What Will It Take? – Mt 4: 1 - 11
Intro: Drew Anderson from Tucson, Arizona wrote of his experience in Readers’ Digest. He was shopping in the mall with his wife when a shapely young woman in a short, form fitting dress walked by. He said as she walked by his eyes followed her. Without looking up from the item she was examining his wife asked, “Was it worth the trouble that you are in?” - TEMPTATIONS COME IN ALL SIZES AND SHAPES. – They are all opportunities that either strengthen or corrupt us.
I. The specific temptations Jesus beats are not ones we often encounter. – hungry enough to want rocks to become bread. – we can’t really do it. (Verses 3) – “SINCE”
A. Instead of growing food, just change stones into bread – take the easy way, by-pass God’s order and plan.
B. Our attempt to get “nourishment” from the wrong places. – drugs, sex, shopping, alcohol, tobacco, food
C. Deut. 8:3 – (Verse 4) “Man does not live on bread alone.”
II. Verses 5 & 6 – “SINCE you are . . .”
A. Be irresponsible and let god pick up the pieces from our dumb decisions.
B. Living beyond means – God will bail you out / neglecting or abusing your body – God will not let disease strike / Risky relationships – God will change things and make ok / Spoiled Child of God
C. Deut. 6:16 (Verse 7) – “Do not put God to the test.”
III. Verses 8 & 9 – All the kingdoms of the world – “does the end justify the means?”
A. What is your priority? – The ultimate temptation is to look at where we want to arrive and not care about how we get there.
B. We will never defeat evil by compromising with it.
C. Deut. 6:13 (Verse 10) – Serve only God. – It’s like buttoning a shirt. If you get the top button right, all the others will fall into place.
Conclu: The devil approaches and I don’t believe he is the red-horned person with a pitch fork. He is much more subtle, more inventive. --- What will it take to lead you into temptation? What will it take?
