Well, good morning everyone and let me add my welcome to Graham's. My name is Alistair.
I have the privilege of being the Assistant Pastor of Brunsfield Evangelical Church
and the privilege of walking us through a wonderful passage of Scripture this morning.
But before we turn to God's Word, let's bow our heads and pray together.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for the age in which we live where you've given us the technology
to make this service possible, where we can get the Word of God into people's houses
despite social isolation and despite distancing.
Father, we pray that as we turn to your Word this morning, that you would still our hearts.
And Father, we pray that the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts
would be pleasing to you, our Rock and our Redeemer.
In Jesus' name, we pray these things. Amen.
How do you respond to temptation?
I recently saw a social experiment video where children were in a room
and on a table in front of them was a bar of chocolate.
And they were instructed not to touch the bar of chocolate just for 10 more minutes.
And if they did, they would receive an additional bar of chocolate to eat.
10 minutes of restraint.
10 minutes of minor temptation.
11 minutes of vacation.
12 minutes of invitation.
14 minutes of abortion.
14 minutes of temptation.
15 minutes of meditation.
16 minutes of meditation.
16 minutes of temptation.
But the majority of children didn't last and just died straight in to the chocolate bar.
Now, why?
Well, because we can't last long in our own strength in the face of temptation.
now it's all good and well to watch those funny videos and laugh but
on a more serious note every single one of us faces temptation every single day don't we
it could be that we're tempted during this time of uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus
to get caught up in the the gossip and the bad news and to spiral into a pit of despair
instead of focusing on our great God who is unchanging who is faithful and who is loving
or maybe we're tempted to ignore everything the government and medical experts are telling us
and instead we start speaking badly and thinking badly of those God has put over us
at our own risk and to the risk of others or maybe it's once you've reached day three of your isolation
you might be tempted to lose your temper your fuse gets just that little bit shorter
you lash out at the children because they aren't listening or if you're a child maybe you're tempted
to annoy your parents a little bit more just for some fun we are surrounded by temptation day to day
and it isn't always the most obvious things in the world either it could be that hidden sin that no one
knows about but that eats you up from the inside out every single time and you just can't stop
temptation is all around and we fight it every single day and the passage we're going to look at this
morning is all about temptation but it's not about our temptation it's about the temptation of our Lord
Jesus Christ and the reality is that the opposite of temptation for the Christian is obedience to God
so if you're obeying God in a specific with a specific thing or in a specific area
you can't then be tempted at the same time with that thing obedience is key to temptation
temptation this morning we will see how Jesus too faced the most severe temptations
but most importantly we will see how Jesus stood firm in his perfect obedience to the will of his father
temptation is all around us and we so easily succumb to it
this is part of our fallen nature part of the sin that has dwelt in the hearts of mankind since
Genesis 3 but this morning we're going to see why it is so important that Jesus was tempted
how his temptation can help us and most importantly why it is so important that though he was tempted
he remained sinless so turn with me if you will to Luke chapter 4 and we'll start reading
at verse 1 through to verse 13 Luke chapter 4 verse 1 says this
Jesus full of the Holy Spirit left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
where for 40 days he was tempted by the devil he ate nothing during those days and at the end
of them he was hungry the devil said to him if you were the son of God
tell this stone to become bread
Jesus answered it is written man shall not live on bread alone
the devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world
and he said to him I will give you all their authority and splendor it has been given to me
and I can give it to anyone I want to if you worship me it will all be yours
Jesus answered it is written worship the Lord your God and serve him only
the devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple
if you are the son of God he said throw yourself down from here
for it is written he will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully
they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone
