THE WORD

---

THE WORD

Al

The Preaching Ministry of Ashley River Baptist Church

i ve

Going for the Gold: Showdown in the Desert (Part 1) Matthew 4:1-11 THE CONTEST: Temptation (verse 1) - TEMPT: “put to the test” “try” “prove” “entice” “attract” “an enticement to evil” “An invitation to trespass beyond God’s moral boundary line.” THE CONTESTANTS: JESUS CHRIST: Truly God - the Son of God - the anointed Messiah of mankind sent from God. SATAN: supernatural evil angelic being possessing supernatural powers - created by God – Rebelled and was cast out of heaven - Devil – Tempter – Accuser – Dragon - Adversary – Enemy of God and man THE PREPARATION: JESUS CHRIST: Eternal existence in Heaven – Just beginning earthly Ministry - Recently baptized and declared Son of God – Fasting 40 days and hungry (Matthew 3:13) Strengths: Righteous, Almighty God, focused on His mission and purpose, empowered by the Holy Spirit, perfect knowledge of opponent – created him. SATAN: Lifetime of experience - Knows opponent well – Skillful – History of great success: Eve, Cain, David; Major defeat at the hands of opponent! Luke 10:18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Strengths: Deception, power, ruthlessness, focus, tenacity and experience THE SETTING: Desert Wilderness - Temple in Jerusalem - High Mountain I. 1ST HEAT: TRUST GOD FOR PROVISION - Satan’s Game Plan: 1 - Create doubt so as to tempt Son into disobedience by demonstrating lack of trust in Father to provide. Prove It! “If you are the Son of God” 2 - Convince Jesus He has something to prove: Sonship 3 - Attack at point of weakness: hunger Challenge: “command that these stones become bread” Phil. 3:19 Satan: “Go ahead…feed your natural lusts and appetite.”

Temptations: 1 – Appropriate your powers for your own provision thereby demonstrating self-reliance, disobedience and a lack of trust in the Father to provide. 2 – Feed your pride by proving your power and position – who you are. 3 - Respond to a challenge of Satan by submitting the proof he demands! RESULT: Jesus Wins! Jesus defeats Satan and proves true Sonship by: 1 - Refusing the demand of Satan and demonstrating trust in the father to provide as any true son must. To succumb to Satan and create bread in response to his request was to become a tool of Satan and thus be disqualified as a true “Son of the Father”. 2 - Utilizing scripture as Divine authority and directive to withstand the assault. “the sword of the Spirit” (Deut 8:3) “It is written…” - once written now stands forever! POST GAME ANALYSIS 1. It is not a sin to be tempted: The very first enticement or attraction to sin is temptation, not sin. A. RECOGNIZE IT – that is temptation B. REFUSE IT – I will not give in Hebrews 4:15 2 - The only way you can overcome temptation is in the power of the Holy Spirit. Luke 4:1 3. No temptation is new or irresistible I Corinthians 10:13: GOD MAKES A WAY TO ESCAPE! 4. The best weapon against temptation is to assert the Word of God” Psalm 119:11 At stake was Trust in God and Trust in God’s Word…every word! 5. The closer you are to God, the easier it is to resist temptation James 4:7 6. All lies and those who succumb to them when exposed by truth are revealed for what they are: Sinful, deceptive, foolish, shameful and ridiculous! - No clear thinking person would believe creating bread would prove one to be the Son of God. - Had Jesus created the bread to prove His Sonship, Satan STILL would not have recognized him as the Son of God…and even if he did, what Satan thinks does not matter anyway! Sin never delivers the promised results! Only fools blinded by the deception do not know better! Ask God to reveal to you the deception behind those areas of temptation in you your life and give you the strength to resist so that as a true son of God, you might honor your Father and be blessed of Him.