WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.679 Well, just a quick recap. Since Christmas, James was preaching on the Christmas story, and after that we went into boy Jesus and tween Jesus when Jesus was at the temple as his parents were looking for him. 00:00:11.040 --> 00:00:17.280 And then we moved on to young adult Jesus, what that would be like. We don't know exactly in scripture what young adult Jesus would be like. 00:00:17.980 --> 00:00:24.019 But just to say, if he was 25 and we met Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, his CV probably wasn't that impressive. 00:00:24.539 --> 00:00:28.219 He hadn't done any short movies like Cuban. He wasn't probably financially independent. 00:00:28.219 --> 00:00:36.439 And yet there was something about Jesus in the waiting, the patience that he had, trusting his father's calling, trusting his father's timing. 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:40.820 And that was so beautiful, that's so rare, which we all yearn for. 00:00:41.019 --> 00:00:45.399 And I know in 2025, we're going to seek a lot of things. We're going to seek to do a lot of things. 00:00:45.960 --> 00:00:50.200 But I can tell you right now, what we seek most is to become more like him. 00:00:50.859 --> 00:00:57.560 And so we see Jesus, we fast forward from tween to young adult and then to adult Jesus, 30 years old. 00:00:58.219 --> 00:01:03.240 First public appearance. He was at the River Jordan. He was baptized by John the Baptist. 00:01:03.960 --> 00:01:06.760 It was epic. He was baptized. He was praying. 00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:10.359 Heavens opened up. Holy Spirit descended like a dove. 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:15.000 And the voice from heaven came and said, this is my son who my love with him. 00:01:15.099 --> 00:01:15.920 I am well pleased. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:24.799 Now this is the entrance of entrances. This is the epic start of this whole new series, this movie that we've been waiting for as mankind. 00:01:24.939 --> 00:01:27.260 400 years of silence and Jesus comes. 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:28.879 Heaven opens up. 00:01:29.420 --> 00:01:31.420 This is the highest affirmation. 00:01:31.560 --> 00:01:36.460 I mean, that we all crave for families, Asian families, any type of families to hear the father's affirmation in public. 00:01:36.459 --> 00:01:39.640 This is my son whom I love with him. 00:01:39.679 --> 00:01:40.259 I'm well pleased. 00:01:40.939 --> 00:01:42.459 This is just to bear in mind. 00:01:42.559 --> 00:01:44.059 This is before he had made one disciple. 00:01:44.679 --> 00:01:46.159 This is before he planted any churches. 00:01:46.399 --> 00:01:48.899 This is before he preached any sermon from what we know. 00:01:50.259 --> 00:01:52.139 Technically, his CV is still empty. 00:01:52.679 --> 00:01:53.639 He had not done much. 00:01:54.219 --> 00:01:55.599 He's just working for his father faithfully. 00:01:56.179 --> 00:01:57.060 He had 90 followers. 00:01:57.060 --> 00:02:04.000 Yet here is God from heaven with a voice saying, this is my son whom I am well pleased. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:10.180 And so this is the beginning of this context of him being tempted into the wilderness. 00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:16.240 I'm going to think, when is the first time in scripture where we hear these three things come together? 00:02:16.360 --> 00:02:18.960 Temptation, Satan, and wilderness. 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:21.800 Where in the Bible do you hear? 00:02:22.120 --> 00:02:23.800 When do we first read about temptation? 00:02:24.280 --> 00:02:25.099 I think we all know this. 00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:26.360 It's in Genesis. 00:02:27.060 --> 00:02:27.819 Garden of Eden. 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:30.159 Satan tempts man. 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:32.819 Man, Adam and Eve, falls into temptation. 00:02:32.979 --> 00:02:34.000 Succumbs into temptation. 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:36.620 Thus, sin enters the world. 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:37.620 And what happens? 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:39.199 They're exiled from the garden. 00:02:39.319 --> 00:02:41.199 They're kicked into the wilderness. 00:02:41.979 --> 00:02:46.439 Now, what's interesting here is just as Jesus is baptized in this epic scene where God says, 00:02:46.620 --> 00:02:47.039 this is my son. 00:02:47.620 --> 00:02:48.759 He's filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:51.879 What we would expect when you think of someone filled with the Holy Spirit, 00:02:52.520 --> 00:02:54.240 if Aidan was filled with the Holy Spirit, what would we expect? 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:58.280 You'd think that he, naturally, would probably go out and preach an epic sermon. 00:02:58.400 --> 00:02:59.480 He'll start healing everyone. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:01.040 Actually, probably. 00:03:01.140 --> 00:03:01.920 I don't know if this is true. 00:03:01.980 --> 00:03:06.219 But after everyone saw the baptism, they probably ran into town saying, the Messiah is here. 00:03:06.439 --> 00:03:06.860 Get ready. 00:03:06.900 --> 00:03:10.280 He's going to come in and preach and speak to us all and tell us what he's here for. 00:03:10.760 --> 00:03:12.140 They were probably waiting for him in town. 00:03:12.139 --> 00:03:15.519 But no, the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness. 00:03:15.739 --> 00:03:17.459 And they must have been like, where's he gone? 00:03:18.099 --> 00:03:19.339 That moment just was amazing. 00:03:19.419 --> 00:03:19.739 It was epic. 00:03:19.859 --> 00:03:22.000 And then he just disappears for 40 days and 40 nights. 00:03:22.619 --> 00:03:24.139 Something is unique about that. 00:03:24.399 --> 00:03:25.199 And we can't miss that. 00:03:25.259 --> 00:03:27.699 And the Holy Spirit was the one who led Jesus into the wilderness. 00:03:27.859 --> 00:03:30.139 It wasn't what I used to think, Satan. 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:33.659 I used to always think it was Satan who led Jesus into the wilderness. 00:03:33.659 --> 00:03:37.400 But actually, it was the Holy Spirit leading us to the wilderness. 00:03:37.620 --> 00:03:43.639 And for those who've been, for those who've here who've walked in the time of wilderness, who is walking in the time of wilderness, 00:03:44.539 --> 00:03:48.519 we know that this is the place that we doubt God the most. 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:51.960 It's in wilderness where we doubt God, we doubt ourselves. 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:55.500 And so from that spiritual high, he goes to the spiritual low. 00:03:56.079 --> 00:03:58.979 And thus begins the fasting and the praying and the temptations. 00:03:58.979 --> 00:04:03.280 And something interesting about the wilderness, as I was reflecting this week, 00:04:03.340 --> 00:04:08.859 was actually it reveals that Jesus wasn't here just to save the people of Israel. 00:04:08.939 --> 00:04:13.979 He wasn't in here just to go straight to Caesar and like Moses and Pharaoh say, let my people go. 00:04:14.780 --> 00:04:16.599 He was here for a bigger mission. 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:19.740 His mission wasn't just to save the people of that time. 00:04:19.779 --> 00:04:22.000 His mission was to save all of humanity. 00:04:22.159 --> 00:04:26.259 He was to go back in time to the garden, to redeem what was lost in the garden. 00:04:26.259 --> 00:04:29.839 And as Adam and Eve were kicked into the wilderness, he went back into the wilderness 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:33.319 because he's here to fight his way back into Eden. 00:04:33.980 --> 00:04:34.420 Why? 00:04:34.959 --> 00:04:39.199 Because he wants to fight his way back into Eden so that God and man can be restored. 00:04:39.439 --> 00:04:42.240 And there will be a day where we can walk with God again. 00:04:43.099 --> 00:04:47.219 And so Jesus' mission was way bigger because we fell into wilderness. 00:04:47.860 --> 00:04:52.800 Jesus redeemed what Adam lost, going into the wilderness to fight back what was lost. 00:04:52.800 --> 00:04:56.680 And in the solitude, in the wilderness, Henry Nouwen has this great quote that says, 00:04:57.360 --> 00:04:59.920 solitude is the furnace of transformation. 00:05:00.699 --> 00:05:04.319 Jesus led himself into the furnace for refinement. 00:05:04.600 --> 00:05:07.020 Last week, we spoke about refinement. 00:05:08.259 --> 00:05:10.220 Last week, we spoke about baptism of water. 00:05:11.080 --> 00:05:12.740 And Jesus just getting baptized. 00:05:12.860 --> 00:05:17.360 He now gets baptized in the fire, in the furnace of solitude. 00:05:18.580 --> 00:05:20.379 40 days he prayed and fasted. 00:05:20.379 --> 00:05:21.420 He mirrors this. 00:05:22.300 --> 00:05:24.600 Elijah and Moses, they prayed and fasted 40 days. 00:05:25.159 --> 00:05:28.759 And in that wilderness, he also mirrors Israel, who spent 40 years in the wilderness. 00:05:28.980 --> 00:05:32.000 He goes, Jesus goes back to redeem Adam's failure. 00:05:32.100 --> 00:05:37.079 He goes back to redeem Israel's failure to show that he truly is the savior of the world. 00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:41.259 And something interesting about fasting and praying, before we head into the temptations bit, 00:05:41.259 --> 00:05:42.959 and I invite my brothers to come up. 00:05:43.339 --> 00:05:44.019 Fasting and praying. 00:05:44.019 --> 00:05:51.819 Every time we read about fasting and praying in the scripture, it comes right before great revival, great awakening, great spiritual harvest. 00:05:52.680 --> 00:05:58.819 And in the same way, we know that as Jesus is preparing for his public ministry, there were some battles that needed to be won in private. 00:05:59.799 --> 00:06:03.299 There's a quote that I grew up that helped me a lot as I was a teenager. 