Tempted
Luke 4:1-15
INTRODUCTION: TEMPTATION IS A SLEEPLESS UNWEARYING ENEMY. THOUSANDS OS SEEMINGLY STRONG MEN AND WOMEN HAVE BEEN WRECKED ON THE HILLS OF WHAT THEY CONSIDERED TO BE IMPROBABLE IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TEMPTATION. NO PERSON WHO HAS EVER LIVED HAS BEEN OR IS IMMUNE FROM TEMPTATION ? NOT EVEN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. IN THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS, WE SEE THAT TEMPTATION KNOWS NO BOUNDS AND FOLLOWS COMMON AVENUES. AS WE CONSIDER THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST, WE SHOULD FIRST NOTE THE PURPOSE OF HIS TEMPTATION, SECOND THE AVENUES OF TEMPTATION, AND THIRD THE RESULTS OF HIS TEMPTATION.
I. THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST?S TEMPTATION
LUKE 4:1-2A "AND JESUS BEING FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST RETURNED FROM JORDAN, AND WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS, BEING FORTY DAYS TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL...?
A. IT WAS PART OF THE PLAN OF GOD
1. JESUS WAS LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO FACE FORTY DAYS OF TEMPTATION FROM THE ENEMY OF OUR SOULS.
2. IT IS AS THOUGH GOD WHISKED CHRIST AWAY FROM HIS BAPTISM WHERE THE DIVINE VOICE UTTERED ? THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.? TO THE PLACE OF TEMPTATION AND PRESENTS HIM BEFORE SATAN AS GOD?S CHAMPION WHO WOULD DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL. WITH ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE GOD IN EFFECT SAYS, ?THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, PUT FORTH YOUR HAND AND TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT.?
3. GOD ALLOWED CHRIST TO BE TEMPTED FOR THREE REASONS
a. TO LEARN OBEDIENCE ? HEBREWS 5:8 ?Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.?
b. TO SECURE RIGHTEOUSNESS ? II CORINTHIANS 5:21 ?For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.?
c. TO EXPERIENCE THE INFIRMITIES OF MAN ? HEBREWS 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.?
B. IT WAS THE DEVICE OF SATAN
1. SATAN SOUGHT TO DISCREDIT CHRIST.
2. SATAN SOUGHT TO THWART THE PLAN OF GOD
3. SATAN SOUGHT TO SHORT CIRCUIT CALVARY
II. THE AVENUES OF CHRIST?S TEMPTATION
1 JOHN 2:16 "FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, AND THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD."
EVERY TEMPTATION FALLS INTO ONE OF THESE THREE AVENUES. THE TEMPTATION OF CHRIST WAS NO EXCEPTION.
A. THE LUST OF THE FLESH
LUKE 4:3 "AND THE DEVIL SAID UNTO HIM, IF (SINCE) THOU BE THE SON OF GOD, COMMAND THIS STONE THAT IT BE MADE BREAD."
1. THE FLESH HAS TO DO WITH FEELING, TOUCHING, TASTING, SMELLING, HEARING, AND SEEING.
2. SATAN TEMPTED CHRIST TO MISUSE HIS POWER TO MEET THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE INDEPENDENTLY OF GOD, THE FATHER AND HIS WILL.
3. THE SAME TEMPTATION THAT WAS PRESENTED TO ADAM AND EVE IN THE GARDEN. GENESIS 3:6 "AND WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD, AND THAT IT WAS PLEASANT TO THE EYES, AND A TREE TO BE DESIRED TO MAKE ONE WISE, SHE TOOK OF THE FRUIT THEREOF, AND DID EAT, AND GAVE ALSO UNTO HER HUSBAND WITH HER; AND HE DID EAT."
4. NOT THE ONLY TREE THAT WAS GOOD FOR FOOD. NOTE GENESIS 2:9 "AND OUT OF THE GROUND MADE THE LORD GOD TO GROW EVERY TREE THAT IS PLEASANT TO THE SIGHT, AND GOOD FOR FOOD; THE TREE OF LIFE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN, AND THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL."
5. EUGENE PETERSON IN LEADERSHIP ? EVERY TEMPTATION THAT COMES TO ME IS PACKAGED AS A GOOD.
6. MATTHEW 6:33 "BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU."
B. THE LUST OF THE EYES
LUKE 4:5-7 "AND THE DEVIL, TAKING HIM UP INTO AN HIGH MOUNTAIN, SHOWED UNTO HIM ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD IN A MOMENT OF TIME. [6] AND THE DEVIL SAID UNTO HIM, ALL THIS POWER WILL I GIVE THEE, AND THE GLORY OF THEM: FOR THAT IS DELIVERED UNTO ME; AND TO WHOMSOEVER I WILL I GIVE IT. [7] IF THOU THEREFORE WILT WORSHIP ME, ALL SHALL BE THINE."
1. HAVING TO DO WITH SEEING AND WANTING TO HAVE WHAT ONE SEES.
2. JOHN 14:30 "HEREAFTER I WILL NOT TALK MUCH WITH YOU: FOR THE PRINCE OF THIS WORLD COMETH, AND HATH NOTHING IN ME."
3. OFFERED CHRIST A SHORTCUT TO THE KINGDOM ? THE CROWN WITHOUT THE CROSS.
4. 1 PETER 1:20 "WHO VERILY WAS FOREORDAINED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD....? REVELATION 13:8 ".... THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD."
