How do we Respond to Temptation? (Matthew 4:1-11)
The following is an outline from a youth talk I gave.
"1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4But he answered,"It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
1) We will be tempted through the lust of the flesh (v.1-4)
A. The lust of the flesh is strong when we are new (v.1)
After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Jesus up into the wilderness, or desert. Why? God was testing Him. Did Jesus need testing? Jesus was tempted to that He may identify with us. Likewise, when we accept Christ, we are announcing that we are ready for a new life. Also, Jesus was tempted by the devil himself. The devil is not present everywhere. Very few people will be tempted by the devil. We are, however, tempted by his demons.
See Heb. 2:18, 4:15
What is the purpose of a test for us? The purpose is to make sure we are ready for the next level. When we pass a test, we can move on to the next phase. God gives us tests sometimes to see if we can pass so that we can move onto the next part of our life where He can use us.
When we are just trying new things or growing spiritually to new levels, we will be tempted.
B. The lust of the flesh is strong when we are weak (v.2)
Jesus had not eaten for forty days so he was very vulnerable.
Think about how you would feel if you hadn’t eaten in forty days. You would love to have a big, juicy hamburger, etc. Jesus was probably drooling over the prospects of food.
The lust of the flesh is strong when we are weak.
C. The lust of the flesh is strong when we are vulnerable (v.3-4)
Jesus could very easily make the stones turn into bread. However, he wanted to point out to the Devil that food does not only sustain life. Rather, God sustains life.
Even when it seems impossible, God will provide for us if He so chooses. Jesus used Scripture to defeat Satan in order to show us that we can use Scripture too. He did not do some supernatural thing that we cannot do. In order to fight temptation, we need to be armed with the Word of God. Without it, we are vulnerable.
2) We will be tempted through the pride of life (v.5-7)
A. The pride of life is strong when we are exalted (v.5)
Jesus was standing about 200 feet above ground. Obviously, it would take a supernatural act to save His life.
We need to be careful when we are exalted. When people build us up and tell us how great we are, watch out because temptation is near.
See Proverbs 16:18
B. The pride of life is strong when we are challenged (v.6-7)
Did you know that the Devil knows Scripture? Sometimes we can be tempted to do things we should not from other people twisting the Scripture to make it sound like something it is not. Jesus warns us to not challenge the Lord to prove something spectacular to us.
When I get into debates, I have to watch myself. Am I debating to glorify God or am I debating to say that, “I am right and you are wrong.”
3) We can be tempted through the lust of the eyes (v.8-11)
A. The lust of the eyes is strong when things are made known (v.8)
Jesus was shown all of the kingdoms of the world. This is a form of advertising. What is the purpose of advertising? It’s to get you to buy what the seller is offering.
I can walk into Best Buy and see these great big TV screens, xbox 360’s, Ipods, etc.
This is the lust of the eyes. Is it wrong to buy things? No. However, we need to be good stewards of what God has given us. God wants us to have fun thing but when we get to the point that we lust after them they can control our lives.
B. The lust of the eyes is strong when things are made available (v.9-11)
Not only were the kingdoms made known to Jesus, they were made available. How? As with all forms of advertising, there is a price. What was the price of ruling all the kingdoms of the world? Bowing down to Satan. The ironic thing is Jesus already rules the entire world, especially when His kingdom is inaugurated at the end of time.
Jesus is quoting Duet.
When I’m in Best Buy, the lust of the eyes can transform something from being made known to being made available through special sales, deals, etc.
Don’t be fooled this is temptation. Again, God wants us to enjoy things but when they start to make us lust they will control our lives.
Conclusion:
Basically, we will be tempted through all phases in life. When we are new in Christ, when we are growing and when we feel that we are “there” in Christ. When pride over takes us. We are never safe from temptation and God gives us tests to make us stronger in our walk. One day there may be a test that seems too strong but it won’t be.
With this in mind meditate on these words from 1 Cor. 10:13 - "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
How great it is to know that no temptation is too strong for us and the Spirit knows the way out.