00:06:03.620 --> 00:06:04.479 I think it was Rick Warren. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:09.300 He said this, public power comes with private purity. 00:06:10.080 --> 00:06:12.000 Public power comes with private purity. 00:06:12.560 --> 00:06:16.840 Something has to happen on the inside before it happens on the outside. 00:06:17.920 --> 00:06:23.500 Andy Murray, not the tennis player, but the theologian, but maybe the tennis player had said this before. 00:06:23.580 --> 00:06:26.420 He said, prayer and fasting comes hand in hand together. 00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:28.960 Prayer and fasting comes together. 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:33.520 Prayer is when we grasp the unseen, the invisible, the spiritual. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:37.919 And as we fast, we let go of the flesh. 00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:41.139 We let go of the material, of the physical, of the temporary. 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:44.240 And so that's why prayer and fasting, it comes together. 00:06:44.359 --> 00:06:47.060 And Jesus did this for 40 days and 40 nights. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:53.379 And with that, I want to invite some guys up who also have been praying and fasting for not quite 40 days, 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:58.579 for maybe for four days, for praying for four days, whereas maybe four minutes. 00:06:58.579 --> 00:07:03.199 All of us have been praying and seeking God this week. 00:07:03.939 --> 00:07:08.680 And just to add on that, you know, we were all told to kind of submit what we'll be sharing by Friday. 00:07:09.459 --> 00:07:10.680 Julian submitted by Wednesday. 00:07:12.039 --> 00:07:12.399 Incredible. 00:07:12.759 --> 00:07:13.639 And it was so concise. 00:07:13.719 --> 00:07:15.139 Many of what I had today was from Julian. 00:07:16.719 --> 00:07:17.899 The other two, which I won't name. 00:07:18.939 --> 00:07:22.639 They yeah, we got it, I think, at 1155 last night. 00:07:23.180 --> 00:07:25.279 So that's just to say, thank you, Julian. 00:07:25.579 --> 00:07:27.000 That's why you get to kick this off. 00:07:27.339 --> 00:07:29.319 But again, yeah, we're going to go into the temptations. 00:07:29.419 --> 00:07:32.300 But two really clear things about temptations that we need to know from scripture. 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:33.599 And we probably all know this. 00:07:33.819 --> 00:07:34.939 Temptations do not come from God. 00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:37.740 God cannot be tempted, nor does he tempt. 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:39.439 And we all know this passage as well. 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:41.699 God will not tempt us more than we can handle. 00:07:42.439 --> 00:07:46.459 And so Jesus, Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit that's in us, each of us right here, 00:07:46.899 --> 00:07:50.819 leads Jesus to the wilderness for fasting and prayer. 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:55.319 When we draw close to God, it's often in those times where the temptation comes. 00:07:55.420 --> 00:07:56.759 That's when Satan comes. 00:07:57.300 --> 00:08:01.599 In James 1.13, it says, we're not tempted by God, but we're tempted by our own fleshly desires. 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:04.100 And so I'm going to ask the three of them to come out one by one. 00:08:04.139 --> 00:08:05.740 Julian, Wes, and then Jay. 00:08:06.120 --> 00:08:07.879 And they're going to share about these temptations. 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:11.159 And it's easy to dismiss these temptations as you heard them. 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:14.279 I grew up hearing them thinking, I've never been tempted like that. 00:08:14.420 --> 00:08:17.500 Satan's never met me and taken me into the top of the mountain and said, jump. 00:08:17.500 --> 00:08:25.040 But I hope that what you're going to hear today is actually going to hear that these three temptations are much more practical and applicable. 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:31.540 In fact, these are the temptations that you, that I face on the daily in our workplaces, in our family, in our relationships. 00:08:32.220 --> 00:08:34.279 And so, yeah, I'll just invite them to come and break it down. 00:08:34.820 --> 00:08:35.779 And so, yeah, the floor is yours. 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:36.899 Round of applause for Julian. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:37.960 Thank you. 00:08:39.220 --> 00:08:41.879 And Julian actually ran a half marathon this morning. 00:08:42.440 --> 00:08:43.580 It's just incredible. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:44.200 What a beast. 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:46.960 That's something that James has never, ever done, by the way. 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:48.639 So you can hold that above him. 00:08:49.160 --> 00:08:51.080 You tell him that every single time you see him. 00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:51.660 James is not. 00:08:51.879 --> 00:08:52.420 I don't even know if he can. 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:54.019 His Achilles won't last. 00:08:54.259 --> 00:08:55.540 But Julian, over to you. 00:08:55.960 --> 00:08:56.639 The first temptation. 00:08:57.340 --> 00:08:57.980 Not today, Juju. 00:08:58.080 --> 00:08:58.519 Not today. 00:08:59.280 --> 00:08:59.740 We'll hold back. 00:08:59.980 --> 00:09:00.420 We'll hold back. 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:04.420 Look, hey, thanks, Joe. 00:09:04.620 --> 00:09:10.680 And so I have the privilege of sharing about the first temptation that Jesus faced in the wilderness today. 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:12.620 And Joe touched on it a little bit. 00:09:12.700 --> 00:09:14.759 But let me just, and Queenie read the passage for us as well. 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:16.860 But let me just quickly just read the two verses here. 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:20.419 When Jesus is in the wilderness, he's hungry. 00:09:21.159 --> 00:09:22.399 He's fasted for 40 days. 00:09:22.439 --> 00:09:26.399 And the devil said to him, if you are the son of God, command this stone to become bread. 00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:27.720 And Jesus answered him. 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:30.659 It is written, man shall not live by bread alone. 00:09:30.659 --> 00:09:35.819 So as I've meditated on this passage, again, Joe touched on it briefly. 00:09:35.980 --> 00:09:44.759 But I'm just so struck by that immediate sequence of events from Jesus' baptism in the Jordan where he receives the father's affirmation. 00:09:44.899 --> 00:09:48.559 The father says to him, this is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:52.159 And straight away, the spirit takes him into the wilderness. 00:09:52.839 --> 00:09:53.679 And what does Satan do? 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:59.059 Satan tests that very thing that God the father has already declared over Jesus. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:03.019 That's what I see here as I look at this first temptation. 00:10:03.219 --> 00:10:11.099 Because if you look at what Satan is saying, what I see here is Satan is questioning Jesus' identity. 00:10:11.579 --> 00:10:13.299 Satan is questioning Jesus' identity. 00:10:13.539 --> 00:10:21.159 He's saying, if you are the son of God, trying to cast doubt on that, then why don't you just turn these stones into bread? 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:25.360 And to break that down a bit more, I see two things in particular. 00:10:25.719 --> 00:10:28.699 Firstly, it's a temptation to prove. 00:10:29.699 --> 00:10:36.899 Somehow, Satan is inviting Jesus to believe that if he doesn't perform this miracle, that compromises his identity. 00:10:37.339 --> 00:10:38.600 That doesn't mean he's him. 00:10:39.000 --> 00:10:39.919 He's not the son of God. 00:10:42.939 --> 00:10:47.480 And secondly, it's a temptation to use his power to meet his own needs. 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:51.120 Rather than trusting on the father's provision. 00:10:51.980 --> 00:10:55.379 And don't we resonate as human beings with both of those things? 00:10:55.500 --> 00:10:59.480 I think Satan understands something about humanity's weakness. 00:10:59.699 --> 00:11:11.399 We, too, in our lives, as we wander this spiritual wilderness in this already not yet between coming to know who God is in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:16.059 And journeying on our way to heaven where we'll see him face to face. 00:11:16.059 --> 00:11:19.219 We, too, face this temptation to prove. 00:11:19.559 --> 00:11:24.019 And we, too, face this temptation to use our power to meet our own needs. 00:11:24.659 --> 00:11:28.619 We forget what the Father has promised us. 00:11:28.620 --> 00:11:31.299 And we rely on ourselves instead. 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:43.360 And I just, again, maybe this resonates with some of you going from spiritual highs, whether that's your baptism or a conference or whatever. 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:56.960 And it's funny how off those spiritual highs, I don't know if you resonate with this, but there can be this just real danger zone where you forget quickly what you've just heard or what you've just experienced. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:08.700 And God has been taking me on a journey, just to share more personally, with this theme of forgetting the Father's affirmation. 