WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Welcome to Ontario Community Church, 00:00:02.899 --> 00:00:04.799 where we're dedicated to encouraging, 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.799 equipping, and engaging lives for Christ. 00:00:07.799 --> 00:00:10.000 Located in Ontario, Oregon, 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.720 Pastor Patrick Daly preaches 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:13.800 insightful sermons from the Word of God, 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:16.719 offering practical applications for modern living. 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:19.600 We're delighted to share this sermon with you. 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:23.120 All right. Well, good morning, everyone. 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:26.199 Let's go ahead and head back to our seats. 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:31.000 It is great to be with all of you this morning. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:35.759 We've been singing these songs of praise and worship, 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:38.119 and had this time of greeting one another. 00:00:38.119 --> 00:00:43.120 Really, it's been great to have Ed join us this morning, 00:00:43.120 --> 00:00:45.879 and it's just great to have all of you here. 00:00:45.879 --> 00:00:50.640 Today, we're going to be entering into week two of our series, 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:52.079 which is titled, 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:56.039 A Sacred Journey from Death to Life. 00:00:56.039 --> 00:00:57.600 And this last week, 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:01.239 we went over the idea of what it means to repent. 00:01:01.239 --> 00:01:04.640 And it's this idea of transformation 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:07.280 that comes from the Lord. 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:11.239 We talked about what it means to be an ambassador for Christ, 00:01:11.239 --> 00:01:14.319 and that no matter what happens in this world, 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:16.519 the craziness that happens, 00:01:16.519 --> 00:01:18.359 we have a constant, 00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:23.359 for it is God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:27.519 We have so many opportunities to turn to the Lord. 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:29.799 There is no greater time than now 00:01:29.799 --> 00:01:32.120 than to make a decision for Christ, 00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:34.879 to believe in Him and to be saved. 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:37.960 And so today, we're going to go into week two 00:01:37.960 --> 00:01:39.519 of our sermon series. 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:44.239 And the title of the sermon today is Temptation and Humility. 00:01:44.239 --> 00:01:45.879 And I hope that all of you have, 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:49.679 the notes here, it's a two-pager on here, 00:01:49.679 --> 00:01:51.599 and there's quite a few notes on here, 00:01:51.599 --> 00:01:55.199 but Lord willing, we'll get through all of it. 00:01:56.280 --> 00:01:58.959 So our scripture passages that are in your notes 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:00.239 will be found in, 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:02.879 it's going to be on Matthew chapter four, 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:04.479 verses one through 11, 00:02:04.479 --> 00:02:08.439 which is about the temptation of Christ. 00:02:08.439 --> 00:02:11.280 And then we're going to go over Philippians chapter two, 00:02:11.280 --> 00:02:12.800 verses five through eight, 00:02:12.800 --> 00:02:15.840 which is the humility of Christ. 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:18.479 And thirdly, James chapter four, 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:20.719 verses six through 10, 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:24.560 which is our humility to Christ. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:27.039 But before we go any further, 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:29.240 let's open in prayer, 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:33.000 and let's ask God to lead and to guide us this morning. 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:36.280 As we open the pages of His word, 00:02:36.280 --> 00:02:39.480 we ask for transformation of the mind and the heart. 00:02:39.480 --> 00:02:40.680 Let's pray together. 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:45.199 And heavenly Father, as we gather today in your holy name, 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:47.719 we ask that you give us guidance, 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:49.319 that you give us truth, 00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:53.439 and that you give us wisdom from your word. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:56.119 For Father, the word that you have given to us 00:02:56.119 --> 00:02:59.239 is but a gift, it is living and active. 00:02:59.239 --> 00:03:02.000 And we ask that you help teach us about 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:05.759 this idea of temptation and humility. 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:09.280 We ask that we can come to know your son Jesus, 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:13.079 and that we can walk in the footsteps of Christ. 00:03:13.080 --> 00:03:18.080 We ask that you open our minds to live and to love like you, 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:23.240 and our hearts to be softened, to be more Christ-like. 00:03:23.240 --> 00:03:26.000 We ask that you are with us this morning, 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:28.920 where there is healing that is needed. 00:03:28.920 --> 00:03:30.280 Let there be healing, 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:32.200 where there is clarity that is required. 