Jesus answered it is said do not put the Lord your God to the test
when the devil had finished all this tempting he left him until an opportune time
that is the Lord's word
now there are two things that we need to be sure of as we come to a passage like this
we need to see that this temptation is ordained by God
but it is not God who tempts Jesus
so look with me at verse 1
it says Jesus full of the Holy Spirit left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness
Satan is the one trying to entice Jesus to sin
Satan is the voice trying to sow doubt and disobedience in Jesus' mind
God is not doing the tempting but God has taken Jesus to the place where he will be tempted
remember how in the book of Genesis that we've been studying together
we were thinking about how Adam was tempted and yet he failed
well Jesus in the New Testament is described as the second Adam
therefore the temptation of Jesus is important because all of it is God's will
God's will was for Jesus to be tempted
but not be overcome by it
he is the second Adam who came to save us from the sin
which originated with Adam and Eve in Genesis chapter 3
and the second thing that we need to remember is that Jesus is both fully God and fully man
this passage is not here so that we can know how to face our temptations today
but this passage is here to show us the perfect obedience of the Son of God
in this passage Jesus God in the flesh is tempted
and his allegiance to God the Father
and his obedience to the will of the Father is put to the test
but he did what we never could
he remained obedient
this is an important message
because if Jesus did not stand firm
in his obedience to the will of the Father
then forgiveness through the death of Jesus
would not be possible for anyone today
if Jesus would have sinned
then he could not be our great high priest
or the sacrificial lamb
who takes away the sins of the world
so please keep Luke chapter 4 open in front of you
and follow along with me in the passage
as we see Jesus' perfect obedience to the Father
so the first temptation that we see is in verse 3
Jesus has just been baptized in the river Jordan
in that wonderful scene
where he identifies with mankind
and God identifies Jesus as his Son
so if you look over the page with me
to Luke chapter 3 verse 22
God speaks and says about Jesus
you are my Son
with whom I love
with you I am well pleased
and it's from there
that Jesus was led by the Spirit of God
into the wilderness
where he fasted for 40 days
can you imagine
how hungry
and weak Jesus was at this point
we have no idea
the kind of hunger that Jesus must have felt
he hasn't just
skipped breakfast
or skipped lunch
so that his tummy would be rumbling a little bit
he would be absolutely starving
because no food has passed his lips
for just under six weeks
and so Satan takes the opportunity
and comes in in verse 3
and tempts Jesus by saying
if you are the Son of God
tell this stone to become bread
if you're anything like me
then you're already hungry after a few hours
never mind 40 days
and if I was in Jesus' position
I wouldn't be tempted
to turn a few stones into bread
I'd be tempted to turn them
into a whole bakery
at first glance
verse of verse 3
we can think that Satan
is trying to sow doubt
in Jesus' mind
of his identity
it seems that Satan
is contradicting
what God has just said
in chapter 3
Satan says
if you are the Son of God
but a more accurate translation
of the word if
would actually be since
and so the verse reads
since you are the Son of God
Satan is saying
Jesus you are the Son of God
you have rights
you don't need to go hungry
you have every right
to change these stones into bread
and look after yourself
so if temptation
is the appeal to do something
that's morally wrong
what's so wrong
about Jesus
turning rocks into bread
later on in his ministry
he would multiply bread
and feed thousands of people
but it's the heart behind it
that would be wrong
Satan isn't saying this
out of a genuine concern
for Jesus
he is tempting Jesus
with the subtle message
Jesus you can do it yourself
forget about God
for a second
you don't need God the Father
you can do it yourself
now we're not Jesus
and we're not going to be tempted
to turn stones to bread
because that's impossible for us
yet aren't we tempted
to rely on our own strengths
or to think that as Christians
as children of God
that we should be free
from the pains
and struggles
of this life
sin and temptation
are constantly pulling
at our thoughts
constantly trying
to distract us
with the desires
of the flesh
constantly trying
to draw our attention
away from God
from his goodness
from his plan
and instead focus
on ourselves
focus on our own means
we're tempted to think
that we can do it
on our own
to rely on our jobs
our money
our influence
our social standing
we're tempted
to rely on everything else
in this world