00:12:08.700 --> 00:12:14.420 And for those of you who've journeyed with me for a while, you know that the past one or two years have brought a lot of change for me. 00:12:15.160 --> 00:12:21.620 I've taken on new responsibilities as a husband and as a newly promoted lawyer as well. 00:12:22.040 --> 00:12:27.780 And God has been taking me on a journey of understanding how to carry those expectations, those new responsibilities. 00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:33.940 And he's revealed a lot in me that he's wanted me to work on. 00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:39.640 And I think, you know, you find out, I mean, every married man will quickly identify. 00:12:40.140 --> 00:12:42.480 You find out on day one there's no such thing as a perfect husband. 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:45.560 And someone will tell you very quickly. 00:12:46.660 --> 00:12:56.120 And look, and all that to say, I've been, don't worry, Florence is the good person in this story. 00:12:56.200 --> 00:12:56.960 You will find out quickly. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:14.100 And what that did for me, see, as I navigated trying to meet standards and expectations, a lot of that from myself, making mistakes, I'd figure out pretty quickly I was getting very discouraged. 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:15.700 I was getting very discouraged. 00:13:17.040 --> 00:13:18.920 And actually something darker was happening. 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:22.420 I was experiencing a lot of anxiety and a lot of shame. 00:13:22.419 --> 00:13:26.599 And I tried to understand that why do I feel this way? 00:13:26.740 --> 00:13:36.000 You know, why do the smallest setbacks such as forgetting to put something in the soup or discourage me so much? 00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:41.939 Or, you know, I'd be, why am I working so late on these chores that are not urgent? 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:43.879 What am I trying to prove here? 00:13:43.879 --> 00:13:50.240 And then in the work context, you know, I'd be sitting there at my desk and I'd be thinking, you know, I'd be paralyzed. 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:56.500 I'd be paralyzed by fear, you know, because the boss asked me to do something and I wasn't sure what the right answer was. 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:57.580 But what if I say this? 00:13:57.639 --> 00:13:58.740 What if I send the email this way? 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:02.840 And then quickly, you know, I am the master of overthinking. 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:08.100 And so I found myself paralyzed by fear, by anxiety. 00:14:08.220 --> 00:14:12.720 That marked a lot of, especially the first half of last year, I would say. 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:30.899 And look, God is, I mean, we've been talking a lot about mental health here as a church, but God's been taking me on a journey through that of discovering where I actually am placing on myself a burden to prove and to provide and to meet my needs, meet others' needs by my own power. 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:37.659 Which, again, some of you might resonate, maybe men in particular, but I think in no way exclusively. 00:14:40.019 --> 00:14:51.299 And it got to a point where the shame and the anxiety was so bad that, you know, I'd be slapping myself out of frustration, right? 00:14:51.299 --> 00:14:58.019 So I think when that happened, Florence throughout this whole time was incredibly patient, loving, supportive. 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:06.279 Just to be very clear, it was very obvious that the issues were within, to be addressed within me. 00:15:06.279 --> 00:15:18.240 And so we both made the decision together that it'd be good for me to explore seeing a counselor, which was the best decision I made last year. 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:29.860 And look, we all have our own journey with mental health and it's complicated, but it's been so good. 00:15:29.919 --> 00:15:31.019 It's been so good for me. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:37.899 And I think just to hone in on one thing in particular, please talk to me more later or next week if you have more questions. 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:56.799 But what that did for me, what my counselor did for me, what the Lord has provided for is just uncovering, actually, after all this time of following Jesus for, what, 15, 20 years, there is still this false gospel that I buy into, that I'm still tempted to buy into on a daily basis of, again, coming back to the point I made earlier. 00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:59.639 The temptation to prove myself. 00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:02.179 The temptation to provide for myself. 00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:05.240 Forgetting the Father's affirmation. 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:12.740 This false gospel that says, I need to be good enough to earn the right to exist in this room right now. 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:24.860 And that was actually, you know, even if I declare by faith that I am saved by grace, that was functionally how I was operating day to day. 00:16:25.340 --> 00:16:30.860 And naming that and understanding that was the first step in removing its power, right? 00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:35.840 And for me, God has taken me on a journey of leaning into and understanding that true gospel. 00:16:35.940 --> 00:16:36.980 And what is that, church? 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:39.519 What do we see here in this text? 00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:43.000 How does Jesus overcome this temptation? 00:16:44.440 --> 00:16:46.000 He relies on God's word. 00:16:46.379 --> 00:16:49.100 He says, man shall not live by bread alone. 00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:54.720 You will look at other versions of this text and it says, but by the word of God. 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:59.800 And I've just been struck. 00:17:02.259 --> 00:17:04.079 Jesus persevered through that temptation. 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:08.059 He overcame Satan's temptation to take the easy way out. 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:10.460 And he did that again a few years later. 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:14.100 He didn't take the easy way out in the garden of Geph's enemy. 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:17.100 He endured all the way to the cross. 00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:26.519 He purchased our redemption so that for all of us who trust in Christ, we can say, oh, so I know the father who says, this is my beloved son. 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:29.279 This is my beloved daughter with whom I am well pleased. 00:17:29.419 --> 00:17:33.000 And that is the good news, church, that I want us to hear again today. 00:17:34.719 --> 00:17:36.879 And how do we overcome? 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:43.359 We overcome not by our own power, but by relying on God's word and doing that in community just to end. 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:54.799 And I think that's the encouragement I want to leave us with is you don't have to go through this alone, whether that is a counselor or whether that's a close friend who can hold the mirror up to you and say, hey, this doesn't quite match up. 00:17:55.099 --> 00:17:56.859 How are you actually operating day to day? 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:01.679 And so can we do that? 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:02.479 That's my encouragement. 00:18:02.479 --> 00:18:03.359 Just to end. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:12.799 If you don't take, if you take nothing else away from just this short period of sharing, it's can we as a church who have come to know the Lord remember the father's affirmation? 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:14.939 And rely on his living word. 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:15.939 Amen. 00:18:18.939 --> 00:18:20.039 Thank you, Julian. 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:24.219 Such a good reminder. 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:27.399 Wes is going to share about the temptation number two. 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.099 Yeah, go for it, Wes. 00:18:30.939 --> 00:18:31.419 Thanks. 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:32.919 Thank you, Julian. 00:18:35.299 --> 00:18:37.740 For anyone who doesn't know me, I'm Wesley. 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:38.779 Nice to meet you all. 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:41.220 I also have a brother, Nathan. 00:18:42.680 --> 00:18:50.899 Just FY for your reference, we are not the same people because someone thought we were the same person for a while. 00:18:51.799 --> 00:18:53.779 Just some key differences about us. 00:18:54.420 --> 00:18:55.079 He's dating. 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:55.619 I'm not. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:18:59.299 I'm just joking. 00:18:59.420 --> 00:18:59.759 Just joking. 00:18:59.859 --> 00:19:00.160 Just joking. 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:03.019 Anyways, let's get into the word here. 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:06.000 Let's get into the word here. 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:11.660 So I'm going through the second temptation, which is verse six to seven. 00:19:12.139 --> 00:19:13.799 So let's just quickly read through it. 00:19:13.799 --> 00:19:23.859 And said to him, to you, I will give all this authority and their glory for has been delivered to me and I give it to you to whom I will. 00:19:24.399 --> 00:19:26.919 If you then will worship me, it will all be yours. 