00:03:32.200 --> 00:03:34.280 Let there be clarity. 00:03:34.280 --> 00:03:35.640 Be with us this morning. 00:03:35.640 --> 00:03:37.520 It is in Jesus' name that we pray, 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:39.920 and we all say together, amen. 00:03:39.920 --> 00:03:41.960 Let us turn to our first scripture reading, 00:03:41.960 --> 00:03:45.480 which is going to be on page 961. 00:03:45.480 --> 00:03:48.120 It's going to be from Matthew, 00:03:48.120 --> 00:03:51.400 the Gospel of Matthew, chapter four, 00:03:54.600 --> 00:03:56.600 verses one through 11. 00:04:09.719 --> 00:04:11.520 Let's read it together. 00:04:11.520 --> 00:04:16.160 Feel free to read out loud, or to just follow along. 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:18.199 So this is the temptation of Jesus, 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:21.120 Matthew chapter four, verses one through 11. 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:26.519 Then Jesus was led up by the spirit into the wilderness 00:04:26.519 --> 00:04:28.920 to be tempted by the devil. 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:33.600 And after fasting 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry. 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:36.960 And the tempter came to him and said to him, 00:04:36.960 --> 00:04:39.000 if you are the son of God, 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:42.000 command these stones to become loaves of bread. 00:04:42.000 --> 00:04:46.360 But he, but Christ answered, it is written. 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:50.839 Man shall not live by bread alone, but by what? 00:04:50.839 --> 00:04:55.759 But by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:58.560 And then the devil took him up to the holy city 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:01.800 and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 00:05:01.800 --> 00:05:05.319 and said to him, if you are the son of God, 00:05:05.319 --> 00:05:08.680 throw yourself down, for it is written. 00:05:08.680 --> 00:05:11.800 He will command his angels concerning you. 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:14.079 On their hands they will bear you up, 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:16.720 lest you strike your foot against a stone. 00:05:17.879 --> 00:05:19.800 What does Jesus say here? 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:24.600 Again, it is written, you shall not put the Lord your God 00:05:24.600 --> 00:05:26.399 to the test. 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:29.960 Again, the devil took him up to a very high mountain 00:05:29.960 --> 00:05:32.399 and showed him all the kingdoms of the world 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:33.560 and their glory. 00:05:33.560 --> 00:05:37.879 And he said to him, all these things I will give to you, 00:05:37.879 --> 00:05:41.279 if you will fall down and worship me. 00:05:42.159 --> 00:05:44.279 What does Jesus say to him? 00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:47.519 Be gone Satan, for it is written, 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:50.199 you shall worship the Lord your God, 00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:54.800 and him only shall you serve. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:57.800 Then the devil left him and behold, 00:05:57.800 --> 00:06:01.680 angels came and were ministering to him. 00:06:02.839 --> 00:06:07.040 This is our first scriptural reading. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:11.400 And we see here that God gives us an example 00:06:11.400 --> 00:06:15.040 of what it means to not fall into temptation, 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:19.000 but instead to resist the devil 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:22.720 and to follow the teachings of God's word. 00:06:22.720 --> 00:06:26.320 God does not tempt us to sin, 00:06:26.320 --> 00:06:29.600 rather he does test us to show the authenticity, 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:32.520 and that's very different than what the devil is doing. 00:06:32.520 --> 00:06:35.840 The devil is tempting Christ to get him to sin. 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:40.839 And that's much like how the devil will tempt us to sin. 00:06:41.560 --> 00:06:42.759 And what you'll see on here, 00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:46.399 let's put this as the reference verse in James chapter one, 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:49.839 verse 13, which scripture says, 00:06:49.839 --> 00:06:53.319 let no one say when he is tempted, say what? 00:06:54.599 --> 00:06:56.879 I am being tempted by God, 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:59.639 for God cannot be tempted with evil, 00:06:59.639 --> 00:07:03.279 and he himself tempts no one. 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:05.719 So the devil on the other hand, 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:09.280 he tempts us to do wrong, to sin, to miss the mark. 00:07:09.280 --> 00:07:11.360 Let's go to that next reference verse, 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:15.880 which is from a couple of verses after James chapter one, 00:07:15.880 --> 00:07:17.520 verse 14 and 15. 00:07:17.520 --> 00:07:20.120 Each person is tempted when he is lured 00:07:20.120 --> 00:07:22.520 and enticed by his own desire, 00:07:22.520 --> 00:07:26.520 then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, 00:07:26.520 --> 00:07:31.520 and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 00:07:31.520 --> 00:07:33.520 So it's talking about what happens 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:37.479 when you fall into temptation, you sin. 00:07:37.479 --> 00:07:38.719 And if you look on your notes, 00:07:38.719 --> 00:07:41.519 you'll see here that there is a chart on here, 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:45.199 which shows, I've titled it Temptation and Truth, 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:47.680 which is showing the difference between 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:50.959 what specifically is the devil doing here, 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:53.599 and how is Christ responding to it? 00:07:53.599 --> 00:07:55.399 Well, you see that the devil is saying, 00:07:55.399 --> 00:07:58.719 turn the stones to bread, 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:03.640 which is the focus on the physical and not the spiritual. 