Tempted to be in the Spotlight
Heb 2:17-18, Mat 4:1-3, 4 , 5-6, 7, 8-9, 10, 1 Cor 10:13, Mat 4:11, Jam 4:7, Heb 2:18
August 9, 2004
I. In plays the leading actors are always at center stage and supporting actors are usually to the side.
A. The best way for a supporting actor to get in trouble is to try to hug center stage.
B. The same thing is true with Christians if we try to hug center stage we get ourselves in trouble.
C. We’re not the star! Jesus is the star and He has to be the center of all that we do.
D. We all struggle with our own temptations and it is important that we realize what temptation is if we are going to learn how to deal with it.
1. The simplest definition of temptation is, that it is the attempt by satan to get us to be the center of our own lives. Let me say that again temptation is an attempt by satan to get us to be the center of our own lives.
2. Temptation is our attempt to misuse the power that we have been given by God to make choices.
3. When we give in to temptation we attempt try to play God.
E. Think about the temptations that you struggle with, every one involves side stepping God’s laws for what seems like a quicker or easier way to get what we want.
1. The first commandment says " You shall have no other God’s before me,"
2. The other commandments are detailed instructions to show us how to keep from breaking that first spiritual law.
3. We can easily make a false God out of controlling our use of money, sex, family, possessions, and other people.
4. Sin is our attempt to be in control of our own lives, or the lives of others.
F. Temptation is satan’s attempt to get us to stand at center stage with all the spot lights on us and sing "I’ll do it my way".
1. Temptation tries to get us to line up other people and things to support our self centered performance.
II. Satan will try to make us think that we have to hug center stage because he knows the result.
A. For human beings center stage is where the most stress is.
B. When we try to be the center of our lives we put ourselves in a place to have our lives surrounded by loose ends that we can’t get a grip on.
C. We’re not equipped to handle that kind of pressure!
D. How would you like to be put on a Broadway stage to play the leading role in a major play, with no training and knowledge of what the script was?
1. We would all be terrified, and they would have to post guards to keep us out there.
2. So why do we try to stand at center stage of our lives when we have no ability to be there and no idea of where we are going or what is coming next.
E. The temptation to try to get and hold control is nothing more than satan’s distraction to keep us from fulfilling our main purpose in being. Which is to glorify God.
1. And all temptation is nothing more than an attempt to get us to try to be the one in control.
2. If you were tempted to steal, it is nothing more that an attempt to get you to be in control of what you have been given by God instead of letting God be in control.
3. If you were tempted to commit adultery or have sex before marriage it is nothing more that an attempt to be in control and side step God’s plan for life.
4. If you were tempted to lie, cheat or short cut something to get ahead in business it is nothing more that an attempt to get you to take control and shorten God’s plan for your success in life.
5. The same thing can be applied to every sin and every crime committed.
III. The person that wrote Hebrews knew how temptation has to be dealt with.
A. Jesus has been through every temptation that we face in some form.
B. He can understand us and give us what we need to overcome every temptation that we will face in life.
C. Hebrews 2:17-18 gives us some insight into the help that is available to us.
(Heb 2:17-18 NIV) For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
D. Jesus is able to help or aid those who are tempted.
1. I want to take a closer look at that word "help or aid"
2. What does that mean?
3. The Greek word is "Boesthesai". It’s a compound word like our words somewhere and anywhere. Its two words put together to make a different meaning.
4. The two words that make up "Boesthesai" are "boe" and "theo"
5. "Boe" means a cry (like a cry for help.)
6. The word "Theo" means to run.
7. So when it says He is Able to help it means that Jesus will run to our cry for help.
8. In the time that we are tempted if we cry out to God for help He will run to us.
E. The problems that we have sometimes is that we wait until we give in to temptation and them we ask Jesus to help us not do it again.
1. What we should do is ask Him for strength and help before we give in to the temptation.
F. Temptations are satan’s attempts to get us to short cut God’s plan for our lives and try to achieve things in our lives in our own ability.
1. Jesus was faced with the same kinds of attacks from satan.
2. Satan knew Jesus was the Son of God, and he knew if Jesus carried out His mission He would redeem and reconcile the world to God.
3. Satan also knew that if he did that He would create a new race of people who would represent the love of God to the world.
4. And since satan couldn’t stop Jesus from providing salvation for the world and creating that group of people he tries to hinder what God can accomplish through us, by tempting us to try to control our own lives, just like He tempted Jesus.
G. I said before that one of God’s favorite words is surprise, well one of satan’s favorite words is "if". He likes to create doubt about things because he doesn’t have the power to control what God is in control of.
1. If satan can trick us into trying to control our lives, instead letting God control our lives, by making us doubt God, then satan ends up in control.
2. I want to look at a time that Satan tempted Jesus, just like he tempts us so we can know He understands, and to help us understand the temptations that we face.
IV. In Matthew chapter 4 Jesus had been alone in the desert for forty days.
A. Satan came to Him and tempted Him in the same ways that he tempts us.
(Mat 4:1-3 NIV) Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
B. Notice that satan attempted to play on Jesus’ pride and his natural desires.
1. "IF you are the Son of God"
2. That is about the same thing as saying prove it.
C. Satan tried to get Jesus to react to his challenge to Jesus’ position as the Son of God.
1. And he will use our pride to bring us down and to get us to short cut God’s best for us, if we let Him.
2. He says, "If God loves you why is this Happening"
3. "If God is real why can’t He see that a good person like you deserves more than He is giving you?"