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.779 And Jesus answered him. 00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:29.480 It is written. 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:34.079 You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:43.980 So I think definitely the first thing that comes to mind is when Satan is tempting Jesus, it's how is Jesus tempted by this? 00:19:44.199 --> 00:19:57.480 And in terms of why does the son of God feel temptation towards having authority over just having the kingdoms and being to rule it all, right? 00:19:57.679 --> 00:19:59.099 He's already the son of God. 00:19:59.099 --> 00:20:11.119 And I think it definitely kind of takes us back a little bit to how Satan says he does have the authority to give the kingdoms to Jesus. 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:20.079 And this is kind of that imagery between Jesus and Adam when temptation, where Adam kind of fell to temptation. 00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:30.879 And through that, Adam was kind of, well, in the first place, man was created to rule over the creatures of the sea and he had authority over the earth, right? 00:20:30.919 --> 00:20:32.339 He had the ability to rule. 00:20:32.500 --> 00:20:39.579 And in falling to temptation to Satan, he kind of gave up that authority and gave power to Satan, right? 00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:46.139 But that imagery here for Jesus, he kind of declines that authority that is being offered to him. 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:56.940 And he shows, yeah, he shows that he does have the authority and that there's no, he just doesn't have any desire for this. 00:20:59.580 --> 00:21:00.480 Let's see. 00:21:01.840 --> 00:21:14.560 So, yeah, so just going back to Adam, well, in Matthew it says that no one can serve two masters, right? 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:26.039 So when Adam kind of falls to temptation, he kind of gives up whatever it is, like his authority to Satan there. 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:40.519 So God does ultimately have the authority for earth and he controls everything really. 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:54.799 It kind of brings me back to reading Job a little bit when Satan has to actually go up to God and he asks for permission to tempt Job and to bring him and just to challenge him in these different things. 00:21:55.279 --> 00:22:03.579 Kind of reminds me of what Joe was saying about how God doesn't let you go through anything that you cannot handle, right? 00:22:03.579 --> 00:22:15.460 Like Jesus, I mean, God really knew that Job had this strength and had the ability in him to kind of resist any of these temptations and that he wouldn't curse God above all of them. 00:22:16.740 --> 00:22:20.919 So what does this kind of temptation really mean for us and how does it apply, right? 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:26.779 Why is this actually a temptation for Jesus going back to kind of that point there? 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:34.839 The temptation here for God is really, I think at the end of the day, Jesus is, he did come down as a human. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:40.660 So as humans and with normal temptations, we do desire power. 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:45.500 We do desire control and authority on earth. 00:22:45.579 --> 00:22:51.899 So it is something that Jesus does struggle with and that as a human that we would kind of be tempted towards. 00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:57.000 Also, the mission of Jesus was to come and die on the cross, right? 00:22:57.080 --> 00:23:03.740 His job is, as in Luke 19, it says that he came to seek and save the lost, right? 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:10.720 So his role and his calling on earth was to die on the cross for us to save our sins. 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:20.940 So the idea of this temptation is that for Jesus to, for him to come, he had to die on the cross. 00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:35.759 And yeah, and the temptation really here is that he'd be able to achieve all this authority, achieve kingship and achieve everything without actually having to do his ministry or any of the dirty work, really. 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:40.039 And he really would even not have to suffer, right? 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:46.519 So even in the Mount of Olives, he prayed that he wouldn't, that this cup be taken away from him. 00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:52.859 But regardless, if it's God's will, he will kind of, he'll continue and carry it on, right? 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:59.059 So yeah, this is, for me, this temptation kind of comes down to two things. 00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:02.299 Number one is, what do you worship? 00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:10.879 Yeah, what do you focus on and what kind of, what do you desire in your heart, right? 00:24:11.579 --> 00:24:17.440 Romans 8, 5 does say, for those who live according to the flesh, set their minds on the things of the flesh. 00:24:17.559 --> 00:24:21.740 But those who live according to the spirit, set their minds on things of the spirit. 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:29.599 I think something that's really applicable for everyone here is that it's still beginning of the year. 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:32.160 Joe kind of mentioned Chinese New Year is coming up soon, too. 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:38.460 So it's a nice way to kind of go back and have a look at your New Year's resolutions. 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:49.259 Some things I would like to challenge you guys in terms of New Year's resolutions is what percentage of your New Year's resolutions are spirit-focused? 00:24:49.600 --> 00:24:52.819 Or what percentage of them are actually flesh-focused, right? 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:57.180 Are you desiring to get rich? 00:24:57.400 --> 00:25:06.940 Are you desiring to find a good job or to get into a good university or to find a really cool, significant other or just anything like that? 00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:10.600 Like, what is the desire of your heart and what are you really worshipping here? 00:25:10.700 --> 00:25:12.000 What are you focused on here? 00:25:14.680 --> 00:25:21.160 The second point really is what are you compromising in order to get what you desire, right? 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:28.840 So when I first moved back to Hong Kong from the UK, I had an impression that I was going to make a lot of money 00:25:28.840 --> 00:25:35.340 and that I was just able to indulge in the nice things that Hong Kong had to offer, like good food, 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:38.720 being able to travel to Japan all the time, you know? 00:25:40.279 --> 00:25:45.859 Yeah, it's just like the idea that I wanted really nice things for myself all the time. 00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:53.339 While in the UK, all I had for a treat was maybe going to Nando's or like Wagamama's for a meal, right? 00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:59.459 But yeah, so at this time when I moved back to Hong Kong, I didn't really care too much about faith. 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:02.119 I didn't really want anything to do with it. 00:26:02.159 --> 00:26:08.240 And all I wanted was money, money, money, and just to kind of live happy and luxurious, right? 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:11.939 But when I started working, there was a lot of different pressures. 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:15.200 And this is when I kind of also started to seek in terms of faith. 00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:21.860 So yeah, there was a lot of pressure just to kind of actually really just make more money. 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:28.380 But honestly, I don't think it was really in a very integral way. 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:32.539 So I was kind of asked a lot to kind of hard sell all of my clients 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:36.519 and just really kind of do things that I didn't feel like was needed. 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:41.200 For all that you don't know, I work in like private health care. 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:46.000 So there was kind of an idea where I had to get people coming back a little bit more 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:48.819 than I felt like they needed to just for money's sake. 00:26:49.319 --> 00:26:53.619 And that kind of really, at that time, really hit home for me a little bit. 00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:56.779 I just couldn't find it in myself to do that. 00:26:58.079 --> 00:27:01.839 And it kind of reminded me of something my mom told me while I was prepping for this. 00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:06.480 And she came up with the Bible verse in Matthew 6. 00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:10.359 And it just says, but seek first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness. 00:27:10.839 --> 00:27:13.919 And his righteousness and all of these things will be added to you. 00:27:14.480 --> 00:27:17.399 And we've been meditating on it. 00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:19.079 I mean, like in small group. 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.819 And I know Aiden has as well. 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.720 We have Emily. 