00:08:03.640 --> 00:08:06.360 Now, if you can imagine fasting, 00:08:06.360 --> 00:08:09.120 for those of us who have fasted before, 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:10.640 we get hungry, right? 00:08:10.640 --> 00:08:12.960 And certainly we wanna have a bite to eat. 00:08:12.960 --> 00:08:16.040 It's a time of spiritual discipline. 00:08:16.880 --> 00:08:19.800 And the devil here is tempting the Lord 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:22.800 into, again, focus on the physical. 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:25.800 And Christ's response is to focus 00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:28.759 on the physical and the spiritual. 00:08:28.759 --> 00:08:31.480 And in your notes, you'll see that Christ 00:08:31.480 --> 00:08:33.480 is quoting Deuteronomy 8.3, 00:08:33.480 --> 00:08:37.600 and we also know in John chapter six, verse 35, 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:41.200 that Christ is the bread of life. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:44.120 So we get nourishment from the word of God, right? 00:08:44.120 --> 00:08:47.279 Man does not live by bread alone. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:48.560 Does that mean never eat bread? 00:08:48.560 --> 00:08:51.639 Well, we need to take care of our physical needs, right? 00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:55.919 But we also need to take care of our spiritual needs. 00:08:55.919 --> 00:08:59.439 And you also see the second one, which is testing God. 00:08:59.439 --> 00:09:01.000 Now, what's very interesting, 00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:03.919 I want to go to the Psalm slide, 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:08.600 if you can go to that one, Psalm 91, verses 11 through 12. 00:09:08.600 --> 00:09:10.240 What's very interesting to note 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:12.919 is that Satan quotes scripture. 00:09:12.919 --> 00:09:16.080 Some of you may or may not know that the devil can read 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:18.720 and the devil will misconstrue, right? 00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:20.600 Or twist scripture. 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:22.600 But you know what's so interesting about this 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:24.320 is the fact that the devil, 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:28.720 he omits the italicized line here. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:33.720 So for he will command his angels concerning you to what? 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:37.320 To guard you in all of your ways. 00:09:37.320 --> 00:09:39.120 On their hands, they will bear you up, 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:41.440 lest you strike your foot against a stone. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:43.840 You know what's very interesting about that? 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:47.440 Well, why did the devil remove that part? 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:52.440 Because in trusting in God, the Lord will guard you, right? 00:09:52.880 --> 00:09:55.480 Will guard you in all of your ways. 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:59.720 And this is, he removes that from scripture 00:09:59.720 --> 00:10:03.920 by saying, if you just throw yourself down, 00:10:03.920 --> 00:10:06.960 if you jump off of this ledge, the angels, 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:09.720 well, that's completely out of context here. 00:10:09.720 --> 00:10:14.720 The Psalm 91 is speaking about how it's a very powerful 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:17.399 Psalm that shows that God will protect those 00:10:17.399 --> 00:10:19.360 that will follow him. 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:22.320 But in all of this, there is still accountability 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:26.399 and there is still responsibility of the believer. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:28.399 And so I just found that to be very interesting 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:30.240 that the devil himself just omits 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:32.560 an entire line of scripture. 00:10:32.560 --> 00:10:35.420 And when we think of today, unfortunately, 00:10:35.420 --> 00:10:38.560 there are people who will omit certain parts, 00:10:38.560 --> 00:10:41.800 sentences, or maybe even they'll overlook 00:10:41.800 --> 00:10:43.820 certain things of scripture. 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:45.240 So that's something to take note. 00:10:45.240 --> 00:10:48.360 Going back to that chart, we have the third temptation, 00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:51.879 which is worshiping the devil for kingdoms and glory, 00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:54.960 which you find a lot of people who think 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:57.120 of how Christ asks the question, 00:10:57.120 --> 00:10:59.760 what good is it for a man or for someone 00:10:59.760 --> 00:11:03.840 to gain the entire world but to lose his soul? 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:05.720 And this is the same concept here. 00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:07.880 If you worship the devil for kingdoms and glory, 00:11:07.880 --> 00:11:11.840 for power, for glory, for fame, for riches, 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:14.639 seek first the kingdom of God. 