Introduction

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.

In and through Christ, you can rise above the ashes and experience abundant life.

Main Teaching

First and foremost today we all need to acknowledge that temptation should be expected in our lives. We all experience temptation each and every day. No one is immune from the desires to have things or do things that do not align with the way of Christ.

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; “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8-10

Today, let’s begin by confessing and acknowledging that we all deal with temptation in our lives and that there are times when we follow temptation down paths that are neither Christ honoring nor consistent with our heavenly citizenship.

So, how do we manage temptation? How do we respond to temptation? How do we model the fortitude and endurance Jesus had? It begins with your identity

Before we look at the temptation of Christ in Matthew chapter 4, we need to talk about the event that immediately preceded his 40 day temptation in the wilderness ... View this full sermon with PRO Premium

The Word of God is powerful.