00:27:25.879 --> 00:27:30.659 And basically, that kind of really changed my mindset for the last couple of months, 00:27:30.660 --> 00:27:36.320 especially now that I've kind of changed jobs and we're starting to build a company 00:27:36.320 --> 00:27:40.960 with a few of my other colleagues that we're really trying to, 00:27:41.040 --> 00:27:45.360 or at least I am trying to really focus on God in this particular aspect. 00:27:45.360 --> 00:27:50.640 And hopefully, all these things that God knows he will provide, right? 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:55.519 So this is where I kind of learned that actually, whatever I do, God always provides. 00:27:55.640 --> 00:27:57.759 And there's always enough for me. 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.160 Yeah. 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:03.839 So ultimately, my challenge to you is what do you really worship? 00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:06.940 What do you desire in your heart, right? 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:11.619 As you kind of look back or look towards this coming year, 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:16.720 what I'd like to encourage you with is just a Bible verse from Deuteronomy 8. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:20.319 It basically is a preach or a sermon from Moses. 00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:25.879 And he's kind of trying to remind everyone of what God's done for them, right? 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:31.460 And just a quick little bit is in verse 2, it says, 00:28:31.559 --> 00:28:35.659 The Lord your God has led you in the wilderness that he might humble you, 00:28:35.879 --> 00:28:37.779 testing to know what is in your heart. 00:28:38.619 --> 00:28:42.500 It later goes on in verse 19 to 20, and it says, 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:47.400 If you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, 00:28:47.539 --> 00:28:51.240 I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish, 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:54.519 like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you. 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:58.900 So shall you perish because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God. 00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:04.839 So just a big challenge for you guys just to remember God and kind of what you're doing, 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:08.380 how you can add this, and how you can focus that in your life. 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:13.600 Thank you so much. 00:29:13.920 --> 00:29:18.400 Wes, honor him and his group comes in on Monday mornings to pray at 7 a.m. as well. 00:29:18.760 --> 00:29:19.580 We appreciate that. 00:29:20.320 --> 00:29:24.360 The three temptations often we summarize as the temptation to be relevant, 00:29:24.900 --> 00:29:27.220 to be powerful, and to be spectacular. 00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:30.500 And so, Jay, you're going to come up and share the last one, the final one, 00:29:30.580 --> 00:29:33.460 the temptation to be spectacular, to be popular. 00:29:33.460 --> 00:29:35.340 And it's a bit of an interesting one. 00:29:35.339 --> 00:29:39.240 And so I would love to have you unpack that a little, and then I'll wrap up. 00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.099 Thank you. 00:29:40.919 --> 00:29:41.419 Thanks, Joe. 00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.599 How much time do I have? 00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:43.919 Ten minutes? 00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:44.379 Yeah. 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:44.720 Okay. 00:29:45.799 --> 00:29:46.379 All right. 00:29:46.459 --> 00:29:47.779 So third and final temptation. 00:29:47.939 --> 00:29:48.720 I'm the last one, guys. 00:29:48.879 --> 00:29:49.939 Thanks for bearing with us. 00:29:51.039 --> 00:29:54.959 When we were deciding which temptations between Wes, Juju, and I, 00:29:55.079 --> 00:29:56.720 this is the one that I wanted to do at least 00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:59.279 because it was the one that was quite challenging to me. 00:29:59.339 --> 00:30:01.959 I didn't really understand what was going on in this final temptation. 00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:04.299 So I'm going to break it down for you guys today, 00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:06.120 and I'm going to go through quite a bit of scripture. 00:30:06.400 --> 00:30:08.400 So please feel free to follow along in the scripture. 00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:12.420 But I'm just going to quickly go through the actual scripture from Luke 4, 00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:13.319 the temptation itself. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:18.160 So Luke 4, chapter 4, Luke 4, verse 9. 00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:40.460 Now, I don't know about you guys, but that's really confusing to me. 00:30:40.540 --> 00:30:43.820 So what is the devil actually trying to tempt Jesus with here? 00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:48.299 What does the devil stand to gain if Jesus really does jump from the temple, right? 00:30:48.679 --> 00:30:50.039 And in order to understand this, 00:30:50.099 --> 00:30:53.139 we have to understand the context behind what Satan says to Jesus 00:30:53.139 --> 00:30:54.819 and how Jesus responds back to Satan. 00:30:55.220 --> 00:31:01.139 So this is the only temptation where Satan uses the actual living word of God 00:31:01.139 --> 00:31:02.859 to challenge Jesus, right? 00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:04.939 And he's actually quoting Psalm 91. 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:08.220 You can feel free to flip to Psalm 91 yourselves. 00:31:08.359 --> 00:31:10.019 But just to quickly summarize Psalm 91, 00:31:10.019 --> 00:31:13.319 the context of Psalm 91 is a writer at the time. 00:31:13.460 --> 00:31:15.980 He's writing to people who are struggling a lot. 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:18.619 It's a time of war, disease, and adversity. 00:31:18.900 --> 00:31:20.119 And he's telling to the people, 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:21.779 hey, have confidence in God. 00:31:21.859 --> 00:31:22.779 He will protect us. 00:31:23.139 --> 00:31:24.379 Have confidence in God. 00:31:24.500 --> 00:31:25.259 He will protect us. 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:28.619 And what Satan does is he quotes this and he says, 00:31:28.879 --> 00:31:31.900 hey, Jesus, if you jump from here, it's going to be okay. 00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:32.799 God protects you. 00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:35.240 And he totally takes this Psalm out of context. 00:31:35.400 --> 00:31:36.440 So that is a temptation. 00:31:36.440 --> 00:31:41.420 So we know from this that Satan really does stand to gain something if Jesus jumps. 00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:43.559 Now, how does Jesus respond to this, right? 00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:44.600 And he says, 00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:47.000 and Jesus answered him, 00:31:47.059 --> 00:31:49.580 it is said, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test. 00:31:50.759 --> 00:31:51.720 That's so confusing. 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:54.000 Okay, what does that even mean, right? 00:31:54.360 --> 00:31:58.000 So Jesus is actually quoting Deuteronomy 6, 16. 00:31:58.440 --> 00:32:02.259 And Deuteronomy 6, 16 is in reference to Exodus 17. 00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:05.140 I'm going to take you back to Exodus 17, 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:09.299 just to explain what the definition of testing is here 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:12.319 and what Jesus is really trying to say to the enemy. 00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:15.920 So in Exodus 17, you can feel free to flip there, 00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:18.680 but essentially to quickly summarize Exodus 17, 00:32:19.099 --> 00:32:22.420 this is right after God saves the Israelites from the Egyptians. 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:24.180 And they're wandering in the wilderness. 00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:27.500 And the people, the Israelites, they start to get thirsty. 00:32:27.660 --> 00:32:29.500 They're like, Moses, like, I'm so thirsty. 00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:30.059 I need some water. 00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:31.599 Like, why did you bring us out here? 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:33.279 And they slowly start to accuse him. 00:32:33.659 --> 00:32:34.619 They start resenting him. 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:36.919 And from this scene, Moses, 00:32:37.339 --> 00:32:38.359 so God tells Moses, 00:32:38.679 --> 00:32:41.199 hey, bring that staff that you split the Red Sea with 00:32:41.199 --> 00:32:42.259 and go to this rock 00:32:42.259 --> 00:32:44.419 and strike the rock with your staff 00:32:44.419 --> 00:32:45.619 and water will flow from it. 00:32:46.719 --> 00:32:48.119 Okay, so what does that mean? 00:32:48.419 --> 00:32:50.679 So if I take you back to Exodus 17, 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:54.619 it says, 00:32:54.959 --> 00:32:57.500 and Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 00:32:57.500 --> 00:33:00.680 And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah 00:33:00.680 --> 00:33:02.720 because of the quarreling of the people of Israel 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:04.579 and because they tested the Lord by saying, 00:33:04.880 --> 00:33:06.059 is the Lord among us or not? 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:09.740 So I think the word testing here is very clear. 