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:18.200 And we see that Christ is responding 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:23.200 from Deuteronomy 613, which is to worship the Lord 00:11:23.280 --> 00:11:25.639 and to focus on him. 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:27.480 We don't worship the devil for, 00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:28.920 we don't worship the devil. 00:11:28.920 --> 00:11:32.440 And we don't sell our soul for kingdoms or glory. 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:35.480 And so it's the question that we have to think about 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:37.040 when we look at this chart here, 00:11:37.040 --> 00:11:39.700 when we think about how Christ was tempted here 00:11:39.700 --> 00:11:43.440 on the earth that goes to show us the human condition 00:11:43.440 --> 00:11:44.600 in which we live in. 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:49.600 If Christ gets tempted by the devil, so are we. 00:11:49.960 --> 00:11:51.560 Let's be honest here. 00:11:51.560 --> 00:11:52.840 We will be tempted. 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:55.980 And it's the question of how we will respond 00:11:55.980 --> 00:11:57.360 to that temptation. 00:11:57.360 --> 00:12:00.440 Again, the first temptation had to do with focusing 00:12:00.440 --> 00:12:02.960 on the physical and not the spiritual. 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:05.879 The second one had to do with a misquoting 00:12:05.879 --> 00:12:10.080 or a misrepresentation or as some would call it, 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:12.600 misinformation of scripture. 00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:15.720 And we know that when we're reading the word of God, 00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:19.480 we need to look at the context as well as the connections. 00:12:19.480 --> 00:12:22.439 And in looking at the context and the connections 00:12:22.439 --> 00:12:25.220 in scripture, you find consistency. 00:12:25.220 --> 00:12:28.840 You find clarity that exists with scripture. 00:12:29.840 --> 00:12:32.120 And so we had that third one. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:35.759 We had that Psalm 91. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:38.960 You know, in Psalm 119, I wanna put that one up. 00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:43.399 How do we respond with temptation? 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:47.240 Well, certainly we place our trust in the Lord. 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:49.360 But in Psalm 119, I love this, 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:52.019 is how can a young man keep his way pure? 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:53.480 How? 00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:56.279 By guarding it according to your word. 00:12:56.279 --> 00:12:58.220 It is through knowing the word of God. 00:12:58.220 --> 00:12:59.360 It is through reading. 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:03.319 It is through hearing the word of God being taught 00:13:03.319 --> 00:13:05.620 and preached in churches. 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:08.960 Coming to know who the Lord is and growing in that faith. 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:11.679 It is not having stagnant faith, 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:15.480 but having a constant growing process. 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:18.440 Because God wants to mold us into the men and women 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:21.019 that we are supposed to be. 00:13:21.019 --> 00:13:24.639 Certainly there is a learning process. 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:27.639 Are we still learning the word of God? 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:31.399 Do we find that when we read scripture the fifth time, 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:33.100 that it might be different than when you read it 00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:34.279 the first time? 00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:38.240 Or maybe when you read the Bible as a 13 year old? 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:42.120 Is it different than when you read it as a 50 year old? 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:44.159 That's something to really think about. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:48.879 We resist the devil by our faith in Christ 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:51.120 and knowing God's word. 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:54.179 So I want us to turn to our second scripture 00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:56.240 which is found in the book of Philippians. 00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:59.559 It's on page 1165. 00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:04.559 Let's turn there together. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:16.119 So it's Philippians chapter two verses four through eight. 00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:26.279 It says on your notes five to eight, 00:14:26.279 --> 00:14:31.279 but we'll start on verse four. 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:34.639 Let's read it together. 00:14:34.639 --> 00:14:39.199 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, 00:14:39.199 --> 00:14:42.519 but also to the interests of others. 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:45.360 Have this mind among yourselves, 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:48.360 which is yours in Christ Jesus. 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:51.559 Who though he was in the form of God 00:14:51.559 --> 00:14:56.559 did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 00:14:56.839 --> 00:15:01.359 but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant 00:15:01.359 --> 00:15:04.119 being born in the likeness of men 00:15:04.119 --> 00:15:06.319 and being found in human form. 00:15:06.319 --> 00:15:10.399 He humbled himself by becoming what? 