but God
but the reality is
that we are called
to live in accordance
with the word of God
to submit to
and obey the Father
so Satan was trying
to trip Jesus up
and get him
to disobey the Father
he wanted Jesus
to take matters
into his own hands
but thankfully
Jesus stood firm
and he responds
to Satan
in verse 4
read with me
it is written
man shall not live
on bread alone
now do you see
how Jesus
doesn't just say
no and walk away
but he resists
the temptation
by quoting
from God's word
and he does the same
in all three temptations
Jesus quotes here
from Deuteronomy 8
verse 3
which recounts
the time
when Israel
was wandering
in the wilderness
for 40 years
Israel's time
of testing
during those years
how did the Israelites
have food
well the Lord
miraculously
and wonderfully
provided for his people
the Israelites
didn't plant crops
they didn't provide
for themselves
they needed to trust
in the Lord God
to trust in his provision
because if God
didn't provide
then
they were doomed
to die
of hunger
in the wilderness
so Jesus here
is saying
God is good
God is faithful
God will provide
history proves it
the Lord continues
to provide
physically
for his people
but he also
provides spiritually
through his word
Satan's goal
is to distract
Jesus
from his God
ordained task
on earth
but Jesus resists
by quoting scripture
and trusting
in God
even when
he is weak
and hungry
now it's important
to note
that even now
in the midst
of this temptation
Jesus is fulfilling
the will of God
remember
verse 1
it was
the spirit of God
who led Jesus
into the wilderness
friends
we need to know
this
we need to know
that we can be
walking in the
perfect will
of God
walking obediently
and trials
and temptations
will still come
our way
even in those
times
we are not
immune to the
attempts of Satan
to draw our
attention away
from God
and the goodness
of the gospel
and yet
we know
that he is a
defeated
foe
and standing
with us
in our deepest
in our darkest
times of temptations
is the Lord
Jesus Christ
who through
his spirit
enables us
to deny
ourselves
and follow
him
obediently
Satan
will try
to sow
seeds
of lies
in your
minds
getting you
to question
God's goodness
God's provision
getting you
to doubt
God's good
will
and getting
you to rely
on your own
means
but they're
all lies
God
from the
very beginning
of time
has proven
himself
to be
faithful
trustworthy
dependable
God
provided
miraculously
for his
rebellious
people
in the
wilderness
for 40
years
and today
we know
that God
provides
because he
has given
us the
greatest
provision
of all
by sending
his son
to deal
with the
effect of
Genesis
chapter 3
Satan
said to
Adam and
Eve
take and
eat
and sin
entered the
world
through their
rebellion
Satan
said to
Jesus
take and
eat
and yet
he stood
firm
trusting
in our
heavenly
father
but he
did go
on to
taste
poverty
and death
so that
those words
take and
eat
have now
become
symbols
of our
great
salvation
through
his
death
and
through
his
resurrection
Jesus
is the
second
Adam
who
stood
firm
in the
face
of
temptation
that
is why
the
author
of
Hebrews
can
say
in
Hebrews
chapter
4
verses
14
to
15
forward
Jesus the son of God let us hold fast our confession for we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses but one who is able one who in every respect
has been tempted as we are yet without sin friends when you are tempted take courage in the fact that
your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ knows your struggle he has walked the path before you
and he promises to be with you the second temptation is in verses 5 to 7 it says this
follow along with me the devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the
kingdoms of the world and he said to him I will give you all their authority and splendor it has
been given to me so I and I can give it to anyone I want to Satan is tempting Jesus with power and
authority and shows him all of the kingdoms of the world and offers all of their power and influence
to him so you can imagine the scene Jesus can see all of the ancient equivalents of Washington DC
New York London Brussels Tokyo Beijing Sydney Paris and all the other influential cities in our world today
laid out before Jesus and Satan stands there with a grin on his face and says it's all yours Jesus
it's all yours for the taking but there's a catch verse 7 Satan says if you worship me
it will all be yours do you see Satan's devious plan he's trying to get the son of God the creator and
sustainer of this world to bow down and worship him a created being Satan the lesser one is wanting
Jesus to bow down to him but is this really something that Satan can offer Jesus has it all really been given
to Satan we're tempted to think that is the case when we read passages like Ephesians chapter 2 verse 2
where Satan's described as the prince of the power of the air or passages like 1st John 5 19
