Temptation
From The Ashes • Sermon • Submitted
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Two antennas got married, the ceremony was okay but the reception was great
Jenn asked me to stop making police related puns, I said Okay I’ll give it arrest
Big Idea: Jesus experienced temptation of every kind and was able to overcome. His example teaches us what we need to know in battling temptation and rising above it in our own lives.
Today we begin a 6-week sermon series called From the Ashes. Our lives can sometimes feel like they are a disappointing pile of ashes. We can be broken, shattered and destroyed.
However, the good news of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is that we can experience new life. Our lives, no matter how bad before, are never irredeemable. Said another way, you are not broken beyond repair.
In and through Christ, you can rise above the ashes and experience abundant life.
But this isn’t just a series for the broken and shattered - this is for anyone who wants to grow in the knowledge and understanding of Christ. Each week we will look at one aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry during His time here on earth and what we can learn from Him.
We begin this week with a conversation about temptation. Did you know that immediately preceding the start of Jesus’ earthly ministry, he experienced a 40-day period of temptation?
While resisting the temptation of free chocolate on your seat is difficult, can you even imagine a persistent and prolonged season of it? And, as an added bonus, the person overseeing your temptation is none other than the devil himself? I cannot even imagine what this would have felt like, looked like, or been like to endure. And yet, this is the exact scenario that Jesus had to overcome.
We begin today with a look into this season of Jesus’ life and how we can learn from and be encouraged by the fortitude of our savior.
Temptation comes in many forms, and in many ways it can seem innocent enough. Sneaking in some social media time at work, binging that extra show on Netflix, shaving a few dollars of income off your tax return… In the eyes of many these don’t seem like huge problems, but it’s the little foxes that spoil the vine. (Song of Songs 2:15) And believe me, when I say that the temptations and desires behind these actions can grow into big problems.
This can lead to things that we all would agree are devastating; Broken marriages, ruined relationships, careers in the toilet, ministries closing down, the list goes on and on.
It does us no good to pretend like we are immune to temptation. Or to think that we can handle things on our own. Listen to what 1 John says about walking in the light; .
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Today, lets begin with the confessing that we all deal with temptation that we all have to fight back against it. That there are times in our lives when temptation comes in and we have to decide if we are going to fight, or allow it to over come us, this is the first thing that will help us get the healing that we actually need in this life.
So the real question is how do you fight back against this temptation in your life, if we are all admitting that this is something we have to deal with, how do we fight back, well learning from Jesus we realize that it starts with our identity.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.
14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”
15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.
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.”
God didn’t say, Look out the enemy is going to come against you he will tempt you you are going to need to fear him. Instead, this morning out of all we could look at and have looked at in this situation, lets look at the last verse… he said, This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased…
There it is.. His identity… he is MY son, with whom i am WELL pleased… that is Christs Identity… the beloved son of god. And this is the first thing that the enemy will try to attack in the wilderness… its so powerful of a truth, that Jesus is the beloved son, that the enemy wants to attack it… and in Matthew 4:3 He questions Jesus and he says
3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
He tried to make him question his identity… he said IF you are the son of god.... just three verses after God had said he was his beloved son… and this is the same type of questioning that The enemy gave Adam and Eve in the Garden… Did God REALLY say...
and this is the same way he tries to get us to question our identity in our lives...
If you were really a good christian you wouldn’t… cuss… watch rated r movies… lie… whatever
If you were really a good parent you wouldn’t… spank you kids… let them watch electronics… lie to them...
If you really loved God you would actually read the Bible. so you don’t so you should give it up...
If you were just a little more like your boss you might be able to be promoted...
If you were really saved you wouldn’t be suffering like you are...
abd the list could go on and on… and the questions for you and me from the enemy will be different because we have different positions and passions, but the motive is the same… he wants to get us to doubt who we are, our identity, our position, and he wants us to doubt WHOSE we are…he wants us to doubt the identity that God has called us to and what he says about us
So the first thing we have to do when we are dealing with temptation is remember who we are a beloved child of God.
Now that we realize we are all on the same playing field, lets look at the three areas that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness.
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.’ ”
Have you ebver been really hungry? We took it a little easier on this fast… the most hungry I have ever been in my life… maybe two weeks in… honestly it kind of goes away after a while… Jesus was in the wilderness… alone, my wife says she wishes I would have been, but I can understand the hunger that he would have felt at the end of those 40 days....
Think about it, Satan comes to him at the end of the 40 day fast and he says, “Yo, holmes, I know your hungry, why not just use your power and turn these stones into bread… its easy for you right?” I know that if I had the power at the end of that 40 day fast to turn stones into chick fil a or somethign I most likely would have done it. And really it wasnt just the food that Satan was trying to go after… it was Jesus’ need for provision, to be provided for to have what he needed… for us that could be shelter, a job, etc and for us in all fo these things it is for us to look to our creator as the provider of all of these things...
and to help us here are a few verses for you to remember
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
English Standard Version Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
A good shepherd always supplies the needs of his flock, and this is what he is going to do for us.
The first way he was tempted was by provision, THe second way Jesus was tempted was protection.
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and 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 will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
The second temptation of Jesus seems to be focused on inviting Jesus to test God’s protection of His beloved son. Jesus, having confidence in the care and concern for His well being by God, saw no need to do such a foolish thing. In fact, Jesus brings up a very important principle, that we should not test the Lord.
But if we’re honest, we often feel tempted to do foolish things simply because we know God is a God of grace, and He can pick up the pieces of a bad decision.
Yes, we know He will protect.
Yes, He can work all things for the good.
Yes, He is omnipotent and nothing can derail His will.
But sometimes you simply need to say “NO” to the voice of temptation in your life. And if you’re in a precarious situation, then give some time to prayer, call some trusted counselors and advisors, and exercise caution and wisdom through your decision making.
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Provision, protection and finally Position
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
The third and final temptation is for Jesus to worship Satan, and in doing so, He would receive dominion over all the kingdoms of the world. It seems like an easy enough choice, but for some, the temptation for position and power is overwhelming.
We are often given a choice to worship something other than God in order to get ahead or receive worldly gain. The significance that comes from worshipping an idol of any kind is temporary and temporal.
We too must choose to worship God alone and trust in the significance that can only come from our relationship to Him.
As a beloved son or daughter of the most high King, you will inherit an eternal kingdom and it cannot be shaken. Oftentimes we forget or look past this reality as believers and get distracted by worldly gain.
But truth be told, the best is yet to come.
And your eternal position is greater than any promotion your boss can give.
When feeling tempted in this area, try to keep things in perspective;
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Conclusion/Application
Conclusion/Application
One glaring thing was consistent every time the devil tempted Jesus;
Jesus responded with scripture.
The Word of God is powerful. Hebrews 4:12 says;
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
daily time in the word. Making this a daily habit can literally transform your life. You could read a Proverb everyday, jump into a chronological reading plan, or simply read 2-3 chapters every day starting in Matthew 1 and going through each gospel. (This lasts about 5-6 weeks)
You could give up your evening TV time for the word.
You could set your alarm 30 minutes early for the word.
You could read the word together over breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
What other creative ways could you carve out time to spend with Jesus and His word?
Let’s make no mistake my friends.
The tempter isn’t going to take the next 6 weeks off in preparation for Easter Sunday. And He definitely doesn’t want your faith and knowledge to grow in response to the word of God.
But here’s what we know, if scripture was sufficient for Jesus, then it is for us too.
Let’s pray together.