The bible says that Jesus fasted and was tempted for 40 days in the desert by satan. Satan tempted him with all kinds of rewards if He would just bow down to him and worship him. We are tempted every day by the evils of this world. Jesus was asked to use His Father’s power to His advantage. Jesus was promised everything on earth. Satan even used the bible against Him. One of the main problems though is that he either misquoted or took things out of context. As children of God we will never be tempted beyond what we can bear, but God will give us a way out.
Let us pray
Luke 1:1-14
1. And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2. Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 5. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed 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. 8. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 9. 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. 12. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 13. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. 14. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
I. Verse 1 tell us He went to the wilderness
A. Some translations say desert
1. The term applies to the regions of the earth characterized by less than 10" of annual rainfall.
2. Daytime temperatures can be 55C(131F) in the shade dropping to freezing at night as the desert floor radiates the heat back to the atmosphere.
3. They are barren, arid places with no noticeable vegetation or water supply.
B. The desert played a big part in many places of the bible
1. The children of Israel wandered for 38 years.
2. Elijah fled from Jezebel to the desert.
3. Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert.
C. Many time in life we go through barren places seem dry and lifeless
D. No growth or things in sight
E. There are times during temptation God’s gives a way out and test our faith
1. Exodus 15:25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,
2. Their way out was simply faith
a. Deuteronomy 1:32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God,
II. Verse 2 tells how Jesus fasted for 40 days and forty nights
A. Fasting causes us to weaken in the flesh and lean not on our own strength but on God
B. Exodus 34:28 And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.
1. When they had ended he was hungry
2. He was weakened
a. Just as we are weakened when we do not have God’s word
b. The power of God’s word is our strength against temptation
III. Verse 3 talks about turning the stone into bread
A. Verse 4 Jesus countered with man not live on bread alone
1. Deuteronomy 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
a. The word of God is our strength
b. The word of God is our direction
c. The word of God is light in the dark
IV. Verse 5-7 Took Jesus up to a pinnacle to view all the kingdoms (Read)
A. A view of the inhabited earth
B. Satan claimed this was his kingdom and belonged to him
1. 1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.
2. Satan controls this earth
3. He is in control of the wickedness and physical things
C. Verse 8 (Read)
1. Deuteronomy 6:13 Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
a. Psalms 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling
b. Psalms 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
c. Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
V. Verse 9-12 (Read)
A. Psalms 91:11-12 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
B. Deuteronomy 6:16 "You shall not tempt the LORD your God as you tempted Him in Massah.
C. Why would we tempt a God that cares so much and provides for all our needs.
1. Maybe our lack of faith get in the way
2. Maybe our doubts of our own sufficiency
a. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
3. Maybe we are just not sold out to God after all
VI. Verse 13 (Read)
A. Opportune time
B. For a season (not forever or a long time)
1. Satan will always be around during our weakest time
2. Opportune time
a. During out time of need
b. During our time of greed
c. During our time of loneliness
C. When is your weakest time?
1. Television
2. Walking past a liquor store
3. Lady wearing revealing clothing
4. Needs
a. Need to pay a bill
b. Need to be like others
5. Wants
a. Want to be like the "in group"
b. Want to have what others have
c. Want to impress some body
6. Lonliness
a. God will never leave or forsake you.
1. Hebrews 13: 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Let us close in prayer.