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:15.399 Obedience to the point of death, even death on the cross. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:17.919 Let's think about that for a second here. 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:22.679 How Christ humbled himself for us. 00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:26.479 Very powerful words that we find from Philippians here. 00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:30.639 And just like how we've seen in that first verse, 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:33.360 we saw that Christ was tempted for 40 days 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:34.519 in the wilderness. 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:36.039 There were the three temptations 00:15:36.039 --> 00:15:37.959 to be separated from God. 00:15:37.959 --> 00:15:39.719 We can see from this set of verses 00:15:39.719 --> 00:15:44.719 that it is the call for us to not just focus on ourselves, 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:47.440 but also to focus on the needs of others. 00:15:50.259 --> 00:15:51.940 It's a balance, right? 00:15:51.940 --> 00:15:54.060 We certainly need to care for ourselves, 00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:56.220 but also care for others. 00:15:56.220 --> 00:16:00.139 It's when we only focused on ourselves. 00:16:00.139 --> 00:16:03.379 Focus on the Lord, focus on the needs of others, 00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:07.620 and also focus on how to care for yourself. 00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:09.740 We discover that it is Jesus Christ 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:13.019 who is the prime example of humility. 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:15.100 It is he who was without sin, 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:19.379 who was born into the flesh and became like one of us 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:22.379 to bear the sins of the world. 00:16:22.379 --> 00:16:25.299 And not only is Christ the prime example 00:16:25.299 --> 00:16:27.939 of living a life in humility, 00:16:27.939 --> 00:16:30.779 but Christ shows us this inexhaustible 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:33.460 and remarkable love that God has for us, 00:16:33.460 --> 00:16:36.860 such as in Romans chapter five, verse eight. 00:16:36.860 --> 00:16:39.500 But God shows us what? 00:16:39.500 --> 00:16:43.779 His love for us in that while we were still what? 00:16:43.779 --> 00:16:47.179 Still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:16:47.179 --> 00:16:50.539 And certainly we're not Christ, we're not the Lord, 00:16:50.539 --> 00:16:53.580 but we are called to believe in him, 00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:57.659 to humbly believe in him, to be repentant for our sins. 00:16:57.659 --> 00:16:59.679 Remember what we talked about last week, 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:03.480 to change your mind, metanoia. 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:06.059 And also it is to follow in his footsteps. 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:09.339 And so you need to ask yourself the question then, 00:17:09.339 --> 00:17:14.339 will you humbly follow in the footsteps of Christ? 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:17.459 To see the kind of love that God has for us 00:17:17.459 --> 00:17:22.459 is very hard for many of us to grasp this type of love, 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:26.480 this agape, this unconditional love that God has for us. 00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:30.619 But it is the truth of scripture nonetheless. 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:33.299 And there's two things that in reading this passage 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:35.139 that really stick out to me, hey bud. 00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:40.820 When we're reading this passage, 00:17:40.820 --> 00:17:44.900 we see that Christ was in the form of God, 00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:47.460 which shows Christ's existence 00:17:47.460 --> 00:17:50.380 before the creation of the world. 00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:52.980 And that's always very interesting where we see, 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:54.980 what do you mean Christ was before 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:57.020 the foundation of the world? 00:17:57.020 --> 00:17:59.860 But this is one of those verses that speaks to that. 00:18:01.220 --> 00:18:03.220 This also helps us with the understanding 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:05.900 of the Trinity or the triune God. 00:18:05.900 --> 00:18:07.180 When we're reading this passage, 00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:11.100 we see that Christ was in the form of God, right? 00:18:11.100 --> 00:18:14.420 It was the form, the morph, 00:18:14.420 --> 00:18:18.100 the form of God to the morph of a servant, 00:18:18.100 --> 00:18:23.100 to the form or the appearance, the schema of man. 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:25.579 And so Christ emptied himself, 00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:29.220 he humbled himself by becoming a servant, 00:18:29.220 --> 00:18:32.860 the word becoming flesh and dwelling among us 00:18:32.859 --> 00:18:37.859 to seek and to save the lost and doing all of this 00:18:37.939 --> 00:18:42.939 so that all who believe will have everlasting life. 00:18:42.939 --> 00:18:47.059 And this is the love that God has shown us 00:18:47.059 --> 00:18:49.619 to pay for our sins on the cross 00:18:49.619 --> 00:18:53.500 that we can attain salvation through faith in him. 00:18:53.500 --> 00:18:57.139 In John chapter one, verse 14, what does it say? 00:18:57.139 --> 00:19:01.699 And the word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:19:01.700 --> 00:19:03.660 And we have seen his glory, 00:19:03.660 --> 00:19:07.140 glory as of the only son from the Father, 00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:10.980 full of grace and truth. 