4. If God is so loving why when you try to do right does he slap you in the face by not letting things go your way? You should just take things into your own hands and see that your own desires get fulfilled!
D. When we cry out to Jesus for help when we face these temptations Jesus will run to our cry for help because He knows what it is like to be tempted
1. Jesus had not eaten in forty days and satan tried to get Him to misuse His power to short cut God’s plan and fulfill His own desires, just like He does us.
2. Jesus answered Him in Matthew 4:4 (Mat 4:4 NIV) Jesus answered, "It is written: ’Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"
3. Jesus knew that he had been sent to be the bread of life, and He knew that all the good that He could do by creating food for Himself and even for the whole world, wouldn’t save the world.
4. Only being obedient to God and dying on the Cross would accomplish the purpose that God had for Him. And he wouldn’t try to shortcut God’s plan.
E. Well satan lost one round but he had another "if."
(Mat 4:5 - 6 NIV) Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.) "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "’He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’"
1. Again satan challenged Jesus’ position as the Son of God.
2. The peak of the temple in Jerusalem was on the edge of a plateau, and the cliff fell away into the Kidron Valley.
3. There was a drop of about 450 feet to the bottom of the valley.
4. If Jesus had done what satan tempted Him to do, He knew He would have won the respect and following of a lot of people.
5. He would have had great political power that He could have used to accomplish some great things, but that wasn’t God’s plan.
6. Just like He does with us, Satan was trying to get Jesus to short cut God’s plan.
7. The way satan was telling Jesus to do it would have been easier but it would not have saved the world.
8. Jesus answered him in Matthew 4:7 (Mat 4:7 NIV) Jesus answered him, "It is also written: ’Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’"
F. Satan lost round two but He wasn’t finished yet, he had another "if".
1. Next he took Him to a high mountain. Before satan had questioned Jesus’ authority, but now he tried to assert his own.
(Mat 4:8 - 9 NIV) Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
2. Another shortcut to success. Jesus knew that one day every knee would bow to Him, but it would mean dying on a Cross.
3. Satan was trying to get him to take a short cut to success, just like he tries to get people to steal, cheat in business, lie, and try to take things in their own hands to short cut God’s plan for real success in their lives.
4. There are so many ways that satan says "here is an easier, quicker way."
5. You don’t have to wait for and depend on God, He’s just keeping from you the things that you really deserve.
6. Jesus’ answer was pretty short and to the point.
(Mat 4:10 NIV) Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ’Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’"
G. These temptations of Jesus show us three important things.
1. There is nothing that satan can throw at us that Jesus has not been through himself. HE UNDERSTANDS!
2. The one that runs to our cry for help has proven that He has the power to defeat satan in the very things that satan tempts us with.
3. Just as satan tried to get Jesus to side step the cross, all of our temptations are satan’s attempts to get us to by-pass God’s way and accept something less than Jesus died to provide for us.
V. When we exert false pride we are substituting security in ourselves for our security as the people of who have already been given more through the Cross than we could ever deserve or accomplish on our own.
A. When we attempt to grab center stage it is nothing more than an attempt to prove our own worth, when the only real worth can only come through Jesus.
B. When we use the gifts and abilities that God has given us as a substitute for God, we are giving in to satan’s attempts to rob us of the best and trick us into the settling for a substitute.
C. When we fight for control and refuse to let our importance, our security, and our strength in Jesus to be enough, then we allow satan to trick us into pushing Jesus out of first place, and then guess who is standing at center stage. It ain’t us!
D. We spend our energy fighting for instant satisfaction and gratification and let the real need in our lives go un-met, which is closeness in our relationship with God.
E. When we force our way to center stage satan is the only one clapping.
F. That’s why Jesus confronts us about our attempts to hug center stage.
1. He wants to help us see our control habits and cry out for help, because He knows that we can’t do it alone.
2. He knows that satan is always offering us false power and short cuts because He has been there and He knows how to deal with it.
3. Not only has He been through the temptations that we face, and knows all the tricks that satan uses against us, but Jesus has proven that He has the power and authority over satan that will help us win against temptation.
4. Jesus always wins, but we have to cry out for help, when we’re faced with the temptation, and not just ask Him to help us not do it again after we have already given in.
5. But even when we give in, Jesus is still always there to help us.
VI. But the real question is, Why go there to begin with?
A. Paul knew that Jesus had the power to help us overcome temptation.
(1 Cor 10:13 NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
B. I want to go back to Jesus’ being tempted for one more lesson it gives us.
C. After satan had thrown all he had at Jesus, to get Him to short cut God’s plan, and Jesus had stood His ground, I want you to notice what happened.
(Mat 4:11 NIV) Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
D. James put it real simply in James 4:7, (James 4:7 NIV) Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he WILL flee from you.
1. This may be one of the most misquoted verses in the bible....If you watch many preachers on TV you may have heard someone say, "Resist the devil and he will flee"!
2. You see they leave out the first part of the verse, and when we say resist the devil and he must flee, we are just trying to be in control again, because we are trying to put the emphasis on our ability to resist the devil instead of submitting ourselves to God..
3. We have to submit ourselves to God and put ourselves under His control, because without the power and authority of the one who has met satan and all his temptations head on and defeated him, we can’t resist satan.
4. Submit yourselves to God and put yourselves under his control.
5. STOP HUGGING CENTER STAGE!
6. Without Jesus in control there is no power!
(Heb 2:18 NIV) Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help (to run to the cry of) those who are being tempted (with the power and authority to make a difference).