"1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4But he answered,
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6and 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.'"
7Jesus said to him,
1) We will be tempted through the lust of the flesh (v.1-4)
A. The lust of the flesh is strong when we are new (v.1)
After Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit led Jesus up into the wilderness, or desert. Why? God was testing Him. Did Jesus need testing? Jesus was tempted to that He may identify with us. Likewise, when we accept Christ, we are announcing that we are ready for a new life. Also, Jesus was tempted by the devil himself. The devil is not present everywhere. Very few people will be tempted by the devil. We are, however, tempted by his demons.
See Heb. 2:18, 4:15
What is the purpose of a test for us? The purpose is to make sure we are ready for the next level. When we pass a test, we can move on to the next phase. God gives us tests sometimes to see if we can pass so that we can move onto the next part of our life where He can use us.
When we are just trying new things or growing spiritually to new levels, we will be tempted.
B. The lust of the flesh is strong when we are weak (v.2)
Jesus had not eaten for forty days so he was very vulnerable.
Think about how you would feel if you hadn’t eaten in forty days. You would love to have a big, juicy hamburger, etc. Jesus was probably drooling over the prospects of food.
The lust of the flesh is strong when we are weak.
C. The lust of the flesh is strong when we are vulnerable (v.3-4)
Jesus could very easily make the stones turn into bread. However, he wanted to point out to the Devil that food does not only sustain life. Rather, God sustains life.
Even when it seems impossible, God will provide for us if He so chooses. Jesus used Scripture to defeat Satan in order to show us that we can use Scripture too. He did not do some supernatural thing that we cannot do. In order to fight temptation, we need to be armed with the Word of God. Without it, we are vulnerable.
2) We will be tempted through the pride of life (v.5-7)
A. The pride of life is strong when we are exalted (v.5)
Jesus was standing about 200 feet above ground. Obviously, it would take a supernatural act to save His life.
We need to be careful when we are exalted. When people build us up and tell us how great we are, watch out because temptation is near.
See Proverbs 16:18
B. The pride of life is strong when we are challenged (v.6-7)
Did you know that the Devil knows Scripture? Sometimes we can be tempted to do things we should not from other people twisting the Scripture to make it sound like something it is not. Jesus warns us to not challenge the Lord to prove something spectacular to us.
When I get into debates, I have to watch myself. Am I debating to glorify God or am I debating to say that, “I am right and you are wrong.”
3) We can be tempted through the lust of the eyes (v.8-11)
A. The lust of the eyes is strong when things are made known (v.8)
Jesus was shown all of the kingdoms of the world. This is a form of advertising. What is the purpose of advertising? It’s to get you to buy what the seller is offering.
I can walk into Best Buy and see these great big TV screens, xbox 360’s, Ipods, etc.
This is the lust of the eyes. Is it wrong to buy things? No. However, we need to be good stewards of what God has given us. God wants us to have fun thing but when we get to the point that we lust after them they can control our lives.
B. The lust of the eyes is strong when things are made available (v.9-11)
Not only were the kingdoms made known to Jesus, they were made available. How? As with all forms of advertising, there is a price. What was the price of ruling all the kingdoms of the world? Bowing down to Satan. The ironic thing is Jesus already rules the entire world, especially when His kingdom is inaugurated at the end of time.
Jesus is quoting Duet.
When I’m in Best Buy, the lust of the eyes can transform something from being made known to being made available through special sales, deals, etc.
Don’t be fooled this is temptation. Again, God wants us to enjoy things but when they start to make us lust they will control our lives.
Conclusion:
Basically, we will be tempted through all phases in life. When we are new in Christ, when we are growing and when we feel that we are “there” in Christ. When pride over takes us. We are never safe from temptation and God gives us tests to make us stronger in our walk. One day there may be a test that seems too strong but it won’t be.
With this in mind meditate on these words from 1 Cor. 10:13 - "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."
How great it is to know that no temptation is too strong for us and the Spirit knows the way out.
posted by Charlie Wallace at
7:36 PM
1 Comments:
Good thoughts, Charles.
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