00:33:10.079 --> 00:33:12.640 He's basically, I think it can be interpreted as 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.839 when Jesus says, 00:33:13.960 --> 00:33:16.720 it is written, you shall not put your God to the test. 00:33:16.779 --> 00:33:18.460 He's basically saying, don't doubt God. 00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:20.900 Don't doubt if God is really among us or not. 00:33:21.259 --> 00:33:24.259 Don't doubt if you're really God's chosen people. 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:26.299 And this is how Jesus is responding, right? 00:33:26.700 --> 00:33:28.379 Okay, now I've explained both contexts 00:33:28.379 --> 00:33:30.740 to how Satan quoted Psalm 91 00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:32.759 and how Jesus quoted Exodus 17. 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:35.119 So how do these two passages actually connect? 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:36.640 What is the actual temptation here? 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:40.980 Right, so Satan says, okay, jump off, right? 00:33:41.079 --> 00:33:42.019 And he'll protect you. 00:33:42.400 --> 00:33:44.079 And Jesus says, no, I'm not going to. 00:33:44.140 --> 00:33:45.839 I'm not going to doubt God's faithfulness to me. 00:33:46.119 --> 00:33:48.660 So is Satan actually tempting Jesus 00:33:48.660 --> 00:33:52.440 to doubt that God will save him from this big jump? 00:33:52.440 --> 00:33:55.820 I think actually runs a little bit deeper than that, right? 00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:58.539 So if we look at the context to the pinnacle of the temple, 00:33:58.759 --> 00:34:01.620 if Jesus really did jump from the pinnacle of the temple, 00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:03.759 there would have been a crowd, right? 00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:04.820 There would have been a crowd. 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:05.840 And if he jumped, 00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:08.280 it would have been this dazzling feat, right? 00:34:08.300 --> 00:34:10.280 He jumps, the heavens open up, 00:34:10.579 --> 00:34:12.659 angels come down and they literally save him. 00:34:13.220 --> 00:34:13.940 What will this win? 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:15.760 This will win the admiration of the people. 00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:18.340 Basically what Satan is saying to Jesus is, 00:34:18.619 --> 00:34:20.659 hey, God's love for you, 00:34:20.659 --> 00:34:22.059 is that really enough? 00:34:22.199 --> 00:34:23.359 Are you really God's chosen one? 00:34:23.699 --> 00:34:24.079 I don't know. 00:34:24.399 --> 00:34:25.000 Prove yourself. 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.659 Just jump from here. 00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:28.899 And the people, you can see it immediately. 00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:30.199 They will love you. 00:34:30.299 --> 00:34:31.179 They will admire you. 00:34:31.359 --> 00:34:32.179 Don't you want that? 00:34:32.539 --> 00:34:33.699 Is God's love really real? 00:34:34.399 --> 00:34:35.440 Is he really among you? 00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:36.659 Are you God's chosen one? 00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:38.420 That's what he's challenging here, I think. 00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:40.059 Now, I think this temptation, 00:34:40.299 --> 00:34:42.239 it can feel a little bit far off from all of us. 00:34:42.299 --> 00:34:44.159 Like, how does this even apply to us, right? 00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:45.379 Like, how, like, 00:34:45.799 --> 00:34:47.399 are we at the pinnacle of the temple every day? 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:48.759 I think that's the question 00:34:48.760 --> 00:34:49.980 that I was challenged with this week 00:34:49.980 --> 00:34:51.140 as I was going through this passage. 00:34:51.700 --> 00:34:54.720 And I think all of us on a daily basis, 00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:56.200 especially in the city of Hong Kong, 00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:57.620 we are faced with this challenge. 00:34:57.620 --> 00:34:59.620 And Satan brings us up to the pinnacle 00:34:59.620 --> 00:35:00.660 of the temple every day. 00:35:00.760 --> 00:35:02.520 And he tells us, prove yourself. 00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:04.080 Are you really enough? 00:35:04.720 --> 00:35:05.900 God says he loved you, 00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:07.440 but is he really faithful to you? 00:35:08.080 --> 00:35:08.640 I don't think so. 00:35:08.700 --> 00:35:10.180 Just take matters into your own hands. 00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:10.660 Jump. 00:35:11.220 --> 00:35:11.780 Just jump. 00:35:12.340 --> 00:35:13.320 And you can prove yourself. 00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:14.800 Do well at work. 00:35:15.180 --> 00:35:15.780 Do everything. 00:35:15.900 --> 00:35:16.780 Break your back at work 00:35:16.780 --> 00:35:18.440 and just do everything and prove yourself. 00:35:18.640 --> 00:35:20.100 And you will win the admiration of people. 00:35:21.660 --> 00:35:22.960 Work really hard at school. 00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:24.700 Study, study, study, study, study. 00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:26.140 Get the best grades. 00:35:26.240 --> 00:35:27.120 Go to the best schools. 00:35:27.800 --> 00:35:28.380 Prove yourself. 00:35:29.460 --> 00:35:30.820 God's love is not enough for you. 00:35:30.900 --> 00:35:32.280 And that is the temptation here today. 00:35:32.500 --> 00:35:34.820 I think that is what Satan is tempting Jesus with. 00:35:34.820 --> 00:35:38.640 So I think my challenge to everyone is, 00:35:39.140 --> 00:35:42.860 what area in your life do you currently try to prove yourself? 00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:43.539 A bit too much. 00:35:43.800 --> 00:35:45.240 And I think what's really telling is, 00:35:45.640 --> 00:35:46.880 in that area of your life, 00:35:47.180 --> 00:35:48.519 do you feel anxious all the time? 00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:51.420 Are you just trying to prove yourself constantly 00:35:51.420 --> 00:35:53.280 and you just never feel satisfied? 00:35:53.760 --> 00:35:54.980 What is that area in your life 00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:57.400 where you feel like you're striving? 00:35:57.840 --> 00:35:59.760 And I think the response is, 00:35:59.800 --> 00:36:01.559 we have to look at how Jesus responds to this, right? 00:36:01.559 --> 00:36:04.360 He says to Satan, I'm not going to test the Lord. 00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:06.340 I know that he is faithful to me. 00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:07.420 And Jesus knows. 00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:10.639 And I feel that Jesus was able to resist this temptation 00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:12.960 because he knew exactly who he was 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:15.059 and he knew that he was infinitely loved by God. 00:36:15.159 --> 00:36:17.179 And he did not need to prove himself to anyone. 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:19.199 And I think that's the reminder here. 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:21.880 It's not, for us, I think how it applies is it's not, 00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:22.980 I'm just going to work a little, 00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:25.380 like I'm not going to work as hard at my job. 00:36:25.500 --> 00:36:27.079 Like, you know, God tells us to excel at our jobs. 00:36:27.400 --> 00:36:28.759 I'm just not going to study as hard. 00:36:28.860 --> 00:36:29.880 No, I don't think it means that. 00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:32.400 I think Jesus isn't sitting there like beating himself, 00:36:32.539 --> 00:36:34.140 thinking, oh, I should stop trying to prove myself. 00:36:34.260 --> 00:36:35.400 No, he looks to God. 00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:37.019 And he says, God loves me. 00:36:37.280 --> 00:36:40.380 So the attitude here, the approach here is completely different. 00:36:40.619 --> 00:36:42.000 It's not trying to avoid doing something, 00:36:42.119 --> 00:36:43.579 but he looks to God and he remembers, 00:36:43.860 --> 00:36:44.800 I'm God's chosen one. 00:36:44.940 --> 00:36:45.980 I'm infinitely loved 00:36:45.980 --> 00:36:47.720 and I don't need to prove myself to anyone. 00:36:48.340 --> 00:36:49.880 So that is the third and final temptation. 00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:52.519 And I want to, okay, I did it a little bit quickly, 00:36:52.680 --> 00:36:54.500 but I was just a little bit conscious of time. 00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:58.320 Thank you so much. 00:36:59.360 --> 00:37:00.519 Thank you to all three of you. 00:37:03.340 --> 00:37:06.699 The temptation, Billy Graham sums it up, 00:37:06.739 --> 00:37:09.739 is the pride of life, the lust of the eye, 00:37:09.900 --> 00:37:10.639 the lust of the flesh. 00:37:11.079 --> 00:37:11.820 And we're all tempted. 00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:12.679 And in another sense, 00:37:14.039 --> 00:37:17.880 the temptation is going to actually trial and test us 00:37:17.880 --> 00:37:18.639 to prove ourselves. 00:37:18.940 --> 00:37:21.079 Because the enemy's voice is to tell us that we're nobody, 00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:23.799 that we're worthless, that we're unworthy. 00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:27.440 But Jesus, he knew the word, he lived the word. 00:37:27.900 --> 00:37:29.219 And so when the pressure came up, 00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:30.480 it's the word that came out. 00:37:31.259 --> 00:37:33.079 And for us, as we're going to face our temptations 00:37:33.079 --> 00:37:33.779 and they're going to happen. 