Overcoming Temptation: Strength in Christ's Faithfulness
Summary
In this third week of exploring the temptation of Jesus as recounted in Luke 4, we delve into the profound reality of temptation and the strength we find in Christ to overcome it. After Jesus' baptism, He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where He fasted for 40 days and faced the devil's temptations. This scene is a powerful reminder that temptation is relentless, knocking at our doors every moment. Yet, Jesus, who understands our struggles, teaches us to pray, "Lead us not into temptation," acknowledging the constant battle we face.
Martin Luther's insights remind us of the dangers and temptations that every Christian must bear, emphasizing the need for prayer and reliance on God. Jesus, our merciful and faithful high priest, was tempted yet did not sin, making atonement for our sins and offering us grace and mercy. He stands with us in our battles, providing strength beyond our own.
The devil's cunning use of Scripture in tempting Jesus highlights the importance of knowing God's Word. Jesus responds with Scripture, demonstrating trust in God's faithfulness and rejecting shortcuts that deviate from God's plan. This teaches us that every temptation involves more than we perceive, affecting our faith, family, and future.
The temptation to presume upon God is prevalent, often leading us to demand His response to our plans rather than seeking His will. True faith is rooted in God's past faithfulness, not in our expectations of future outcomes. We are called to pray, "Thy will be done," submitting to God's good and gracious will.
In our noisy world, finding stillness to listen to God is crucial. The Pause app is a resource to help us pause, pray, and remember that God is in control. Jesus' journey to the cross, standing firm against temptation, assures us of our identity as beloved children of God. He fights our battles, offering forgiveness and strength to face temptation with Him by our side.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Relentless Nature of Temptation: Temptation is a constant presence in our lives, knocking at our doors every moment. Jesus, who understands our struggles, teaches us to pray for deliverance from temptation, reminding us of the ongoing battle we face as Christians. [06:05]
2. Jesus, Our Faithful High Priest: Jesus was tempted yet did not sin, making atonement for our sins and offering us grace and mercy. He stands with us in our battles, providing strength beyond our own, reminding us that we do not fight temptation alone. [09:34]
3. The Power of God's Word: Jesus' response to temptation with Scripture highlights the importance of knowing God's Word. Trusting in God's faithfulness, He rejects shortcuts that deviate from God's plan, teaching us that every temptation involves more than we perceive. [12:00]
4. Avoiding Presumption on God: The temptation to presume upon God often leads us to demand His response to our plans rather than seeking His will. True faith is rooted in God's past faithfulness, not in our expectations of future outcomes. [15:31]
5. Finding Stillness in a Noisy World: In our noisy world, finding stillness to listen to God is crucial. The Pause app is a resource to help us pause, pray, and remember that God is in control, reinforcing our identity as beloved children of God. [21:11]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [06:05] - The Relentless Nature of Temptation
- [09:34] - Jesus, Our Faithful High Priest
- [12:00] - The Power of God's Word
- [15:31] - Avoiding Presumption on God
- [18:20] - Faith Rooted in God's Faithfulness
- [21:11] - Finding Stillness in a Noisy World
- [23:14] - Assurance of Our Identity in Christ
- [25:00] - Jesus' Journey to the Cross
- [27:00] - The Lion of Judah in Our Corner
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 4:1-13
2. Hebrews 2:17-18
3. Psalm 91:11-12
---
Observation Questions:
1. What were the circumstances that led Jesus into the wilderness, and how long was He there before facing temptation? [06:05]
2. How does Jesus respond to the devil's temptations, and what does this reveal about His reliance on Scripture? [12:00]
3. In the sermon, what is highlighted as the devil's tactic when quoting Psalm 91 to Jesus? What was left out, and why is it significant? [09:34]
4. According to the sermon, how does Jesus' experience with temptation provide us with strength and assurance in our own battles? [23:14]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' response to temptation in the wilderness demonstrate the importance of knowing and trusting God's Word? [12:00]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that presuming upon God can lead us away from His will? How does this relate to the Israelites' experience at Massah? [15:31]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of Jesus as our merciful and faithful high priest, and what implications does this have for our understanding of His support in our struggles? [09:34]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of finding stillness in our lives, and how can this practice impact our relationship with God? [21:11]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you faced temptation. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in light of Jesus' example? [06:05]
2. Consider the ways you might be presuming upon God in your life. Are there areas where you are demanding His response to your plans rather than seeking His will? How can you shift your focus to align with His desires? [15:31]
