Scripture for the Soul

Intro

I have never had trouble with not being hungry

Ruin Appetite

Jerry Seinfeld

My spiritual appetite is never filled either

Psalm 42:1 NIV

1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

If you are not hungry for God, you may be full of yourself

Recap Series

Psalm 23:1–3 NIV

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Today we will be talking about Scripture for the Soul

Text

Matthew 4:1–11 NLT

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. 3 During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” 8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” 10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” 11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Led by Spirit

Fasted 40 days and nights

In his weakened state, is when Satan shows up

Satan uses the word “If” in everyone of his temptations

To create doubt

The enemy will attack when you are at your weakest and cause you to doubt

Application

Satan tempts Jesus in 3 distinct ways that he still tempts us with today

1) Provision

Matthew 4:3–4 NLT

3 During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Will God really supply all of your needs?

Yahweh - Jireh “The Lord will Provide”

Genesis 22:13–14 NLT

13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

God’s very nature is provision

Where God guides…He provides

Selling of house

Do you really trust and believe that God will provide for all your needs if you are following his leading?

2) Protection

Matthew 4:5–7 NLT

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

Will God really protect you?

Yahweh - Nissi “The Lord is my Banner”

Exodus 17:14–16 NLT

14 After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-nissi (which means “the Lord is my banner”). 16 He said, “They have raised their fist against the Lord’s throne, so now the Lord will be at war with Amalek generation after generation.”

Where God directs…He protects

Heavenly guardrails

Who or what do you rely on for your protection?

3) Position

Matthew 4:8–10 NLT

8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” 10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

Do you really believe that God is in charge?

Yahweh - “I am”

Exodus 3:13–15 NLT

13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” 14 God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.

“Seat Save” with cousins at the dinner table

We are so guilty of stealing God’s seat

When God is first…You won’t hunger or thirst

John 6:35 NLT

35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Challenge

Soul food for this week is Bread

As we remember the bread of life taking communion

John 1:1–4 NLT

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.

I challenge you to read the written word which reveals the Word of God

For the next 8 days, I challenge you to read 2 chapters of the Book of Mark

Highlight what sticks out. Pay attention to the words in red

Closing

Transition to Communion (Give instructions, call up Lela)

Communion

Closing Prayer