| Jesus: His Temptation |
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Jesus: His Temptation 1-8-06 Audio
SUMMARY: "The Book of Daniel," debuting Friday, depicts an Episcopal priest and his dysfunctional family and is raising concern among Christians who fear the false depiction of Jesus and his teaching could mislead viewers. "The Book of Daniel," a new NBC series premiering Friday, tells the story of an Episcopal priest who regularly communes with a white-robed Jesus to get advice about the many problems he faces within his congregation and within his own family. That doesn't sound so bad, until you hear the answers provided by the show's "Jesus." Take, for example, the advice "Jesus" gives to the Rev. Daniel Webster (played by Aidan Quinn) about his teen-age daughter's involvement in using and selling marijuana. "She'll be fine; she's a good kid," he says. Webster's 16-year-old son is depicted as promiscuous, regularly engaging in pre-marital sex. The "Jesus" character's advice? "He's a kid; let him be a kid." Sin is the reason our world is in the mess it is in. It is sin that has separated us from God. It is sin that keeps us from reaching our greatest potential. It is sin that destroys lives. It is sin that destroys families. Matt 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ”‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Jesus was tempted and you can be sure you will be tempted. I Peter 5:8 “Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him and be strong in your faith. Remember that Christians all over the world are going through he same kind of suffering you are.” “ There is something in us that believes we will grow to the place that temptation will not have any pull on us. That if we just prayed more, if we were just a little better Christian we wouldn’t have to face temptation. As long as we are in this human flesh and there is a Devil we will be tempted. Temptation isn’t sin. Hebrews 4:15 He was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. When Adam and Eve faced the same tempter, they fell. They had it all. A perfect environment. The perfect family – a marriage made in heaven. A perfect relationship with God. Yet somehow the Devil convinced them that God was holding back. Temptation is an issue of trust. Trusting that God really has my best in mind. From that first encounter in Genesis chapter 3 to the book of Revelation, the Bible consistently reminds us that Satan is a real being. He is not someone’s imagination. Satan’s purpose is to cause us to fall. Unrelenting, he will tempt us to fall then mock us when we do. John 10:10 says his purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy. Could have Jesus sinned? He was God. Could God sin? I suppose He can do whatever he chooses to do. God has the ability to choose to do evil, but has no desire to choose to do so. But the Bible makes it clear that it is completely against his character. James 1:13 “God cannot be tempted with evil.” Jesus was both man and God. The significance of the virgin birth, he was conceived by the Holy Spirit born of a woman, is that He was uniquely God and man. He was not half God and half man or part of the time God and part of the time man. John 1:14 The word became flesh and dwelt among us. Colossians 1:19 The fullness of God dwelt in him. The God nature could not be tempted, but the human nature could be just as Adam and Eve were tempted, just as you and I are tempted. Hebrews 4:15. He was tempted in all points just like we are, but was without sin. He never gave into temptation. Temptation is not sin. Giving into temptation is sin. While we can learn about overcoming temptation from Jesus, this is more than Jesus showing us how to do it. This is a defining moment in the life and ministry of Jesus. This was a test/the event/defining moment/tipping point. Just as his virgin birth and his baptism – where the Father said “This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased” were defining moments, so this temptation is a defining moment. It is the authenticating demonstration that he is the Son of God – He did not show he was the Son of God by turning stones into bread or by jumping off the highest point of the temple, he demonstrated he was the Son of God by obedience. He was submissive only to His Father. His allegiance was to God and not to Satan. It was critical that he pass this test, because he had to be tempted yet overcome to be the sacrifice for sin. He had to be without sin or it could not have been a sacrificial death. If He had sinned He would have had to die for his own sins to meet the requirement of God’s judgment on man’s sin. Turning stones into bread – Appeals to basic physical needs Observations from Jesus’ temptation Satan will attack at the most vulnerable time We are more vulnerable when we are alone and isolated. “It is not good for man to live alone” We were created to live in relationship with others. We are more vulnerable when we are physically or emotionally depleted. People tend to pull away when they go through difficulties. What would have been wrong with turning stones into bread? “There is nothing wrong with a good meal but if your soul is not fed you will die.” A matter of timing and motivation. Jesus never performed any miracles for His own benefit. Satan wants us to live his way or our way, but not God’s way. His goal is to block God’s purposes in our lives. (Clearly seen in his temptation of Jesus) Had Jesus given in his purpose of redemption would have been lost. Selfishness Immediate gratification – you can have it all now. When God says “No” its because he has something better in mind. Adam and Eve Genesis Chapter 3 – Satan made them believe that God was withholding some thing Temptation to sin is the pull to satisfy God-given desires in wrong ways. Satan will take the good things in life to draw us away from God. In every area of temptation Youth are tempted with the pleasures of this world and the older generation is tempted with it’s treasures. Lust of the flesh. Shopping sprees, over eating, Sexual immorality, satisfying “legitimate desires” in the wrong way. Jumping off the temple – appeals to the need for recognition The coming Messiah was to establish a world-wide empire with Turn Bread into stones – please himself Jumping off the temple – receive the praise from others. Custodian during college days. Challenging his identity. Are you really the Son of God. Prove it. I dare you. He also will test us in the area of strength, because we can give in to pride. Luke 4:3ff Bow Down and Worship – appeals to the need of power and accomplishment He has appealed to his physical drives, His emotional need to be somebody and now the need to do something, the need to accomplish. This may well have been Devil’s greatest temptation. It was this temptation that snared the Devil himself. Isaiah 14:13 I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; You can be the ruler Trade an unseen future in God’s hands for a visible kingdom. Success is really failure if it turns your heart away from God. What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul? He came to set the captives free, he came to destroy the works of the devil. He overcame the devil so we could be free and live in victory.
“You can’t keep a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from building a nest in your hair.” Recognize the source of temptation. Matt 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one Pray for strength. Luke 22:40 Pray that you will not fall into temptation. Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit He was God, but Jesus did not rely on His God nature – He relied on the power of the Holy Spirit. We must in humility recognize our own weakness. You are no match for the devil. Christ at his weakest point was stronger than the devil, but my own strength is not enough Apply God’s Word Psalm 119:11 Your word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you. Don’t underestimate the power of God’s word. Ephesians 6 talks about the armor of God. The Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. It is an offensive weapon. You don’t have to be a scholar. But you have to be exposed. Look for the escape. I Cor. 10:12 I Corinthians 10:12 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 Lewiston Hill – truck brake. Pressure is strong – God believes you can withstand.
What is my purpose? At the wedding feast, “My time has not yet come.” Jesus could not have resisted the call to come down from the cross. “If you are the Son of God, save yourself” Could he have said in the garden, “Not my will, but your will be done.” God’s purpose in allowing temptation is to make us stronger. |
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