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:13.580 It is Christ who is the fulfillment 00:19:13.580 --> 00:19:15.980 of Old Testament prophecy. 00:19:15.980 --> 00:19:18.580 It was foretold in so many passages 00:19:18.580 --> 00:19:20.860 of the coming of the Messiah. 00:19:20.860 --> 00:19:22.660 I want you to consider, 00:19:22.660 --> 00:19:24.259 we're not gonna put the entire verse on here, 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:26.940 but in Isaiah, it's in your notes, 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:30.940 chapter 52, verse 13 through 53, 12, 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:34.100 it speaks of the suffering servant. 00:19:34.100 --> 00:19:37.019 It is the foretelling or one of the many verses 00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:39.860 that foretell of the coming of Jesus Christ 00:19:39.860 --> 00:19:42.660 and the suffering servant that will come. 00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:44.500 And this is encouraging to me again 00:19:44.500 --> 00:19:47.120 to see the context, but also the connections 00:19:47.120 --> 00:19:49.380 with other scripture. 00:19:49.380 --> 00:19:52.400 And I pray that this is encouraging to you, 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:55.299 that you come to know who the Lord is 00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:59.900 and that you will humbly follow in his footsteps. 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:02.860 It is believing in the Lord first and foremost. 00:20:02.860 --> 00:20:04.740 And upon that salvation, 00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:07.860 upon receiving the free gift of salvation, 00:20:07.860 --> 00:20:11.900 it is learning about the Lord and doing good in his name. 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:14.500 For we are saved by grace through faith, 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:17.340 such as in Ephesians chapter two, verse eight, 00:20:17.340 --> 00:20:21.380 for by grace you have been saved through faith. 00:20:21.380 --> 00:20:24.540 Is this by our own doing? 00:20:24.540 --> 00:20:27.940 No, it says this is not your own doing. 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:31.340 It is what? A gift and this gift, right? 00:20:31.340 --> 00:20:35.019 When you give someone a gift, it is free. 00:20:35.019 --> 00:20:37.259 And that's just the wonderful thing about our Lord, 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:40.420 is that it is the free gift of salvation. 00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:43.500 And it is in knowing the Lord that our minds 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:47.820 are continually changing to know him more deeply 00:20:47.820 --> 00:20:50.420 and to grow in that relationship. 00:20:50.420 --> 00:20:54.080 You don't tell your spouse you just love them once, right? 00:20:54.080 --> 00:20:57.620 You have to continue to show that you have that love 00:20:57.619 --> 00:20:59.219 and that dedication. 00:20:59.219 --> 00:21:02.359 Well, how is having a relationship in the Lord any different? 00:21:02.359 --> 00:21:05.539 You have to continue to have that relationship. 00:21:05.539 --> 00:21:06.819 That's just wonderful. 00:21:07.699 --> 00:21:09.579 We continue to grow in him 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:13.139 and that should be an encouragement for us to live 00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:14.779 and to love like Jesus. 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:16.779 Let's turn to our third scripture, 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:18.779 which is found in the book of James. 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:22.299 It's on page 1201. 00:21:22.299 --> 00:21:27.299 And it's James chapter four, verses six through 10. 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:48.460 So James chapter four, verses six through 10. 00:21:48.460 --> 00:21:53.460 But he gives us less grace. 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:56.380 No, what does he give us? 00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:58.420 He gives us more grace. 00:21:58.420 --> 00:22:02.539 Therefore it says, God loves the proud. 00:22:02.539 --> 00:22:06.579 No, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:09.380 Submit yourselves therefore to God. 00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:12.940 Resist the devil and he will what? 00:22:12.940 --> 00:22:16.220 He will flee from you, draw near to God 00:22:16.220 --> 00:22:18.579 and he will draw near to you. 00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:20.460 Cleanse your hands, you sinners, 00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:24.220 and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 00:22:24.220 --> 00:22:27.380 Be wretched and mourn and weep. 00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:31.100 Let your laughter turn to mourning and your joy to gloom. 00:22:31.100 --> 00:22:36.100 Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. 00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:38.860 Keeping you guys on your toes, right? 00:22:38.860 --> 00:22:42.339 Making sure you know what the word of God says here. 00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:44.579 And we come to this final verse that is found 00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:47.819 from the book of James and the context of this verse 00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:50.339 is speaking about how to live a life 00:22:50.339 --> 00:22:53.059 that is more Christ-like. 00:22:53.059 --> 00:22:56.339 It is in knowing that we are saved by grace through faith 00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:59.859 that should be the greatest encouragement for us 00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:02.460 to have a desire to live for the Lord 00:23:02.460 --> 00:23:05.500 and to love like Christ has loved us. 00:23:06.460 --> 00:23:08.819 These verses give us a framework. 