Transcript Tempted and Tried - Searcher’s Class

Tempted and Tried
Vacation Bible School
Luke 4:1-13
Song:
• Tempted and tried, we’re oft made to
wonder, why it should be thus, all the day
long.
• Have you ever been tempted to do
something that you knew was wrong?
• What excuses do you use to think it will
be OK?
Temptations
• How do you feel when you know your
being tempted?
• What are some ways you fight these
temptations?
• Where do temptations come from?
– Satan
– Mean, wicked people
– Internal, our mind, fleshly lusts
– External, the world, movies, TV
Temptations
• Text – Luke 4:1-13
• The Temptations of Jesus
• We are tempted in the same three ways
that Jesus was tempted
• Temptations often come when we reach a
new high point in life – marriage, baptism,
graduate, promotion, etc.
• Temptation finds us when we are
vulnerable
Temptations
• Jesus was introduced as the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of the world
• He was baptized of John in Jordan
• God declared that He was well pleased with
His Son
• Jesus is preparing to begin 3 years of
ministry
DESIRE
• Luke 4:2 - being tempted for forty days
by the devil. And in those days He ate
nothing, and afterward, when they had
ended, He was hungry.
• That is an understatement!
• How long have you gone without eating?
• Man on crane in Atlanta – 3 days
DESIRE
• Question: What would be wrong with this
temptation?
• IF you are the Son of God – casting doubt
about his person and mission
• Later Jesus turned water into wine, fed
4,000, 5,000, caught boats of fish
• What is the harm in turning a stone into a
loaf of bread?
DESIRE
• Jesus Answers: IT IS WRITTEN
• Deuteronomy 8:2-3 - 2And you shall remember that
the LORD your God led you all the way these forty
years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to
know what was in your heart, whether you would keep
His commandments or not. 3So He humbled you,
allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which
you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He
might make you know that man shall not live by bread
alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from
the mouth of the LORD.
DESIRE
• God wanted His people to depend on Him
• We must learn that God is the source of
everything – physical and spiritual
• We must NOT depend on our own power
• We need God – Don’t forget that lesson.
• Jesus decided to submit to the Father
DESIRE
• “The greatest enemy of hunger for God is
not poison but apple pie. It is not the
banquet of the wicked that dulls our
appetite for heaven but endless nibbling at
the table of the world. It is not the X-rated
video, but the prime-time dribble of
triviality we drink every night.”
DESIRE
• “The most deadly appetites are not for the
poison of evil, but for the simple pleasures
of earth. For when these replace an
appetite for God himself, the idolatry is
scarcely recognizable, and almost
incurable.” A Hunger for God, John Piper
• The devil attacks at our weakest point
DECEPTION
• Luke 4:5-7 – 5 Then the devil, taking Him
up on a high mountain, showed Him all
the kingdoms of the world in a moment of
time. 6And the devil said to Him, “All this
authority I will give You, and their glory;
for this has been delivered to me, and I
give it to whomever I wish. 7Therefore, if
You will worship before me, all will be
Yours.”
DECEPTION
• Shortcut to kingship – Worship me, I will
give you the world
• Gain without the pain
• Jesus already knows what lies ahead –
rejection, betrayal, denial, persecution,
loneliness, humiliation, agony, desolation,
death on the cross
DECEPTION
• What if we could by-pass all that and reach
the same goal?
• In life – there is no shortcut
• Many of our temptations come because
we want the shortcut
– Lose weight and eat all you want to!
– Tone your muscles without exercise!
DECEPTION
• Junk email – called “spam”
• “Diplomas from non-accredited
universities. No tests, classes, books.
Bachelors, masters, MBA, and doctorate
diplomas available. No one is turned
down.”
• “Become a legally ordained minister in 48
hours.”
DECEPTION
• Such offers are counterfeit, worthless
• There is no shortcut
• Satan can’t deliver what he promises
• Jesus answers – Deuteronomy 6:13 - You
shall fear the LORD your God and serve
Him, and shall take oaths in His name.
DOUBT
• IF – Twice Satan seeks to cast doubt in
Jesus’ mind
• Do you really believe the promises of God?
• Satan quotes Scripture –
• Psalm 91:11-12 – 11 For He shall give His
angels charge over you, To keep you in all
your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear
you up, Lest you dash your foot against a
stone.
DOUBT
• Satan asks:
– Did God really say He would protect you?
– Will He protect you like He promised?
– With Eve – Did God really say - - ?
• Scripture can be twisted out of context
• God does not promise to protect you
from stupidity
• Protect does not mean no harm ever
DOUBT
• Jesus responds – Deuteronomy 6:16 - “You
shall not tempt the LORD your God as you
tempted Him in Massah.
• Don’t test God
• We must refuse to test God
• Trust Him; Don’t test Him
JESUS UNDERSTANDS
• Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a High
Priest who cannot sympathize with our
weaknesses, but was in all points tempted
as we are, yet without sin.
• Each temptation hits a common weakness
in all of us
JESUS UNDERSTANDS
• Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a
High Priest who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses, but was in all
points tempted as we are, yet without
sin.
• Each temptation hits a common
weakness in all of us
JESUS UNDERSTANDS
1. Stones into bread – physical over
spiritual
2. Kingdoms of the world – instant
gratification, wealth, fame, power
3. Jump off temple – test God
Hebrews 2:18 - For in that He Himself
has suffered, being tempted, He is
able to aid those who are tempted.
We have what we need
• EVERYTHING AVAILABLE TO
JESUS TO HELP HIM OVERCOME
TEMPTATION, WE HAVE TODAY!
• Jesus knew the Word
– When tempted – Quote Scripture
– Can you quote a verse from the Bible?
We have what we need
• Jesus submitted to the Will of God
– Each answer was “It is written”
– God’s answer is my answer
• Attuned to the Spirit – Luke 4:1
• Attentive to the Word – Luke 4:4, 8,
12
• Attended by angels – Matthew 4:11
If there is time left • THE OTHER “TEMPTATION”
• Tempt – entice to do evil
• James 1:13 - Let no one say when he
is tempted, “I am tempted by God”;
for God cannot be tempted by evil,
nor does He Himself tempt anyone.
If there is time left • Tempt – test, try, suffer, persecuted
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has
overtaken you except such as is common
to man; but God is faithful, who will not
allow you to be tempted beyond what
you are able, but with the temptation will
also make the way of escape, that you
may be able to bear it.
If there is time left • When trials come to test your faith:
–
–
–
–
–
Rejoice – James 1:2
Know – your faith will be stronger
Endure – James 1:13; Romans 5:3-4
Ask – Seek God’s wisdom, James 1:5-6
Develop patience – James 5:7-8