00:37:33.960 --> 00:37:35.960 Martin Luther has a great quote of, 00:37:36.019 --> 00:37:37.500 temptations do happen to us. 00:37:38.079 --> 00:37:40.299 And there's nothing we can really do about it most of the time. 00:37:40.880 --> 00:37:43.480 He gives the analogy of the birds flying above our heads. 00:37:44.319 --> 00:37:45.159 That's a temptation. 00:37:45.619 --> 00:37:47.000 But we all do have the power 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:50.420 to not allow the birds to make nests on our heads. 00:37:50.420 --> 00:37:53.059 That's when we allow sin to enter our lives. 00:37:53.099 --> 00:37:55.460 That's when we allow temptations to succumb. 00:37:57.780 --> 00:37:59.340 Great head joke there, 00:37:59.420 --> 00:38:00.539 but we're going to move past that. 00:38:01.720 --> 00:38:02.559 We're better than that. 00:38:02.639 --> 00:38:03.200 It's 2025. 00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:04.980 It's 2025. 00:38:06.260 --> 00:38:08.220 And one of the quotes that I grew up in, 00:38:08.300 --> 00:38:09.539 and I think, I don't know who said this, 00:38:09.579 --> 00:38:09.940 but it said, 00:38:10.300 --> 00:38:13.000 a faith cannot be trusted unless it's been tested. 00:38:13.480 --> 00:38:15.420 A faith cannot be trusted unless it's been tested. 00:38:15.500 --> 00:38:17.280 We all have sat-through tests here. 00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:18.599 We're from Hong Kong, waste of us. 00:38:18.599 --> 00:38:21.059 Lawyers have sat through many, many tests. 00:38:21.179 --> 00:38:22.420 Doctors have sat through many tests. 00:38:22.539 --> 00:38:24.900 I wouldn't trust a doctor to operate on me 00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:26.539 if they've studied medical school, 00:38:26.599 --> 00:38:27.360 but not sat the tests. 00:38:27.739 --> 00:38:30.099 There's something about tests that prove character, 00:38:30.199 --> 00:38:32.099 that prove and reveals what's on the inside. 00:38:32.719 --> 00:38:33.319 Here, Jesus, 00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:35.239 this test was something way beyond the bar 00:38:35.239 --> 00:38:36.079 or the medical exams. 00:38:36.599 --> 00:38:39.159 Jesus passed the test against Satan himself. 00:38:39.519 --> 00:38:40.819 He proved to all of us 00:38:40.819 --> 00:38:43.360 that he's the savior of the world. 00:38:43.360 --> 00:38:45.320 And so with that, 00:38:45.579 --> 00:38:46.360 we can trust in him. 00:38:46.420 --> 00:38:46.820 With that, 00:38:47.160 --> 00:38:47.940 we have hope. 00:38:49.280 --> 00:38:50.019 And we pray, 00:38:50.200 --> 00:38:51.140 lead us not into temptation, 00:38:51.660 --> 00:38:53.740 but deliver us from evil. 00:38:55.280 --> 00:38:56.280 Temptations will come. 00:38:56.920 --> 00:38:58.300 And so Jay actually hinted on that. 00:38:58.720 --> 00:38:59.099 This year, 00:38:59.200 --> 00:38:59.380 I mean, 00:38:59.420 --> 00:38:59.920 Wes as well, 00:39:00.039 --> 00:39:00.460 this year, 00:39:00.539 --> 00:39:01.640 let it be a year 00:39:01.640 --> 00:39:03.140 where we know the word so well 00:39:03.140 --> 00:39:05.059 that when the fire is here, 00:39:05.120 --> 00:39:06.019 when we're being refined, 00:39:06.559 --> 00:39:08.120 what comes out is in our own flesh. 00:39:08.300 --> 00:39:08.579 When things, 00:39:09.140 --> 00:39:10.260 when injustice happens to us, 00:39:10.300 --> 00:39:11.680 when I come out and complain 00:39:11.679 --> 00:39:12.539 and say, 00:39:12.599 --> 00:39:13.339 this is not fair. 00:39:14.119 --> 00:39:14.699 Woe is me. 00:39:15.299 --> 00:39:16.619 That's the devil trying to tell you 00:39:16.619 --> 00:39:17.839 that we're worthless and useless. 00:39:18.779 --> 00:39:20.419 I pray that when we go through 00:39:20.419 --> 00:39:21.500 the pressures of life, 00:39:21.579 --> 00:39:22.759 that when what comes out 00:39:22.759 --> 00:39:24.980 is actually just the deep trust, 00:39:25.819 --> 00:39:26.639 deep trust, 00:39:27.239 --> 00:39:27.919 deep belief, 00:39:28.619 --> 00:39:29.659 knowing who we are, 00:39:29.699 --> 00:39:31.679 that God loves us infinitely. 00:39:35.919 --> 00:39:37.199 Pascal in the 1400s, 00:39:37.239 --> 00:39:38.059 and I know this quote is, 00:39:38.219 --> 00:39:39.659 says all of humanity's problems 00:39:39.659 --> 00:39:41.839 stand from man's inability 00:39:41.839 --> 00:39:43.259 to sit quietly in a room. 00:39:44.480 --> 00:39:45.980 All of humanity's problems 00:39:45.980 --> 00:39:47.379 stand from man's inability 00:39:47.379 --> 00:39:49.119 to sit quietly in a room. 00:39:50.099 --> 00:39:51.679 It might be a bit of an overstatement, 00:39:51.759 --> 00:39:52.839 but there's a lot of truth to that. 00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:56.179 Jesus was able to sit quietly 00:39:56.179 --> 00:39:57.779 on his own in the wilderness. 00:39:58.619 --> 00:39:59.119 And because of that, 00:39:59.139 --> 00:40:00.059 he was able to overcome 00:40:00.059 --> 00:40:01.440 all of humanity's problems. 00:40:03.299 --> 00:40:04.839 Are we able to sit quietly? 00:40:04.840 --> 00:40:09.620 I was challenging you 00:40:09.620 --> 00:40:10.019 in this year. 00:40:10.120 --> 00:40:12.539 How can I learn two things? 00:40:12.900 --> 00:40:14.100 To walk in solitude 00:40:14.100 --> 00:40:16.780 and scripture. 00:40:18.740 --> 00:40:20.280 When Jesus went and retreated 00:40:20.280 --> 00:40:21.700 and had all these devotions 00:40:21.700 --> 00:40:22.180 and quiet time, 00:40:22.220 --> 00:40:23.100 he didn't bring his Bible. 00:40:24.160 --> 00:40:24.860 There was no Bible. 00:40:25.039 --> 00:40:26.059 He didn't bring his journal. 00:40:26.980 --> 00:40:28.120 How many times have we had 00:40:28.120 --> 00:40:29.100 a quiet time 00:40:29.100 --> 00:40:30.900 when we're still doing 00:40:30.900 --> 00:40:32.620 and not listening? 00:40:33.380 --> 00:40:34.240 And so my challenge to you, 00:40:34.239 --> 00:40:35.359 can we have quiet time 00:40:35.359 --> 00:40:35.919 without the scripture? 00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:36.899 That sounds a bit like a heresy 00:40:36.899 --> 00:40:37.959 if you take it out of context. 00:40:38.659 --> 00:40:41.119 But are we able to sit quiet enough 00:40:41.119 --> 00:40:43.119 until the silence comes 00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:44.339 and all the noise drowns out, 00:40:44.399 --> 00:40:45.019 all the lies, 00:40:45.659 --> 00:40:46.619 the enemy's lies to say 00:40:46.619 --> 00:40:47.319 that we're worthless, 00:40:47.479 --> 00:40:47.899 we're nobody, 00:40:48.019 --> 00:40:48.599 we're not enough. 00:40:50.539 --> 00:40:51.199 The temptation 00:40:51.199 --> 00:40:52.739 can be summed into 00:40:52.739 --> 00:40:53.579 three final things. 00:40:54.659 --> 00:40:55.819 Help us understand and see 00:40:55.819 --> 00:40:58.379 is that we're valued and worth 00:40:58.379 --> 00:41:00.259 only by what we have, 00:41:00.719 --> 00:41:01.659 what we do, 00:41:02.359 --> 00:41:03.779 and whatever the sink of us. 00:41:03.780 --> 00:41:04.800 What we have, 00:41:05.220 --> 00:41:06.060 what we do, 00:41:06.640 --> 00:41:07.700 and whatever the sink of us. 00:41:08.580 --> 00:41:09.740 Temptations that Jesus faced 00:41:09.740 --> 00:41:11.019 were the same as those three. 00:41:12.240 --> 00:41:13.380 And all these three, 00:41:14.760 --> 00:41:16.019 the enemy offers us quick, 00:41:16.200 --> 00:41:19.560 really quick solutions to all. 00:41:19.620 --> 00:41:21.600 He allows us to be quickly rich. 00:41:21.660 --> 00:41:22.480 If we can just jump, 00:41:22.580 --> 00:41:23.100 get in the lottery 00:41:23.100 --> 00:41:23.820 and get rich quick. 00:41:24.980 --> 00:41:26.100 Jesus tests the temptation. 00:41:26.220 --> 00:41:27.360 Can we jump off the temple 00:41:27.360 --> 00:41:28.900 and everybody will know us 00:41:28.900 --> 00:41:29.760 and we'll have all the followers 00:41:29.760 --> 00:41:30.220 in the world. 00:41:30.219 --> 00:41:31.919 But no, 00:41:32.079 --> 00:41:33.219 let us remind ourselves 00:41:33.219 --> 00:41:34.039 that we are loved 00:41:34.039 --> 00:41:34.839 and infinitely loved. 00:41:35.319 --> 00:41:36.379 And the reason Jesus 00:41:36.379 --> 00:41:38.199 was able to withstand 00:41:38.199 --> 00:41:38.679 the temptation 00:41:38.679 --> 00:41:39.699 is because the Holy Spirit 00:41:39.699 --> 00:41:40.199 was in him. 00:41:40.259 --> 00:41:40.879 He knew scripture. 00:41:41.419 --> 00:41:42.339 And we too today 00:41:42.339 --> 00:41:43.379 have the same Holy Spirit, 00:41:44.019 --> 00:41:44.679 the same scripture. 00:41:45.379 --> 00:41:46.339 So I encourage this year, 00:41:46.419 --> 00:41:47.519 let us memorize the scripture 00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:48.639 so that when we're alone, 00:41:49.519 --> 00:41:50.259 all we hear 00:41:50.259 --> 00:41:51.719 are these words 00:41:51.719 --> 00:41:52.519 from God the Father. 00:41:52.519 --> 00:41:53.000 Father, 00:41:53.000 --> 00:41:54.579 you are my son, 00:41:55.340 --> 00:41:56.219 you are my daughter, 00:41:56.820 --> 00:41:57.519 whom I love. 00:41:58.280 --> 00:41:59.139 With you, 00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:00.739 I am well pleased. 00:42:04.239 --> 00:42:05.820 Let us respond in worship. 00:42:07.300 --> 00:42:08.039 And let us even now 00:42:08.039 --> 00:42:09.219 just have a moment of silence 00:42:09.219 --> 00:42:11.800 and allow the noises 00:42:11.800 --> 00:42:12.539 to drown out. 00:42:13.780 --> 00:42:14.920 Do we believe those words 00:42:14.920 --> 00:42:15.460 from the Father? 00:42:15.460 --> 00:42:15.539 Father, 00:42:14.920 --> 00:42:15.519 from the Father? 00:42:22.519 --> 00:42:25.840 Lord, 00:42:25.900 --> 00:42:27.739 you are our one defense. 00:42:31.219 --> 00:42:32.400 You are the righteousness 00:42:32.400 --> 00:42:33.079 we seek. 00:42:33.820 --> 00:42:34.659 You are our strength. 00:42:34.780 --> 00:42:35.519 You are our shield. 