00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:12.339 And just as Christ resisted the devil, 00:23:12.339 --> 00:23:14.500 resisted the temptation of the devil, 00:23:14.500 --> 00:23:17.779 so too can we resist the devil. 00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:21.220 Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:25.940 That's a very powerful verse, I'm gonna be honest here, right? 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:29.420 We resist the devil by having that relationship with Christ 00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:30.779 and by knowing the word of God. 00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:33.940 I know what my Bible says and devil, 00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:36.460 I don't know what you're saying here. 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:39.619 That's how we have to know what the word of God says. 00:23:40.779 --> 00:23:43.380 It is encouraging to know that when we resist the devil, 00:23:43.380 --> 00:23:45.620 he will flee from us. 00:23:45.620 --> 00:23:47.540 Especially when you hear sometimes 00:23:47.540 --> 00:23:49.260 that the devil will just follow you around 00:23:49.260 --> 00:23:52.500 like a stalker or something and just continually go. 00:23:53.580 --> 00:23:56.860 When you resist the devil, he will flee from you. 00:23:56.860 --> 00:24:00.540 Of course, we should always be encouraged to enter 00:24:00.540 --> 00:24:02.620 in that deeper relationship with the Lord 00:24:02.620 --> 00:24:05.580 and not just have a superficial relationship. 00:24:05.580 --> 00:24:08.740 It's like I said, you don't tell your kids or your spouse, 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:10.220 you just love them once. 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:12.220 You have to continue in that. 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:14.779 And our minds should be, and our hearts, 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:18.740 they should be focused on living a life that is different 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:21.500 than what this world has to offer. 00:24:22.420 --> 00:24:25.660 Many of us can see what the world has to offer. 00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:28.059 And we may wonder, is there any meaning 00:24:28.059 --> 00:24:30.660 in a life without the Lord? 00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:34.700 Just like in Ecclesiastes, you find that Solomon found 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:38.539 that life is meaningless under the sun. 00:24:38.539 --> 00:24:42.019 Without knowing God, life is meaningless. 00:24:42.019 --> 00:24:45.019 But God provides us salvation through faith. 00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:46.500 He gives us purpose. 00:24:46.500 --> 00:24:49.819 He gives us a new identity in him. 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:52.099 There's so much that comes from the Lord. 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:57.420 I speak of transformation that comes from the living God. 00:24:57.420 --> 00:24:59.779 And just as I was speaking about Metanoia, 00:24:59.779 --> 00:25:03.660 changing our minds, there is change that happens 00:25:03.660 --> 00:25:05.059 so that we come to know the Lord 00:25:05.059 --> 00:25:07.220 and there's continual transformation 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.900 that comes from the Lord. 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:13.740 And we see in that verse that God continues to give us grace. 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:16.500 Knowing that God gives us more grace 00:25:16.500 --> 00:25:20.900 is a wonderful set of words here. 00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:24.100 Because God is constant and he will never fail us. 00:25:24.100 --> 00:25:27.780 Because Jesus Christ, my friends, is not the same. 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:31.900 He is the same yesterday and Tuesday. 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:36.660 Right, no, yesterday and today and forever. 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:39.340 And knowing that we believe in the Lord, 00:25:39.340 --> 00:25:41.660 when we believe in him, we are saved by grace. 00:25:41.660 --> 00:25:46.140 God continues to show his abundant love towards us. 00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:49.779 These verses speak about how we should humble ourselves 00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.740 before God. 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:53.380 Knowing that Jesus Christ paid it all 00:25:53.380 --> 00:25:54.940 on the cross at Calvary, 00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:58.980 it should encourage us to live for him. 00:25:58.980 --> 00:26:01.340 Let us not be stagnant in our faith, 00:26:02.259 --> 00:26:06.620 but let us be encouraged to live for the Lord. 00:26:06.619 --> 00:26:10.939 You'll notice that in Proverbs chapter three, verse 34, 00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:15.979 that quoting that we found in James, it's quoted twice. 00:26:15.979 --> 00:26:19.059 It's referenced from Proverbs 3, 34 00:26:19.059 --> 00:26:24.059 and also 1 Peter chapter five, verses five through six. 00:26:24.139 --> 00:26:25.899 And with all of these verses in mind, 00:26:25.899 --> 00:26:27.859 I want us to think and consider 00:26:27.859 --> 00:26:32.539 and to reflect on the humility of Christ. 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:36.740 Christ resisted the devil through knowing the scriptures. 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:39.339 Let us be encouraged to know our Bible. 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:41.500 It makes me think of who we are as people 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:43.980 that we are called to believe in the Lord 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:47.500 and to have our minds and our hearts transformed. 