Sermons on Testing In The Wilderness:

"The Baptist's Faith And Message"

Contributed by Clark Tanner on Sep 28, 2009

The condition of hearts in the wilderness determines their readiness to receive

“Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, “THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:1-12

Denomination: Orthodox

The Backside Of The Desert

Contributed by Michael Jakes on Jun 15, 2014

Sometimes the Lord needs to remove us from what we know and expect in order to prepare us for a greater work. This is where the 'backside of the desert' comes in-that strategic and sometimes obscure place where the Lord places us in order to prune us.

'The Backside of the Desert' Exodus 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. I. Moses Story Moses went from humble beginnings to privilege, prestige and ...read more

Denomination: Pentecostal

Claiming Our Canaan Series

Contributed by Pastor David Parla on Oct 1, 2020

We’ve come “Out of Egypt” now into the wilderness. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt is a picture of our salvation. We were slaves, in bondage to sin, the toughest master you’ll ever serve. Now they are at the edge of the Promised Land.

Joshua 1:1-13 INTRO: We’ve come “Out of Egypt” now into the wilderness. The deliverance of Israel from Egypt is a picture of our salvation. We were slaves, in bondage to sin, the toughest master you’ll ever serve. Sin takes us farther than we want to go, keeps us longer than we want to stay, ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-13, Deuteronomy 1:2-3, 1 Corinthians 10:11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

John The Cactus Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Aug 11, 2023

The fulness of time had come…. The “Hope of Nations” the “Messiah” was on His way. The announcement of that longed for event came in quite an unexpected way – the angel who had replaced Lucifer – the angel Gabriel - appeared to an old childless priest:

August 12, 2023 One Sabbath, after church, a mom asked her little girl what the picture she had drawn was supposed to be. It looked like a bunch of brown scribbles surrounding some kind of big green thing. The little girl said, “Well, this is the wilderness, and that’s John the Cactus.” Today, ...read more

Scripture: Isaiah 40:3-5, Luke 1:5-7, Luke 1:68-79, Luke 3:7-9, Luke 7:17-23, Hebrews 12:1-3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Testing Your Christmas With Christian Compliance-2

Contributed by Byron Sherman on Dec 22, 2012

2 0f 2. John supplied his readers with a test for Christian compliance in Jesus’ sonship/humanity/birth. Jesus’ sonship/birth is a test for Christian confession/compliance...But in what way is it tested? Celebrating Jesus’ Birth Tests Our...

TESTING YOUR CHRISTMAS With CHRISTIAN COMPLIANCE-II — 2John :7-11; 1John 2:22-25; 4:14-16; 5:5-13— Attention: Our Christmas celebrations say much about what we really believe. Need: John supplied his readers with a test for Christian compliance in Jesus’ sonship/humanity/birth. Jesus’ ...read more

Scripture: 2 John 1:7-11

Denomination: Baptist

Truths About Temptation

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 28, 2013

Our Lord didn’t ask for the tempting by Satan, but God ordained it, because it would be proof that He was who He said He was. Satan may have thought that he was forcing the issue and that he was the one in charge, but the power and authority of Christ wou

Truths About Temptation Written: 9-26-06 Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11(Good News Bible) Scripture Reading 1 Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. 2 After spending 40 days and nights without food, Jesus was hungry. 3 ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Baptist

Jesus Victory Over Temptation

Contributed by Michael Blitz on Mar 10, 2025

This message looks at the three temptations Jesus faced, why they truly were temptations, and how he overcame them, giving us a path to follow.

Good Morning. How long can you play around with temptations without consequences? Kind of like asking how far over edge of the cliff can I safely lean. Sadly, this year has seen stories about church pastors who have fallen off that cliff and not only destroyed their marriages, but their churches, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Denomination: Anglican

Temptations -- Jesus' And Ours Series

Contributed by Revd Dr Ruwan Palapathwala on Jan 1, 2025

Temptation is our awful struggle not to lose ourselves and our potential to lose ourselves. Temptation also highlights God’s mercy and grace in our lives in the wilderness for forty minutes, hours, days or years.

