THREE KEYS TO OVERCOMING TEMPTATION
MATTHEW 4:1-11
I. THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS
A. Why did Jesus face this grueling 40 days temptation in the wilderness?
B. To identify with humanity
-Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
C. To succeed where Adam failed thereby bringing victory over sin to those who believe on Him
-Rom 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
D. To show us how to overcome temptation
II. FACING TEMPTATION
A. We know Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days but nothing is said of what happened
B. We know Jesus was tempted three times after the forty days were finished
C. This account gets down to where we live on a daily basis, every believer faces temptation
D. Jesus reveals three things we need to overcome temptation
II. THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
A. Jesus’ journey into the wilderness was accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit
B. We are foolish to think we can survive in the wilderness on our own
-Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
C. We are tiny, puny and weak when compared with the principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places
D. Facing temptation on our own is like walking down the streets of New York City alone at night, swimming in a piranha infested river, swimming in shark infested waters with a bleeding wound
E. We need somebody with us who scares the devil, who causes him to tremble in fear. That somebody is the Holy Ghost. The same power that kicked him out of heaven will conquer him on earth.
III. THE WORD OF GOD
A. When Jesus was facing temptation He used the Word of God
1-He didn’t try to argue the devil down or reason with Him
2-He didn’t try to impress satan with a great display of power
-satan would have us to believe that we can embrace certain forms of temptation and overcome them
-there are some things the bible says to flee from (fornication, idolatry, love of wealth, youthful lusts)
-don’t try to display your spiritual power by playing with temptation - run from it
3-He didn’t try to shout the devil down
-all the shouting in the world will not overcome satan if we don’t know the Word of God
B. Notice that even after quoting scripture satan kept coming back
C. We erroneously think that if we quote a scripture it will scare the devil to death and he’ll run
D. Notice, satan quoted the scripture back to Jesus
-what do you do when satan gives you a scriptural reason to justify sin?
-“We’ll, since you put it that way satan, I guess it wouldn’t hurt just this one time”
-“You know satan, you do have a good point. I never looked at it that way before”
E. We need to know what the Word of God says but we must realize that quoting scripture is not a secret formula that is going to magically make the devil disappear. He already knows what the bible says
IV. COMMITMENT
A. If there is an area where we fail it is here. Everything hinges on our committment
B. Jesus quoted scripture but it wasn’t His ability to quote scripture that gave Him victory. He quoted scripture to let satan know what He was committed to.
C. Jesus was committed to the obeying the Word of God
D. Many people know the Word, can quote the Word and shout up a storm but are not committed to the Word
-its not the hearers of the Word of God that are justified but the doers of the Word
E. It is our commitment to the Word of God that gives us victory over temptation and sin
1-we can’t go around compromising the Word and expect to walk in victory
2-we must be committed by being submitted - James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
3-Psalm 119:1-11
-the psalmist prays that his heart will be committed to doing what the Word says
-the psalmist hides the Word in his heart, “That he might not sin”
V. CONCLUSION
A. Notice Jesus was tempted three times and in three different ways
-I Jn 2:16 ...all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,...
B. Jesus was tempted in these three areas, Adam and Eve were tempted in these same areas, so will we
C. Temptation in all it’s forms and fashions will fall into these three categories
D. While we are in this wilderness we will face temptation but we can overcome if we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, stay full of the Word of God and remain committed to what it says
