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The Temptation of Jesus

God's Holy Book

Mar 12, 2017


by: Jack Lash Series: God's Holy Book | Category: Scripture | Scripture: Luke 4:1–13

I. In our series on God's Holy Book, we are going to look at what can be learned about our relationship with God's word from a number of Bible stories. Today we're going to look at the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. 
II. Luke 4:1–13 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ” 5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ” 9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ 11 and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
A. The story
1. Christ’s baptism and the coming of the Spirit
2. Led into the wilderness
3. 40 days with no food
4. Three temptations
a. Turn stones into bread
b. Worship me and I’ll give you dominion over everything.
c. Throw yourself down from the pinnacle of the temple and prove that you are who you say you are.
III. Observations
A. Satan was using Scripture too. It takes more than knowing Scripture. You need to know how to handle Scripture.
B. Jesus had Scripture to counter every satanic lie.
1. How well did He know Scripture?
a. 12 years old
IV. Lessons
A. Satan is in the business of trying to get us to believe lies. His lies are his “flaming darts.” We are being tempted by Satan’s lies every day. This is our real problem. This is our real struggle.
1. You are worthless and unloved, and will never amount to anything.
2. You are worthy. You deserve to be loved.
3. Your happiness lies in doing this particular thing or being loved by this particular person.
4. Happiness and success come from your own effort.
5. Bad things which happen to you are bad luck, or a sign of God’s disfavor.
6. You are an utter failure, a hopeless loser, who will never succeed at anything.
7. You can’t trust anyone. You have to watch out for yourself.
8. That person has hurt you and you are justified in resenting him or her.
9. The problem you’re facing is your real problem.
10. You are alone. And you live a meaningless life.
11. The world is our home. It is all we have. There is no hope.
12. Things are out of control and I am not safe.
13. I am so messed up that I’m hopeless.
14. The thing I’m most concerned about is the most important thing in my life right now.
B. These are all demonic lies. Many of these are distortions of God’s truth, just as Satan twisted Scripture tempting Jesus. Often we’re not so vulnerable to outright lies.
C. Why did He use Scripture? He didn’t have to. He could have spoken truth and it would have become Scripture. He’s just about to fill the pages of the gospels with precious words of revelation. But He doesn’t do so here. Instead He quotes three passages from the book of Deuteronomy (8:3; 6:13; 6:16), written by Moses 1500 years earlier.
1. For Satan’s sake?
2. For His own sake?
3. For our sake.
4. He’s modeling something for us.
5. He’s telling us something about Scripture.
a. He’s telling us that what we need has already been given to us.
b. He’s telling us that the word of God arms us to resist the lies which Satan shoots at us like fiery darts.
c. He’s telling us that these ancient words are still very relevant to us.
d. This is why He doesn’t just state each truth, but introduces each one by saying, “It is written.”
D. The spiritual battle is largely over the truth. Are we going to believe God’s word or are we going to believe:
1. Our thoughts
2. Our feelings
3. The things the world tells us
4. The things everyone around us believes
5. The accuser of the brethren
6. The impressions we get from our experiences of life
E. “When evil thoughts molest” (from the hymn “When Morning Gilds the Skies”
1. We can’t just go with the flow of our feelings and thoughts. When we do that, Satan has a heyday.
2. We must be constantly evaluating our thoughts and feelings and asking if they are in line with the will of the Lord. When they’re not, we must fight. We must be combative.
3. We listen too much to ourselves and speak too little to ourselves.
F. Did you notice that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted? “Jesus was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil.”
1. God allows us to get false signals too. And then in His word He tells us the truth.
2. Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.
3. The battle is over which we’re going to believe.
G. We need to know God’s word. If you don’t know it, if you don’t read it, you can’t use it.
1. God speaks to us in His word.
V. “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent word.”
A. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
B. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2)
C. I will put them into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, "They are my people;" and they will say, "The Lord is my God." (Zech. 13:9)
D. The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in His way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)
E. He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom. (Isaiah 40:11)
F. “What more can He say than to you He has said?”