Celebrating Trials
After Baptism - Jesus must narrow focus
Luke 4:1-13 Led by the HS into the wilderness expressly to be tested/tempted.
Three Environments - Wilderness - High Place - City
Monks went to desert for Spiritual warfare.
Tested - what does success look like?
After 40 days - full of the HS - not food
Very few people merit a personal visit from Satan
(6 Billion on the planet) - but Jesus did
Jesus completely ruled Satan from the start
Satan - Adversary - accuser - not always referring to the critter with horns and pitchfork - Lucifer
Get behind me Satan! -
Was David tested by God or Satan
Satan twists scripture and distorts truth
Jesus wields scripture like a sword - dividing both joints and marrow - cuts to the bone
So what about you? Testing will come, God won't try to make you fail, but He will put you to the test.
What is a Temptation -
anyone here ever get tempted?
What tempts you?
Temptation is not sin - it is a test
Tests have a bad rap - most of us view a test from the POV of a student
But after teaching for 25 years -
I can tell you another side of tests
It is to show you what you can do
To give you confidence - Pass the test - REFINE
1CO 3:10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
GAL 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load.
Teachers give tests to students - Students (disciples) are not to test Teacher (God)
Jesus tested his disciples
JN 6:5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
When Pharisees and Scribes tried to put Jesus to the test - it was a sign of their unbelief
Acts 5 - Ananias and Sapphira tested the HS
Legalism vs. Grace - Acts 15 why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?
Tithing is a test according to Malachi
Mal. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty. 12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
Israel tested in the wilderness - will she follow God?
Will she trust God and not in her own strength or in idols?
WHY DID JESUS NEED TO BE TESTED?
What is the essence of each temptation?
Why are our tests or temptations varied - how are they alike
We all get to choose of what we worship - center of trust
Turn stones to bread
Use God’s power to satisfy ME (Lottery Numbers)
Possess Kingdoms (who said Satan owned them?)
Personal honor, glory, wealth
Test God (if you‘re His son, then...)
Testing is not for God.
Where and when did the devil lie? - How
- If you are Son of God - twice
- kingdoms have been given to me
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
When was the next opportunity
When did Jesus see these temptations - tests - in a different light
Multiply food - of others benefit not selfish desires
Offered the World - (what good would it do you if you gain the whole world and lose your soul)
Now from the perspective of a looming cross - on the Mount of Olives - Jesus chooses God’s will
Live a life of mystery and awe - jump - you won’t even stub your toe
Jesus endures a cross - for the joy set before Him
Spared no pain or suffering so that all might be saved.
Throughout His ministry - after a miracle, Jesus often said “Don’t tell anyone” why
Signs are meant to point somewhere - to God
Next Step - Dare me to be like Jesus
RO 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1TH 5:19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
JAS 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Tests are good - they are for your benefit - so rejoice when you get a chance to take a test
Look deeper inside the test - what is God trying to show me?
How can this temptation undo me?
How can God help me pass the test?