00:42:36.659 --> 00:42:38.039 You are our very present help 00:42:38.039 --> 00:42:38.920 in time of need. 00:42:41.920 --> 00:42:42.860 We thank you. 00:42:44.679 --> 00:42:45.980 And where sin runs deep, 00:42:46.059 --> 00:42:46.900 your grace is more. 00:42:51.139 --> 00:42:51.920 Thank you, Lord. 00:42:52.519 --> 00:42:55.059 Thank you, Lord. 00:43:01.059 --> 00:43:02.300 And in your name we pray. 00:43:03.320 --> 00:43:03.639 Amen. 00:43:04.679 --> 00:43:05.539 Please take a seat. 00:43:09.380 --> 00:43:10.539 I just wanted to finish 00:43:10.539 --> 00:43:11.659 just to honor 00:43:11.659 --> 00:43:12.259 and thank 00:43:12.259 --> 00:43:13.840 the four gentlemen 00:43:13.840 --> 00:43:16.119 that ministered to us 00:43:16.119 --> 00:43:16.579 through the word. 00:43:16.679 --> 00:43:17.539 I was deeply, 00:43:17.719 --> 00:43:18.159 deeply blessed. 00:43:18.360 --> 00:43:18.840 And I just want to, 00:43:19.099 --> 00:43:19.739 they won't say this, 00:43:19.780 --> 00:43:20.759 but I wanted to say this. 00:43:20.860 --> 00:43:21.500 Last week when I was 00:43:21.500 --> 00:43:22.219 looking at the passage, 00:43:22.219 --> 00:43:22.519 I was like, 00:43:22.559 --> 00:43:23.599 it would be so good 00:43:23.599 --> 00:43:24.779 if we got different people 00:43:24.779 --> 00:43:25.719 sharing about the different 00:43:25.719 --> 00:43:26.259 temptations. 00:43:26.839 --> 00:43:27.699 I was praying these 00:43:27.699 --> 00:43:28.539 were the gentlemen 00:43:28.539 --> 00:43:29.279 that came to mind 00:43:29.279 --> 00:43:30.559 and I just wanted 00:43:30.559 --> 00:43:31.059 to honor them 00:43:31.059 --> 00:43:32.719 because as we heard, 00:43:32.819 --> 00:43:33.799 Julian said, 00:43:34.159 --> 00:43:34.500 oh, actually, 00:43:34.559 --> 00:43:35.659 I've got a marathon 00:43:35.659 --> 00:43:36.519 to run in the morning. 00:43:37.139 --> 00:43:37.779 Half marathon. 00:43:37.899 --> 00:43:38.459 Oh, thank you. 00:43:38.519 --> 00:43:39.279 Thank you for the honesty 00:43:39.279 --> 00:43:39.919 there as well. 00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:40.980 No proving anything. 00:43:41.980 --> 00:43:42.399 I mean, 00:43:42.559 --> 00:43:44.639 but with those little legs, 00:43:44.639 --> 00:43:45.119 I guess it felt 00:43:45.119 --> 00:43:45.639 like a marathon. 00:43:53.319 --> 00:43:53.980 Oh, gosh. 00:43:58.940 --> 00:43:59.859 But he was like, 00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:00.299 oh, yeah, 00:44:00.319 --> 00:44:00.980 I've got a hard marathon, 00:44:01.259 --> 00:44:01.779 but I'll do it. 00:44:01.980 --> 00:44:02.279 I was like, 00:44:02.339 --> 00:44:02.940 oh, man, 00:44:03.039 --> 00:44:03.940 you wake up at four or five 00:44:03.940 --> 00:44:04.900 and then still do it. 00:44:06.059 --> 00:44:06.739 And I thought of Wes 00:44:06.739 --> 00:44:07.799 and Wes actually, 00:44:07.919 --> 00:44:08.279 to his credit, 00:44:08.339 --> 00:44:08.539 was like, 00:44:08.599 --> 00:44:08.719 yeah, 00:44:08.739 --> 00:44:09.279 I'd love to try. 00:44:09.659 --> 00:44:10.339 I've not done it before, 00:44:10.379 --> 00:44:10.959 but I'd love to try. 00:44:11.059 --> 00:44:11.759 And then two days ago, 00:44:11.799 --> 00:44:12.939 he had food poisoning 00:44:12.939 --> 00:44:14.419 and he's basically been sick 00:44:14.419 --> 00:44:15.099 these last two days 00:44:15.099 --> 00:44:16.179 and yesterday evening, 00:44:16.219 --> 00:44:16.439 he was like, 00:44:16.439 --> 00:44:16.959 I don't know if I'm going 00:44:16.959 --> 00:44:17.439 to make it, 00:44:17.759 --> 00:44:18.839 like just in life in general. 00:44:19.719 --> 00:44:20.699 This might be it. 00:44:21.679 --> 00:44:22.159 And I said, 00:44:22.179 --> 00:44:22.279 hey, 00:44:22.279 --> 00:44:22.579 don't worry. 00:44:22.659 --> 00:44:23.239 There's nothing that 00:44:23.239 --> 00:44:24.779 we will be afraid of 00:44:24.779 --> 00:44:25.219 and it's okay. 00:44:25.319 --> 00:44:26.099 And yet he shows up 00:44:26.099 --> 00:44:28.019 and he just does it. 00:44:28.379 --> 00:44:28.859 And then Jay, 00:44:28.959 --> 00:44:29.239 of course, 00:44:29.439 --> 00:44:30.399 we shared last week, 00:44:30.979 --> 00:44:32.019 he's done a lot on his plate. 00:44:32.119 --> 00:44:33.059 He's been figuring out 00:44:33.059 --> 00:44:33.779 when to get married, 00:44:33.859 --> 00:44:34.419 where to get married 00:44:34.420 --> 00:44:35.119 and all these things 00:44:35.119 --> 00:44:36.820 after you have that 00:44:36.820 --> 00:44:37.880 kind of question answered. 00:44:38.860 --> 00:44:39.539 And I was like, 00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:39.740 Jay, 00:44:39.820 --> 00:44:40.579 I want to ask you this. 00:44:40.760 --> 00:44:41.659 I know you're busy, 00:44:41.860 --> 00:44:42.300 but hey, 00:44:43.220 --> 00:44:44.380 it's okay if you don't do it. 00:44:44.420 --> 00:44:44.720 He's like, 00:44:45.280 --> 00:44:45.440 hey, 00:44:45.480 --> 00:44:46.220 there's never a good time 00:44:46.220 --> 00:44:47.240 and I'm going to be 00:44:47.240 --> 00:44:47.860 in the word anyway, 00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:49.139 so I'll do it. 00:44:49.200 --> 00:44:50.079 So I just wanted to honor them. 00:44:50.119 --> 00:44:50.340 And of course, 00:44:50.380 --> 00:44:50.680 my brother, 00:44:51.019 --> 00:44:51.740 who as you can see, 00:44:51.820 --> 00:44:53.579 has been a little bit 00:44:53.579 --> 00:44:53.980 under the weather. 00:44:54.099 --> 00:44:55.079 He was really sick 00:44:55.079 --> 00:44:56.659 these last few days. 00:44:57.000 --> 00:44:57.440 And again, 00:44:57.480 --> 00:44:58.099 he was also like, 00:44:58.139 --> 00:44:58.760 I don't know if I'm going 00:44:58.760 --> 00:44:59.260 to be able to do it. 00:44:59.300 --> 00:44:59.519 I said, 00:44:59.559 --> 00:45:00.700 let's just go with whatever. 00:45:00.860 --> 00:45:01.700 And so just honor them 00:45:01.700 --> 00:45:03.320 and also just a shout out 00:45:03.320 --> 00:45:04.800 to all of you guys. 00:45:04.920 --> 00:45:05.960 When I come and ask you, 00:45:06.160 --> 00:45:07.200 unless you have a marathon, 00:45:07.580 --> 00:45:10.039 unless you are deeply sick, 00:45:10.120 --> 00:45:10.580 then actually, 00:45:11.000 --> 00:45:12.180 I just want to say, 00:45:12.280 --> 00:45:12.519 wow, 00:45:13.320 --> 00:45:14.300 to see these men 00:45:14.300 --> 00:45:15.019 just be faithful 00:45:15.019 --> 00:45:16.780 is inspiring to me. 00:45:16.880 --> 00:45:17.480 And that message, 00:45:17.580 --> 00:45:17.880 I hope, 00:45:18.460 --> 00:45:19.180 is what the Holy Spirit 00:45:19.180 --> 00:45:19.720 keeps saying 00:45:19.720 --> 00:45:20.580 over and over again, 00:45:21.780 --> 00:45:22.519 that those who are led 00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:23.940 by the Spirit of God 00:45:23.940 --> 00:45:24.680 are sons of God, 00:45:24.740 --> 00:45:25.500 are children of God. 00:45:26.100 --> 00:45:27.100 And that's the one message 00:45:27.100 --> 00:45:28.000 over and over again. 00:45:28.320 --> 00:45:30.100 If you are facing temptation, 00:45:30.300 --> 00:45:31.220 you know you walk out 00:45:31.220 --> 00:45:31.559 of this room, 00:45:31.620 --> 00:45:32.100 you are going to be 00:45:32.100 --> 00:45:32.880 facing temptation. 00:45:33.320 --> 00:45:34.240 Whether it's going to be 00:45:34.240 --> 00:45:35.140 on a computer screen 00:45:35.140 --> 00:45:36.059 or whether it's going to be 00:45:36.059 --> 00:45:37.039 in the form of a person 00:45:37.039 --> 00:45:38.000 or whether it's going to be 00:45:38.000 --> 00:45:39.019 in the form of work 00:45:39.019 --> 00:45:40.000 or any kind of challenge, 00:45:40.720 --> 00:45:41.580 I encourage you to say, 00:45:41.680 --> 00:45:43.880 but I am a child of God. 00:45:45.140 --> 00:45:46.220 He can be trusted 00:45:46.220 --> 00:45:49.059 and he loves me deeply. 00:45:49.200 --> 00:45:50.080 If we're honest to ourselves, 00:45:50.080 --> 00:45:50.800 when we succumb 00:45:50.800 --> 00:45:51.539 to those temptations, 00:45:51.539 --> 00:45:52.840 it's because we forget 00:45:52.840 --> 00:45:53.720 that one truth 00:45:53.720 --> 00:45:55.500 that the Holy Spirit 00:45:55.500 --> 00:45:56.420 is just hammering home 00:45:56.420 --> 00:45:57.280 time and time again. 00:45:57.360 --> 00:45:57.960 You are loved. 00:45:58.580 --> 00:45:59.220 You are mine. 00:46:00.220 --> 00:46:00.840 And if you have that, 00:46:00.960 --> 00:46:02.740 watch your own spirit 00:46:02.739 --> 00:46:03.279 be lifted 00:46:03.279 --> 00:46:05.799 and watch your own ability 00:46:05.799 --> 00:46:08.039 to face these temptations rise. 00:46:08.739 --> 00:46:10.059 And that's my prayer. 00:46:10.119 --> 00:46:10.619 That's our prayer. 00:46:11.099 --> 00:46:12.199 And so it's been great 00:46:12.199 --> 00:46:12.679 just to be able 00:46:12.679 --> 00:46:13.779 to fellowship and worship here. 00:46:13.979 --> 00:46:14.439 And next week, 00:46:14.539 --> 00:46:14.899 we're going to, 00:46:15.139 --> 00:46:16.519 Jesus announces, 00:46:16.659 --> 00:46:17.679 kickstarts his own ministry 00:46:17.679 --> 00:46:18.479 off himself 00:46:18.479 --> 00:46:19.799 by going to the temple 00:46:19.799 --> 00:46:21.159 and reading from 00:46:21.159 --> 00:46:21.699 the Old Testament 00:46:21.699 --> 00:46:22.319 and saying, 00:46:23.159 --> 00:46:24.000 ladies and gentlemen, 00:46:24.259 --> 00:46:24.979 I am him. 00:46:25.399 --> 00:46:25.939 Let's go. 00:46:26.519 --> 00:46:27.179 And that's what 00:46:27.179 --> 00:46:27.939 he's going to be doing. 00:46:27.940 --> 00:46:29.820 So welcome you to be back 00:46:29.820 --> 00:46:31.019 to unpack the word there 00:46:31.019 --> 00:46:32.059 with me next week as well. 00:46:32.139 --> 00:46:33.079 But as always, 00:46:33.860 --> 00:46:34.639 after a moment 00:46:34.639 --> 00:46:35.740 of quiet meditation, 00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:38.960 we'll head off to lunch 00:46:38.960 --> 00:46:40.960 slowly and gracefully 00:46:40.960 --> 00:46:42.720 as we exit from 00:46:42.720 --> 00:46:43.920 not the presence of God, 00:46:44.000 --> 00:46:44.559 but the fellowship 00:46:44.559 --> 00:46:45.260 of the saints. 00:46:45.659 --> 00:46:46.420 See you next week. 00:46:46.420 --> 00:47:16.400 Thank you.