5. THE ENTICEMENT FOR SELF-GRATIFICATION OUTSIDE THE WILL OF GOD.
6. GENESIS 3:6 "AND WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD, AND THAT IT WAS PLEASANT TO THE EYES, AND A TREE TO BE DESIRED TO MAKE ONE WISE, SHE TOOK OF THE FRUIT THEREOF, AND DID EAT, AND GAVE ALSO UNTO HER HUSBAND WITH HER; AND HE DID EAT."
C. THE PRIDE OF LIFE
LUKE 4:9-11 "AND HE BROUGHT HIM TO JERUSALEM, AND SET HIM ON A PINNACLE OF THE TEMPLE, AND SAID UNTO HIM, IF THOU BE THE SON OF GOD, CAST THYSELF DOWN FROM HENCE. [10] FOR IT IS WRITTEN, HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER THEE, TO KEEP THEE: [11] AND IN THEIR HANDS THEY SHALL BEAR THEE UP, LEST AT ANY TIME THOU DASH THY FOOT AGAINST A STONE."
1. PRIDE IS SELF-CENTEREDNESS AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY.
2. PSALMS 91:11-12 "FOR HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER THEE, TO KEEP THEE IN ALL THY WAYS. [12] THEY SHALL BEAR THEE UP IN THEIR HANDS, LEST THOU DASH THY FOOT AGAINST A STONE."
3. PROVE YOUR DEITY BY THE SPECTACULAR.
4. SHORTCUT ? THE WORSHIPPERS AT THE TEMPLE SEEING SUCH A SPECTACULAR WOULD CERTAINLY ACCEPT HIM AND PROCLAIM HIM AS THE MESSIAH.
5. IF JESUS HAD JUMPED FROM THE PINNACLE OF THE TEMPLE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ULTIMATE PUBLICITY STUNT. HOWEVER, THAT WAS NOT THE WAY GOD INTENDED TO USHER THE KINGDOM IN.
6. GENESIS 3:6 "AND WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD, AND THAT IT WAS PLEASANT TO THE EYES, AND A TREE TO BE DESIRED TO MAKE ONE WISE, SHE TOOK OF THE FRUIT THEREOF, AND DID EAT, AND GAVE ALSO UNTO HER HUSBAND WITH HER; AND HE DID EAT."
7. VANCE HAVNER IN ON THIS ROCK I STAND ? OF ALL THE ILLUSIONS, FANTASIES, AND FARCES OF HUMAN HISTORY, THE BIGGEST MIRAGE OF ALL IS WHAT WE CALL PROGRESS. JUST BECAUSE WE SPLIT THE ATOM AND ARE BACK FROM THE MOON, WE HAVE GIVEN GOD HIS WALKING PAPERS. WE HAVE DECIDED WE CAN WORK OUT OUR OWN SALVATION, AND THAT SCIENCE HAS THE ANSWER TO SIN.
III. THE RESULTS OF CHRIST?S TEMPTATION
HEBREWS 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."
A. POWER
1. LUKE 4:14 "AND JESUS RETURNED IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT INTO GALILEE...."
2. THE SCRIPTURES GIVE A REPORT FROM THE BATTLEFIELD OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN CHRIST AND SATAN. THE NEWS IS THAT FOR THE WHOLE OF HUMANKIND JESUS CHRIST HAS WON THE VICTORY OVER SIN AND SATAN, PROVIDING US WITH VICTORY POWER THROUGH HIM.
3. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:57 "BUT THANKS BE TO GOD, WHICH GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST."
4. 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 "THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN. BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE; BUT WILL WITH THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT."
B. EXHALTATION
1. LUKE 4:14 ".... AND THERE WENT OUT A FAME OF HIM THROUGH ALL THE REGION ROUND ABOUT."
2. JAMES 1:12 "BLESSED IS THE MAN THAT ENDURES TEMPTATION: FOR WHEN HE IS TRIED, HE SHALL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE, WHICH THE LORD HATH PROMISED TO THEM THAT LOVE HIM."
3. JOB 23:10 "BUT HE KNOWS THE WAY THAT I TAKE. WHEN HE HATH TRIED ME, I SHALL COME FORTH AS GOLD."
C. ACCEPTANCE (ACCEPTED BY GOD AS A FIT SUBSTITUTIONARY SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF MANKIND)
1. LUKE 4:15 " AND HE TAUGHT IN THEIR SYNAGOGUES, BEING GLORIFIED OF ALL."
2. JOHN 8:29 "AND HE THAT SENT ME IS WITH ME: THE FATHER HATH NOT LEFT ME ALONE; FOR I DO ALWAYS THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASE HIM."
3. 1 PETER 1:18-19 "FOR AS MUCH AS YE KNOW THAT YE WERE NOT REDEEMED WITH CORRUPTIBLE THINGS, AS SILVER AND GOLD, FROM YOUR VAIN CONVERSATION RECEIVED BY TRADITION FROM YOUR FATHERS; [19] BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, AS OF A LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH AND WITHOUT SPOT:"