that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one but the reality is that Satan's at it again
telling half truth sowing deceit and lies because there are plenty of passages in scripture that say that
everything belongs to God he is the one who is in control for example just a few you've got Genesis chapter 3
Ephesians 1 Colossians 2 there are plenty plenty more but Psalm 24 summarizes it so wonderfully
the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof the world and all those who dwell therein for he has
founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers Satan is spewing empty promises
he could not follow through on what he's offering and so we might look at this and think well this really
isn't a temptation at all is it Jesus being the son of God knows that everything belongs to God and so
why would he even entertain this idea but this temptation is even greater than the first
because Satan is tempting Jesus to have all the power all the authority that he deserves and is rightfully his
without going to the cross
Satan is saying Jesus you can have it all
everything is at your fingertips without the pain
without the suffering without the rejection and rebellion
you can have it all without dying
if you bow down and worship me
Satan is offering Jesus a way out
a path that doesn't lead to the cross a path
that doesn't lead to him dying as an atoning sacrifice
for the sins of the Lord's people Satan is offering Jesus an easy life
and if we understand that then aren't we even more thankful that Jesus resisted temptation
and didn't succumb to it because of his perfect obedience
not only do we have a high priest who understands our struggles with temptation
but we have a great high priest who deliberately went to the cross
suffered was stricken smitten and afflicted
so the sinful people like you and like me can be saved and brought back to God
so Jesus responds to Satan's attempts in verse 8 read with me
it is written Jesus said worship the Lord your God and serve him only
Jesus is quoting from Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 13
a passage that speaks about the greatest commandment for the Lord's people to follow
and yet a commandment that we fail to follow every single day
but Jesus in his perfect obedience
is able to resist the temptation to bow down and worship a created being
now we're never going to be in this same position as Jesus
to be tempted to bow down in order to gain power
and authority of the whole world
it's just not going to happen
but aren't we tempted to forsake God
and worship other things all the time
it's so easy for us as Christians to take our eyes off of God
and stop worshipping him and instead turn to material things
lesser things, meaningless things
we turn to money, fame, popularity, relationships, jobs, comfort
good things in and of themselves
but terrible things to worship
John Calvin, a pastor and theologian from many years ago
said that the human heart is an idol factory
and we all know that to be true in our own lives, don't we?
we are just as tempted to take the path that leads to comfort
the path that leads to us being liked by everybody
instead of standing firm in the truth of scripture
and holding fast to our convictions
friends, Jesus has not called you to comfort
but he has called you to pick up your cross
and follow him daily
as Christians we will be mocked
we will be tempted, we will be persecuted
and we will suffer
but let me encourage you that the eternal weight of glory
that awaits those who persevere
far, far outweighs any struggles that we face here on earth
when you're tempted to take the easy way out
remember
that Jesus in perfect obedience
chose the path which led to suffering and pain
but the path that brought about our redemption
the path that meant we went from being in darkness and death
to being alive and in light
therefore
we can stand firm
because he has gone before us
because of the perfect obedience of the son of God
to the will of the father
we have a high priest
who has been tempted in every way we have
and yet is without sin
which means that he is the sacrificial lamb
to take away the sins of the world
Jesus, thank you
the third temptation is in verses 9 to 11
follow along with me
verses 9 to 11
the devil led him to Jerusalem
and had him stand on the highest point of the temple
if you are the son of God
he said
throw yourself down from here
for it is written
he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully
they will lift you up in their hands
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone
again
Satan is appealing to Jesus' identity
and saying
since you are the son of God
he is tempting Jesus to put God to the test
saying
because you are the son of God
surely the father won't let any harm come to you
prove it
throw yourself off this temple
and prove to the whole world
who you are
do you see how devious the devil is?
