(2nd version)
Introduction:
A. Many places are mentioned in the gospels as places where certain
things took place in the life of Jesus. When we hear the names of
these places, they make us automatically think of those events.
1. Bethlehem = birth.
2. Cana = wedding which He attended and turned water into wine.
3. Golgotha = where He was crucified.
B. If I were to mention "the wilderness" hopefully it would remind you
of His temptation.
1. Matthew 4:1-11.
2. This is a familiar event in the life of Jesus, but there are some very
important things we can learn from them: especially since temptation
is a very real, and serious problem we face in our lives.
Therefore, I would like for us to turn to Matthew 4, and apply the
temptation of Christ to our lives, that we might be able to overcome
the problem of temptation.
I. Jesus was tempted.
A. Tempted = tested, enticed to sin.
1. Satan tried to entice Him to turn stones into bread.
a. He had not eaten for 40 days (2)-"he was afterward an hungred."
b. I am not sure how long a person can go w/o eating and still
survive, but after 40 days:
(1) He was probably physically weak, but He was spiritually
strong.
(2) His desire to eat was stronger than we will probably ever
experience, but He resisted Satan's temptation.
2. Satan tempted Him in every way we are tempted.
a. Lust of the flesh = turning stones into bread.
b. Pride of life = casting Himself down from the pinnacle of the
temple.
c. Lust of the eyes = worshipping Satan and receiving all the
kingdoms of the earth.
B. These are the same ways all men are tempted - I John 2:16.
1. Eve was tempted in all 3 ways - Genesis 3:6.
a. Saw the tree was good for food = lust of flesh.
b. Pleasant to the eye.................... = lust of the eyes.
c. Make one wise......................... = pride of life.
2. David was tempted with these when he committed adultery with
Bathesheba.
a. Saw her bathing = lust of the eyes.
b. Committed adultery with her = lust of the flesh.
3. Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5).
a. They sold a possession, and claim they gave it all, when they
only gave part of what they received for it.
b. They wanted the praise of men = pride of life.
C. The most prominent sins today are still caused by giving in to these
these same areas of temptation.
1. Sexual immorality.
a. Most of our young people are sexual active by the time they
are in high school. Why?
(1) Lust of the eyes.
(2) Lust of the flesh.
(3) Pride of life (bragging that they have, or who they have been
intimate with).
b. More people are living together w/o being married. Why?
(1) Fulfill the lust of the flesh w/o being legally committed.
(2) But, it is still a sin, and will keep one from inheriting the
kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9-10).
c. Homosexuality (I Corinthians 6:9-10).
2. Drinking alcohol.
a. Lust of the eyes = looks fun, or pleasant to the eyes.
b. Lust of the flesh = tastes good, makes you feel good.
c. Pride of life = socially acceptable.
d. But, it is foolish, and sinful.
(1) I Corinthians 6:9-10.
(2) Galtians 5:21.
(3) I Thessalonians 5:22.
(4) Ephesians 5:11.
(5) Proverbs 23:29-30
3. Gambling.
a. Lust of the eyes = $100,000,000.00.
b. Lust of the flesh = all you could do with $100,000,000.00.
c. Violates scripture:
(1) Work for a living (Ephesians 4:28).
(2) Loving neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39)
(3) Doing unto others as you would have done to you (Mt.7:12).
(4) Working no ill to your neighbor (Romans 13:10).
(5) I Thessalonians 5:22.
II. Jesus was intentionally led to the wilderness to be tempted.
A. All three accounts show that it was intentional.
1. Matthew - "Then was jesus led up of the Spirit.."
2. Mark - "..the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness."
3. Luke - "Jesus..was led by the Spirit into the wilderness."
B. It was necessary for Him to be tempted to defeat Satan.
1. Satan is the great tempter.
a. He tempted Eve (Genesis 3).
b. He put in the heart of Judas to betray Jesus (John 13).
c. He filled the hearts of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5).
d. When we give in to Satan's temptations it leads to sin,
and sin leads to death (James 1:13-15).
2. Jesus, by being tempted, took away Satan's power of sin
and death - Hebrews 2:14.
a. He was tempted in all ways we are tempted - w/o sin (Heb.4:15).
b. And, He was put to death w/o having sinned, but
was raised from the dead..taking away Satan's
power of sin and death.
1) Sin, by enabling us to cleansed from our sins by His
blood.
2) Death, by being raised from it, and in turn, those who
obey His gospel will one day also be raised from the dead.
C. Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted, but we need to
avoid situations where we might be tempted.
1. The scriptures tell us to...
a. Flee youthful lusts (II Timothy 2:22).
b. Have no fellowship w/the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph.5:11).
c. Abstain from all appearance of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22).
2. Common sense tells us to stay away from things that can tempt us.
a. Don't associate with people who: drink, or cuss for they can
influence you to do the same - I Corinthians 15:33.
b. If you have a job where you are tempted to lie, or cheat, or are
asked to promote, sell, or do something sinful, it may be time to
get another job.
c. If you're single, and the person you're dating wants you to be
intimate with them, it's probably a good idea to date someone else.
d. If you find that you are more likely to gossip when you talk on the
phone. Maybe you ought to limit your phone calls.
III. Jesus resisted Satan.
A. He resisted Satan with the word of God.
1. Each of Satan's temptations were met with scripture.
a. Turn stones into bread..................... - Deut.8:3.
b. Cast yourself down......................... - Deut.6:16.
c. Bow down and worship me............. - Deut.6:13.
2. For Jesus to defeat Satan with the word...
a. Jesus had to know the word, and He had to apply it correctly.
b. If He had not known the word, or not been able to apply it
correctly, He may have given in to Satan's temptations.
3. We also need to know, and know how to apply, the word of
God if we want to defeat Satan's temptations in our lives.
a. We need to get in the habit of using it, so we can discern
between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14).
b. If Eve had only correctly applied the word of God she
would not have given in to Satan's temptation to eat of
the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
c. If David had only remembered Exodus 20:14, 17...
(1) He would not have sinned.
(2) Bathsheba would not have sinned.
(3) Uriah wouldn't have been killed.
d. Psalm 119:11.
B. Satan only departed for a season - Luke 4:13.
1. He evidently tempted Jesus at other times.
a. We know He was tempted in all ways - Hebrews 4:15.
b. It says Satan left for a season, which implies that He
returned. How often we do not know.
c. Luke 22:28 may be a reference to further temptations to sin.
d. But, no doubt, Satan did not give up easily.
2. Satan will continue to tempt us also.
a. We can resist him, and he will flee - James 4:7.
b. But, "be sober, be vigilant", for he will try again (I Pt.5:8).
Conclusion:
A. Satan tempted Jesus, and he will try to tempt you as well.
1. He wants you to sin, for sin will seperate you from God.
2. He wants you to spend all eternity seperated from God.
B. But, God has made it so you do not have to be eternally seperated
from Him.
1. He gave His Son so your sin can be forgiven.
2. He has gave His word so you can know what is sinful, and how to
resist Satan.
3. And, even after you have obeyed His gospel; if you should give in
to Satan's temptations, and sin, you can still repent and be forgiven.
C. If you have not obeyed the gospel, or if you have and have sin that you
need to repent of, we are going to sing a song of invitation....
|