will lead us through. The 2nd part is focused on the priority the Word of God should have in our life.
We are to treat the Word of God with respect. This Word is very powerful and very much alive.
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
It is very important that we know the Word of God and utilize it as a weapon. It is a weapon. Consider all the implements of the armour God gives us.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
All of our armour is for defensive except for 1 piece which is offensive. And that is the sword. The sword can be used defensively but it is mostly offensive.
Now remember
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
The Word of God is not just for offensive action, but also a light and a guide.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
The word here for lamp is to glisten, to cast a little glow. It shows us what direction our feet are going. It is very important to know what direction our feet are going. When my son was around 2, he would run in one direction and his feet were going a different direction. Numerous times, I would tell him to look the same direction his feet were going or he would get hurt and numerous times he would place plant or get stopped by a wall. We are like ourselves, too many times. We have our eyes on the path, but our feet are taking our body in a different direction and then we fall. Or our eyes wander off the path, while our feet are trying to walk down the path and then we still fall.
This is an act of faith. Our feet are just illuminated but there is a light on the path, the direction we should go. Getting from here to there is an act of faith. What if there is quicksand? What if there is a river I can not see? We take one step at a time and keep walking towards the path in faith.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Conclusion:
Where do you stand in how you treat the Word of God? Is it something you only think about when you come to church? Do you feel as if you are being conquered by the events of this world? Do you feel as if all is darkness around you? Do you realize that you do not value or hold up the Word of God high enough in your life? This morning can be a new morning for you.
God has made it as easy as A,B, C
A. Acknowledge
Romans 3:23 NKJV
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Acknowledge that you have not utilized the Word of God as you should and you want things to be different in your life.
B. Believe
Acts 16:31 NKJV
So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”
Believe that the Word of God can change everything in your life. It will give you confidence in the power and resurrection of Jesus Christ and lead you onto the correct path.
C. Confess
Romans 10:9–10 NKJV
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Confess that you can not live by bread alone but you need the Words that come from the mouth of God.
Words like:
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.