Was he really the Son of God?

Bible says a great deal about temptations

comes from Satan (1 Cor 10); Comes from our desires (James)

most of all - not from God (allows, walks through w/ us, even uses them but doesn’t create)

but how do we handles the times in our life when we are temped? What’s at the root of our temptations -

really asking the question - can i believe in JC fully - enough to see me through the temptations

maybe a better way to ask if -

Is Jesus Christ really the Son of God?

if He is, then we can handle temptations differently.

if He is, we can follow and trust Him

But does this matter functionally to us - everyday life?

Today, I want you to see a familiar passage of Scripture, which happens right after JC baptism (SS lesson today)

How JC was tempted, how he handled them, and how why it matters to us.

Satan wants JC to act independently of God, just like he wants us to act

READ LUKE 4:1-13

need to understand about these temptations -

literally, it was “being tempted” - probably ongoing during this time in the wilderness

these 3 were probably culmination of all the temptations that He faced

Let’s see in what areas JC was tempted:

Jesus was tempted to trust God’s provision

some basic questions should come up when we read the beginning of this text

who led JC to wilderness? - Holy Spirit did this

H.S. led him there with express purpose to be tempted

doesn’t sound fair does it, why would he do this?

Heb 10 - tempted in every way, w/o sin - so we can have comfort in knowing JC went through these things

why the wilderness?

think this plays back into the OT - think about others who were in wilderness?

Israelites, wandering b/4 promised land

where God prepared them for what he had in store

God using this wilderness in JC life to prepare him for his earthly ministry

In first 4 verses, see first the first temptation

JC had been fasting, he was hungry

Satan tempted him with using His heavenly authority to provide for himself in a way that wasn’t Godly

really, it was a temptation to provide for himself - and not to trust God’s plan

why Matthew adds (not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from Mouth of God)

it’s not about food, it’s about trusting God to take care of His needs

I believe Satan wants to tempt you in the same way - will you trust God to provide for your needs?

if there’s ever a time for our country to trust God to meet our needs it’s right now!

I know I don’t get political often, and I’m not today

shared a post from another pastor that said we are seeing what happens when we give someone more than our vote, when we give them our heart and our hope

folks, - there’s only one person who deserves our heart and and hope - the real king, King Jesus, the king of kings and the Lord of Lords

that’s the king who truly provides in all areas of life

provides spiritually - only way to heaven

provides my identity - never be who I am truly meant to be w/o JC

provides relationally - the only relationship that has ever laid down life for me

provides emotionally - I can stand confident in Him knowing I am forgiven, I am in his grip, and nothing, NOTHING can pluck me out of his hand

provides intellectually - not the smartest of people, but gives me a brain to use and to think for his glory

provides compassionately - in that through him and him alone can I truly love and care for others

provides joyfully - because he loves me I can have joy and peace in my life always

even the things I have, I know come from Him, so whether it’s a lot or very little, he is blessing me - it’s not about the stuff - it’s about the relationship

the provision of God is always there for his children - so we always have a right and a way to say “No satan - I don’t live by bread alone - my Father will provide all I need”

TRUST FALL IN MIDDLE SCHOOL (DON’T BEND YOUR KNEES)

have you trusted him for salvation - he provides

what’s 1 area of your life that you are currently holding the reigns on right now? Will you let go and trust God to provide

Jesus was tempted to trust God’s plan

Satan said JC would get all the world if he would worship Satan

this is quite comical if you think about it. It’s like me going to the car dealership where we bought our car and saying to the owner - you can have all these cars, just because I own 1 of them

the earth is the lord’s and all it contains - JC made the earth, nothing created that he wasn’t a part of

now Satan has some authority, but only what he’s been given

Real temptation here - will you trust God’s plan?

JC knew what was going to happen at the end - He would reign as king

but will he take Satan’s shortcuts to get to where he would go anyway?

JC responds again with scripture -saying the only one worth worshipping is God and that he will not bow down to anyone but Him

JC will not take a shortcut, his goal - his reason detra is to do what the Father has sent him to do

and the only way that would be accomplished, through following God’s way

I think we want shortcuts in life far too often

lose weight without diet or exercise…make 10,000 by simply cutting your computer on… get your promotion by simply reading this book… enjoy retirement tomorrow by selling this product that “everyone wants”

big problem with my generation and those after - want overnight what took decades for our parents to build

even want to take shortcuts in christian life

want to be best preacher, evangelist w/o prayer and Bible reading, but studying great preachers and evangelists

Want God’s blessing while keeping our toes in the water of the earth

Want to just be super spiritual overnight w/o any obedience to God

Wiersbe - There are no “shortcuts” in the Christian life, and there is no easy way to spiritual victory and maturity. If the perfect Son of God had to hang on a tree before He could sit on the throne, then His disciples should not expect an easier way of life

we must trust in the plan of God for what our lives should be?

what is it? go to great commandment - love Lord your GOd with heart soul mind strength

great commission - make disciples..baptizing.. teaching..

takes time, work, prayer, grace, mercy, boldness

some of those we have, some we have to ask for.

must be obedient to His will, must know His will - have you started in the word today? this year yet?

best time to plant a tree.. get started; know HIS PLAN!

Jesus was tempted to trust God’s protection

Satan gets wise to JC and throws some Scripture at him here

jump off and God will send angels to protect you....

JC doesn’t fall for it again, but sees the trap and helps Satan understand what’s really at stake here - trust in God’s protection

says don’t put the Lord to test

God has numbered our days - His providence is over all

JC was tempted to put trust in God to see if he would come through

JC says, this trap won’t work because I know God will come through - I don’t need a test

A.A. Hodge - “Does God know the day you’ll die? Yes. Has he appointed that day? Yes. Can you do anything to change that day? No. Then why do you eat? To live. What happens if you don’t eat? You die. Then if you don’t eat, and die, then would that be the day that God had appointed for you to die?…Quit asking stupid questions and just eat. Eating is the pre-ordained way God has appointed for living

God is sovereign and we don’t have to put him to the test to know he’s trustworthy

Our role as believers should be to trust him even when it doesn’t seem that he will come through

We have all been in times that looked, all outward appearances were that God didn’t come through - loss of loved one, job loss, praying for something that didn’t happen

what about what God sees?

when that loved one passes away, no longer hurting, but if they knew JC, now at his side

maybe you didn’t get one job b/cs God was preparing another for you

maybe you didn’t get something you had been praying for because in God’s wisdom and protection, He knew it would take his place in your life

been in plays before (think back to pageants) - if stage crew doesn’t do their job, job no one may see from audience -action won’t happen

their role is to prepare the scenes and make them happen

I believe God’s protection alot of times is like that, we might not see it right up front, but it’s there - and it makes our lives what it can be today

must trust in HIs provision

so there are 3 ways to prepare for temptations - but I dont think they are the main idea of this text

The Big Idea: Jesus is God’s Son, so trust Him!

We will be in this fight, satan will tempt us - are we prepared

if Satan twisted scripture with JC, he definitely will do it with us

one pastor -resisting temptation can’t just be a “take 2 bibles verses and call me in the morning”

only way we will fight is if we trust him to fight for us

he has gone through the temptations, now he stands up for us to defeat temptations

the only way we win in temptations is to trust JC to win for us!

JC isn’t merely our model - he is our deliverer, our high priest who offers himself as our sacrifice

our righteousness - the only way to God

The God man - the one that passed the test that the first adam, in Gen failed

in all temptations our best strategy is to RUN to JC

will you run to him today?

Salvation

Help out of temptation

new life