Third Temptation of Jesus
Notes
Transcript
He Is Still Faithful
He Is Still Faithful
This has been a journey hasn’t it church. But here we are. The Final temptation. The climax! Have you notice that throughout each temptation it has been going higher and higher till now we get to the highest point. To a mountain. Mountains are so important in scripture! Another man was called to a high mountain to establish a covenant! Can anyone remember his name? Moses. Now it seems Satan has taken Jesus to another high mountain to establish a covenant that is a counter-fit to the one God has made with Jesus.
Funny enough Satan’s covenant was actually accepted by a religious/political power later in history. And when we look at the anti-christ we see the terrible and awful things it rot on the world. But hey different sermon for a different day.
But here we have Jesus brought to a high mountain, and the Bible says that he was shown all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And like I have preached earlier in this series this is why Jesus has come. To reclaim, redeem, restore all the kingdoms of the world.
The kingdom of this world was stolen by the serpent back in Genesis 3 and thru his leadership we have seen the destruction, death, and pain that has come forth. Jesus has come now to reclaim that which has been stolen. Jesus has come to reestablish the true Kingdom of the Father on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus has also come to rule as the true King!
But the kingdom, like I said earlier is under the rule of Satan. Therefore, “
“Satan knew that Jesus had come to contest his claim,”
So Satan shows him all the kingdoms and states in Matt 4:9.
“and now offered to surrender it without a conflict”
Nichol, F. D. (Ed.). (1980). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary (Vol. 5, p. 314). Review and Herald Publishing Association.
So much within what Satan offers. Where to even begin. Jesus knows the way to conquer the kingdom. He knows where the Fathers will will lead him. It is thru that cross. It is thru the valley of the shadow of death. For Christ was sent to the world not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved.
Jesus knows then that his life, if he decides is one that is going to require suffering. That is why the bible prophecies him as the suffering servant. For he who knew no sin became sin so that we might become righteous.
The path that is before Jesus with the Father is still uncertain. Christ cannot see past the cross. By faith we know Jesus trust in Christ and his faith in the father is unwavering. Revealing to all those who will come after him that the Father’s will is good! But Jesus can’t see that right now.
So is the trust of the third temptation,
The Message of Matthew The Temptation of Jesus (4:1–11)
to gain universal dominion back from the usurper prince, but to do so by striking a bargain with him rather than by striking him through the heart with the wood of the cross.
Are we together. Satan is saying look at where the Fathers will has already lead you. Look at how it has left you hungry, alone, and tired. And you are telling me that the Father’s will is capable of doing what no other human has been able to do in the past. All have failed Jesus. That is because what the Father has ask is too much. Jesus is cruel to ask this of you. But if you were to make me your God, I will give you the kingdom right now. With no suffering, no pain. Have it now Jesus. Have it right here Jesus. Bow down and worship me! The Father will is impossible mine is possible!
Have you been there. Are you there. Has that question come in your mind. God are you still faithful. Father is your will still good. The path Father, is this truly the right one?
With Satan’s offer it will bypass the cross. But notice what God is truly asking Jesus of by going thru the cross. Notice where the path is leading too! My BIBLE TELLS ME in Luke 4:18-19
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
The cross was not for the sake of suffering for suffering sake but Jesus knows that the Fathers will it to free those who are enslaved, liberate those who are oppressed, give sight to the blind, restore what has been broken, to bring light where darkness is! That is the will of God! That is the God we serve. Somebody say Amen!
We read right after leaves the wilderness in Mark he calls those who are not worthy to come and join him, he cast the demons of Satans kingdom out and brings forth the kingdom of peace, he heal those who are sick. You remember the leper?
Jesus knows the kingdom that Satan offers. Though it might give that initial high, that feeling of euphoria, after the smoke clears you find yourself chained down left to rot! Jesus has witness Satan rule for generations. Leaving behind death and destruction.
Desire of Ages Chapter 13—The Victory
He requires that they sacrifice integrity, disregard conscience, indulge selfishness. Christ bids them seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness;
Far from allowing his kingship to become subservient to that of Satan, Jesus will inaugurate a kingdom destined to vanquish Satan’s kingdom. Those far-flung regions of the kosmos presently under the devil’s tyranny are the very places Jesus’ gospel of the kingdom is going to be proclaimed (Matt. 24:14; 26:13). In the end ‘all the kingdoms of the world’ will indeed belong to Jesus—not as a bequest from Satan (who, as the very embodiment of the lie, could not be trusted to keep the promise of 4:9) but as the Father’s gift to his beloved Son (28:18–20).
As Ellen White says in her books, Divinity flashed through suferring humanity and Jesus answers, “Away with you , Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”
Desire of Ages Chapter 13—The Victory
Jesus gained the victory through submission and faith in God, and by the apostle He says to us, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” James 4:7, 8.
God is faithful and his plan for you is good. The Kingdom of Heaven is hear for anyone who wants it. Jesus says repent and believe!
Come with me to Ezekiel 37. Let me show you the plan of Salvation. Ezekiel is a prophet who has the hard job of telling a rebellious generation to repent, that doesn’t repent and thus consequence follow. It looks like the sin of Israel is too great for there ever to be a chance to be redeemed. All looks lost.
If you jump to Ezekiel 37 Ezekiel is shown a vision. Start with me in Verse 1-3. This is result of Satan’s kingdom. This is what happens when God’s children rebel against him. We think we are better without God but last time I checked the bible tells me it was good in the beginning. But it wasn’t till sin entered our hearts that things look like this.
So God ask Ezekiel, who is also call the Son of Man. (It is so funny who also calls himself the Son of Man in the gospels!) But hey some of y'all think the bible is boring. But can these bones live again. Can this rebellious house of Israel who has brought this destruction on themselves be saved and restored?
The Son of Man answers only you know. Continue reading with me. Looks at the Fathers will. Look what the cross will accomplish! It says in verse 4.
Jesus went into the grave and conquers death itself so that you may have life and life abundantly! Jesus knows that the Fathers will is GOOD! The fathers will is also about others. To offer grace and mercy! To relieve those who are oppressed!
Therefore if God’s will is leading to the cross so be it. Because he would never lead me anywhere that was for my good or the good of others! It may cause pain, but in the midst of that suffering God is using it for your good and the good of others. You may not be able to see it right now. Your pain may make no sense to you. But is working, God is breathing on those dry bone and cause flesh to come on them and he said he would breath in those situations causing there life and life abundantly. He said is able to do excednetly and abundantely more than we can ask or think.
If God is with us who can stand against us! There is none greater than our God! Trust that he is good, that He is love. Trust in the plan he has for you. Trust in the process he is taking you thru