Tempted

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."