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:49.220 Do not be conformed to this world, 00:26:49.220 --> 00:26:52.339 but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. 00:26:52.339 --> 00:26:54.899 Create in me a new heart, oh God, 00:26:54.899 --> 00:26:57.539 and renew a right spirit in me. 00:26:58.819 --> 00:27:00.420 We should know God's word. 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:03.580 For recognizing temptation, 00:27:03.580 --> 00:27:05.980 I want to put in 1 Corinthians 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:08.820 that no temptation has overtaken you. 00:27:08.820 --> 00:27:10.300 That is not common to man. 00:27:10.300 --> 00:27:12.660 That's a very good one to know, right? 00:27:12.660 --> 00:27:13.980 Temptation is common. 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:17.620 God is faithful and he will not let you be tempted 00:27:17.620 --> 00:27:20.580 beyond your ability, but with the temptation, 00:27:20.580 --> 00:27:22.539 he will provide the way of escape 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:24.340 that you may be able to endure it. 00:27:24.340 --> 00:27:27.580 And that's wonderful to know that with every temptation, 00:27:27.580 --> 00:27:29.940 there's a way to escape that temptation. 00:27:29.940 --> 00:27:34.420 There's a way that we can outwit the devil, so to speak. 00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:36.059 Let the devil flee from you. 00:27:38.140 --> 00:27:41.539 And in closing here, I want you to take time 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:44.740 to reflect on where you may be facing temptation 00:27:44.740 --> 00:27:46.140 in your own life. 00:27:46.140 --> 00:27:48.740 Is there temptation that is getting you 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:51.140 to focus away from the Lord? 00:27:51.140 --> 00:27:55.220 You'll see that there's verses on the live it out section, 00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:57.380 recognize temptation, right? 00:27:57.380 --> 00:28:01.420 Practice humility from Micah chapter six, verse eight. 00:28:02.780 --> 00:28:04.780 He has told you, oh man, what is good 00:28:04.780 --> 00:28:06.420 and what does the Lord require of you, 00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:11.100 but to do justice and to love kindness and to what? 00:28:11.100 --> 00:28:14.460 Walk humbly with your God. 00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:16.780 It's a very powerful verse and also in your notes, 00:28:16.780 --> 00:28:18.740 live and love like Christ, 00:28:18.740 --> 00:28:22.940 just as found in 1 John chapter four, verse 16. 00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:25.820 We have come to know and to believe 00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:28.259 the love that God has for us. 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:30.619 God is love and what? 00:28:30.619 --> 00:28:34.339 Whoever abides in love abides in God, 00:28:34.339 --> 00:28:35.819 God abides in him. 00:28:35.819 --> 00:28:37.579 Very encouraging verses here. 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:42.980 And so in all of this, be encouraged to know 00:28:42.980 --> 00:28:47.980 that when you are tempted, you can have the devil flee 00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:51.500 from you by knowing the word of God. 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:55.659 And certainly we are called to walk humbly with the Lord. 00:28:55.660 --> 00:28:58.620 Allow for God to work in and through your life. 00:28:59.740 --> 00:29:02.500 By having the Lord at the center of your life 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:04.900 and your work and your play with your family, 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:06.140 with your community, 00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:12.940 in having that relationship is life changing. 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:15.980 Your life will never be the same in knowing the Lord, 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:20.019 but there's that assurance, that confidence in the Lord 00:29:20.019 --> 00:29:22.700 and knowing that you are safe and secure. 00:29:22.700 --> 00:29:25.299 Wouldn't you want to share in this faith 00:29:25.299 --> 00:29:27.299 with your friends and your family? 00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:29.100 I hope that you're encouraged too. 00:29:29.100 --> 00:29:33.059 And with that, let's pray together. 00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:36.620 And Father God, as we conclude our time today, 00:29:36.620 --> 00:29:39.259 we ask that you give us the strength, the wisdom, 00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:44.259 and the guidance to respond to the temptations of the world 00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:46.779 or from the devil. 00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:50.700 May we learn to live in humility to Christ 00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:54.940 and to have you at the center of our lives. 00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:59.580 Be with us as we close in our final song today. 00:29:59.580 --> 00:30:03.980 And as we leave this place, as we go out into our lives, 00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:09.220 let us not just be hearers of the word, but doers. 00:30:09.220 --> 00:30:12.380 We say all of these things in the precious name 00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:15.380 of Jesus Christ and we all say together, amen. 00:30:16.980 --> 00:30:18.019 Thank you for tuning in 00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:21.019 to the Ontario Community Church sermon podcast. 00:30:21.019 --> 00:30:22.539 For more about our church 00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:25.220 and how you can get involved or support our mission, 00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:28.940 please visit ontariocommunitychurch.org. 00:30:28.940 --> 00:30:48.900 May God's blessings be with you.