Whatever It Takes (#2) Series

“WHATEVER IT TAKES” Luke 4:38-44

INTRO – WWJD – extremely popular a few years ago. Bracelets, t-shirts, bumper stickers – all sorts of things with these letters on them. Had one of these on when on a youth mission trip once. Went into a fast food restaurant. Teenage girl waiting on me saw it and asked what it meant. Thought I would take this opportunity to witness to her. So I asked her what she thought. Her response: “Why would Jesus die?” Whole new perspective for me! Gave her my bracelet!

Of course, most popular interpretation of WWJD – “What would Jesus do?” As we continue in this month of considering “Whatever it takes,” we can definitely agree that in asking “What would Jesus do,” He would have a “WIT” attitude and heart. There’s no doubt that this is how He lived His life and how He conducted His ministry. He led others to consider WIT for their own lives. His calling of His disciples was a call to them to do WIT to come and follow Him.

• Luke 5 – Called Simon Peter and Andrew to follow Him and He would make them fishers of men. “So they pulled their boats up on the shore, left everything, and followed Him.” – v. 11

• Matt. 4 – Called James and John to follow Him. “Immediately they left their boat and their father and followed Him.” – v. 22

• Luke 5 – Called Levi (Matthew) – “Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him.” – v. 28

Why would these guys leave everything and follow Jesus as they did? Why would they sacrifice it all for Him? Why would they end up becoming martyrs, dying for their faith and commitment to Christ and the Gospel? B/c Jesus had a WIT heart that shaped everything He said and did. He modeled it for them every moment of every day. And in the greatest display of WIT love the world has ever seen, He died for them on the cross.

Jesus definitely had a WIT heart. And the call is for us to follow Him and have that same heart. He faced and overcame obstacles that could have derailed His WIT commitment. You and I will face some of these same obstacles. We can overcome them w/ His help and strength. What are these obstacles?

I. TEMPTATION – v. 1-13

A. Mark it down. Make a serious commitment to follow Christ w/ a WIT heart, and the temptations will come.

a. Henry Snowden pulled in to the drive-up window at the Burger King in Deltona, Florida. He ordered, paid for his meal, and eased away from the window. When he finally pulled over to eat, he got the shock of his life.

There was nothing wrong with his burger or fries. His drink was cold and good. But the clerk working at the window had shoved two bags out the window at the 31-year-old man. Snowden discovered $4,170 in the second bag. And you thought it was another fast-food franchise that dispensed "happy meals," didn’t you! What happened was a mistake by a store employee and a challenge to Henry Snowden’s character.

The particular Burger King in question puts its day’s receipts in one of the same bags it uses for food orders. The idea is to have an inconspicuous burger bag rather than an inviting bank deposit bag sitting there in case of a robbery attempt. But the clerk working the window that fateful day mistakenly reached over and picked up both Snowden’s bag and the deposit bag a store manager had just plopped down.

What was the response when Snowden opened the second bag and found all the money? He knew that taking it back to the restaurant would be the right thing to do. "But I’ve got to admit I was definitely tempted!" he said. So he returned the money Saturday morning. "I’m glad I was able to do the right thing," he said. "And I feel better than I’ve ever felt." A good conscience will do that for a person!

B. Your temptation might not be like Henry Snowden’s, but the attacks will come when you have made a significant spiritual decision.

a. News reports this week that UBL and Al-Qaeda forces are regrouping and planning new attacks.

b. I’ve got some other news for you – Satan and his terror networks are planning new attacks on you and me.

i. 46 people signed WIT response forms last week.

ii. Ladies that went to Beth Moore conference this weekend.

iii. Others who have made some sort of significant spiritual decision.

C. Jesus just baptized. Beginning His earthly ministry – 3:21-23a. First thing that happened after that? Encountered Satan. Endured 40 days of temptation.

a. Satan tempted Jesus to doubt His Father’s love for Him since He was so hungry.