In today’s Gospel reading, we encounter the most human and common experience: temptation, which Jesus also experienced in a very profound way. The temptations of Jesus are found in all four Gospels. But we are accustomed to thinking that Jesus was tempted three times before his public ministry ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-2, Luke 4:1-13, Mark 1:12-13

Denomination: Episcopal/Anglican

Bread Of Life

Contributed by Richard Futrell on Oct 7, 2010

Jesus is manna for the wilderness.

Intro One month in the wilderness and the Israelites are hungry, without food. That wasn’t in the travel brochure when Moses freed us from the Egyptians. Now our feet are tired and our legs weary. Sand and stones irritate in our sandals. Snakes and scorpions infest the ground we walk. ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:2-15

Denomination: Lutheran

It Wasn't Easy

Contributed by Jerry Pawloski on Mar 4, 2010

Temptation of Christ in the wilderness

It Wasn’t Easy Luke 4:1-13 We are into the season of Lent. It is not a coincidence, that today’s text is about the Temptation of Jesus. In the lectionary calendar, the first Sunday of Lent is always kicked of with the reading of the temptation of Jesus. It is also not a coincidence ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13

Denomination: Methodist

24. David Spares Saul's Life (Again) Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Sep 10, 2025

Some tests in life keep coming back. You thought you had passed them, moved on, and maybe even grown stronger from them, only to wake up and find yourself right back in the same battle.True maturity is not only seen in what we can do, but in what we choose not to do, out of reverence for God.

David Spares Saul’s Life - Again September 10, 2025 Dr. Bradford Reaves Crossway Christian Fellowship 1 Samuel 26 Some tests in life keep coming back. You thought you had passed them, moved on, and maybe even grown stronger from them—only to wake up and find yourself right back in the same ...read more

Denomination: Brethren

They Shall Not Enter Gods Rest

Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Dec 7, 2013

To show that we live a lifestyle of faith receiving GOD's Grace and we don't work anymore to receive it.

I. EXORDIUM: Do you enter GOD's rest? II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: Believers III. OBJECTIVES: To show that we live a lifestyle of faith receiving GOD's Grace and we don't work anymore to receive it. IV. TEXT: Hebrews 3:11 (Amplified Bible) 3:11 Accordingly, I swore in My wrath and indignation, ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 3:11

Denomination: Pentecostal

How Firm A Foundation

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Aug 25, 2022

We should ground our lives in the sure foundation of God's promises in His Word.

How Firm a Foundation Hebrews 13:1-8 In 1787, a man named John Rippon published the hymn: How Firm a Foundation, ”which he attributed to the pen of “K”. who this “K” was is uncertain, although some have been a London minister of music named Robert Keene. As this hymn addresses the certainty of our ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 13:1-8

Denomination: Independent/Bible

What The Jewish Sages Teach!!!

Contributed by Suresh Manoharan on Mar 26, 2015

With Good Friday imminent and our focus turning to Genesis 22, this message encapsulates many startling truths of Jewish tradition including one on Gen 22 which Christians need to know in order they can glorify the Heavenly Father all the more!!!

What the Jewish Sages teach… Its quiz time folks! Tell me what is common to 1 Cor 10:4, Jude 1:9 and Jude 1:14? Well, they are accounts from Jewish Tradition, which we may not find in the corresponding Books of Exodus or Deuteronomy ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:4

Denomination: *other

The 7 Tests In Which We Must Be Victorious - Refining : The Purpose Of Trials And Tribulations

Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Feb 21, 2005

THIS SERMON IS ABOUT THE REFINING PURPOSE OF TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS IN OUR LIVES AND THE 7 AREAS OF TESTING NAMELY THE TEST OF 1. LOVE 2. FAITH 3. OBEDIENCE 4. SACRIFICE 5. HUMILITY. 6. ENDURANCE 7. PATIENCE

7 TESTS IN WHICH WE MUST BE VICTORIOUS REFINING - THE PURPOSE OF TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OUTLINE 1. THE TEST OF LOVE 2. THE TEST OF FAITH 3. THE TEST OF OBEDIENCE 4. THE TEST OF SACRIFICE 5. THE TEST OF HUMILITY. 6. THE TEST OF ENDURANCE 7. THE TEST OF PATIENCE 1 Corinthians 10 : ...read more

Scripture: Job 23:10

Denomination: Pentecostal