he quotes from Psalm 91
in an attempt to back up his claim
that God will protect Jesus
but this is why
it is so important
that we don't cherry pick
Bible verses out of context
or base our understanding on one verse
because Satan's understanding
of Psalm 91
is absolutely atrocious
Satan quotes from Psalm 91
which speaks about the Lord's protection
over his people
how the Lord is a fortress
and refuge for those
who trust in him
and in Luke chapter 4
verses 10 and 11
Satan is quoting
Psalm 91
verses 11 and 12
however
he conveniently misses out
Psalm 91 verse 13
which says this
you will tread on the lion
and the adder
the young lion
and the serpent
you will trample underfoot
Satan is quoting from a psalm
which tells about
the Lord's strength
for his people
to overcome evil
the devil's trying to distract
Jesus from his mission
to become the suffering servant
and he's trying to get Jesus
to test God's faithfulness
Satan is twisting scripture
and so Jesus responds
with a quote from Deuteronomy 6
verse 6
in verse 12
read with me
Jesus answered
it is said
do not put the Lord
your God
to the test
Satan is telling Jesus
that he doesn't have to suffer
because God will protect him
but Jesus knows
that God's divine rescue
only
can only come through
suffering
and death
but death will not have
the final say
friends
we're never going to be
in this same situation
as Jesus
but aren't we
tempted to test God
maybe it's
that scripture is
crystal clear
on an issue
and yet because
we don't like it
or because society
doesn't
doesn't sit well
with them
we're tempted
to make wrong decisions
we're tempted
to deliberately
go against
God's word
and yeah sure
maybe we do say
to God
God I know
this isn't
perfect
but if you help me
through this
I will give you
all the glory
I promise
but the reality
is that that's
half-hearted obedience
that's us
putting our own
will
above God's
and that's not
us submitting
to him
or maybe you're
not a Christian
and you're listening
in this morning
maybe you've
thought to yourself
God if you give
me a sign
if you just
do this
or that
then I promise
you I'll believe
in you
but friends
the Bible
is enough
no amount
of signs
can make this
any more
true
the Bible
is sufficient
to know
who God
is
and how
to be made
right with
him
that is all
we need
because it
points us
to our
saviour
Jesus
as the
perfect
obedient
one
faced
temptation
that we
couldn't even
begin to
imagine
and yet
every time
he stood
firm
in the face
of it
because he
knew that
God's plan
was good
because
God is
good
he knew
that he
needed to
become
the
suffering
servant
and go
to the
cross
the main
point
of this
passage
is
Jesus
perfect
obedience
it's not
here to
tell us
about how
we should
fight against
temptation
but I
think that
that is a
secondary
application
friends
when we're
faced with
temptation
we need
to remember
that Jesus
was tempted
and yet
in his
obedience
he did
not
crumble
but instead
he used
the word
of God
to defend
himself
one of
the times
we're most
susceptible
to temptation
is when
we're alone
at home
as many
of us
will be
this week
maybe the
coming weeks
let us
dwell in
the word
of the
Lord
so that
we can
stand
firm
as we
face
temptations
and let's
live
obedient
lives
we need
to know
scripture
we need
to have
the word
of God
on our
lips
as our
defense
against
the lies
and
attempts
of Satan
to distract
us from
God
we cannot
do this
by our
own
strength
but we
must rely
on the
power
and presence
of the
spirit
of God
to enable
us
to be
obedient
to the
will
of the
father
friends
as we
draw to
a close
think back
to where
we began
with those
children
and that
chocolate
bar
that just
illustrates
quite funnily
but it just
illustrates
how easy
we are to
crumble
in the face
of temptation
and yet
knowing
that Jesus
went through
temptation
and stood
firm
should give
us the
confidence
to live
obediently
to the
will of
God
friends
we need
to be
equipped
to face
temptation
well
we need
to rely
on Jesus
and we
need to
give thanks
that he
did not
succumb
to temptation
or to
the schemes
of the
devil
but instead
he
obediently
went
the way
of the
cross
knowing
that
should
give us
confidence
for us
to take
up our
cross
and follow
him
daily
let's
pray
together
heavenly
father
we thank
you so
much
for your
goodness
we thank
you for
your
faithfulness
we thank
you for
your love
and your
care
for your
people
father
forgive us
for the
times
when in
temptation
we doubt
you
forgive us
for the
times when
in temptation
we crumble
and we
forget to
live obedient
lives
but succumb
to our
temptations
father
would you
give us
strength
through the
enabling of
your holy
spirit to
stand firm
and jesus
we thank
you
that though
you were
tempted
in unbelievable
ways
you stood
firm
and obediently
went to the
cross which
means that
we can be
forgiven
jesus we
thank you so
much for the
great salvation
that you've
given to us
in jesus name
we pray
amen
and
please
you
your
sorry