3. How can you incorporate Scripture more deeply into your daily life to prepare for moments of temptation? Identify a specific verse or passage that you can memorize and meditate on this week. [12:00]
4. The sermon mentions the Pause app as a tool for finding stillness. What practical steps can you take to create moments of stillness in your daily routine to listen to God? [21:11]
5. Reflect on the concept of Jesus as our high priest who understands our struggles. How does this understanding change the way you approach prayer and seek His help in times of need? [09:34]
6. Think about a time when you felt overwhelmed by the noise and busyness of life. How can you intentionally create space to hear God's voice and remember that He is in control? [21:11]
7. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to trust in God's past faithfulness rather than your expectations of future outcomes. How can you practice saying, "Thy will be done," in this situation? [18:20]
Devotional
Day 1: The Unyielding Presence of Temptation
Temptation is a persistent force in our lives, constantly seeking to lead us astray. It is a reminder of the spiritual battle we face daily. Jesus, having experienced temptation firsthand, empathizes with our struggles and instructs us to pray for deliverance. This prayer acknowledges the ongoing conflict and our need for divine assistance. By recognizing the relentless nature of temptation, we are encouraged to remain vigilant and rely on Christ's strength to overcome it. [06:05]
James 1:14-15 (ESV): "But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death."
Reflection: Identify a recurring temptation in your life. How can you actively seek God's strength to resist it today?
Day 2: Jesus, Our Strength in Battle
Jesus, our merciful and faithful high priest, faced temptation yet remained sinless. His victory over sin provides atonement for our transgressions and offers us grace and mercy. In our battles against temptation, Jesus stands with us, offering strength beyond our own. This assurance reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles, and we can draw on His power to overcome the challenges we face. [09:34]
Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV): "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to rely more on Jesus' strength rather than your own? How can you invite Him into that battle today?
Day 3: The Transformative Power of Scripture
Jesus' response to temptation with Scripture underscores the importance of knowing God's Word. By trusting in God's faithfulness, He rejected shortcuts that deviated from God's plan. This teaches us that every temptation involves more than we perceive, impacting our faith, family, and future. Immersing ourselves in Scripture equips us to discern and resist the subtle deceptions that tempt us away from God's path. [12:00]
Psalm 119:11 (ESV): "I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
Reflection: What specific Scripture can you memorize this week to help you combat a temptation you face? How can you incorporate it into your daily routine?
Day 4: Surrendering Our Plans to God's Will
The temptation to presume upon God often leads us to demand His response to our plans rather than seeking His will. True faith is rooted in God's past faithfulness, not in our expectations of future outcomes. By praying, "Thy will be done," we submit to God's good and gracious will, trusting that His plans are better than our own. This surrender allows us to align our desires with His purpose, fostering a deeper relationship with Him. [15:31]
Proverbs 19:21 (ESV): "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."
Reflection: What is one plan or expectation you need to surrender to God today? How can you practice trusting His will over your own desires?
Day 5: Embracing Stillness to Hear God's Voice
In our noisy world, finding stillness to listen to God is crucial. The Pause app is a resource to help us pause, pray, and remember that God is in control. By embracing moments of quiet reflection, we reinforce our identity as beloved children of God and open ourselves to His guidance. This practice helps us remain grounded in His love and attentive to His voice amidst the chaos of life. [21:11]
Psalm 46:10 (ESV): "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
Reflection: How can you create a moment of stillness in your day to listen for God's voice? What distractions do you need to set aside to make this possible?
Quotes
"I encourage you, you've got an outline on the back of your bulletin where we're going in this third week now that we've been looking at the temptation of Jesus as told to us by the good doctor, Luke. We were told about this account in Luke chapter 4, and it's an incredible scene because it happens right after Jesus had been baptized by John in the Jordan River, and then Luke tells us he was led by the Spirit, and Luke's not the only one who tells us this. Matthew tells us this, Mark tells us this, Jesus led by God himself into the wilderness where for 40 days he fasted, after which the devil himself comes at Jesus, trying to tempt him to take a shortcut, trying to tempt him to doubt who he is, trying to deter him from the course that God would have him be on. Now, I know we're wrapping it up this week because after three weeks of talking about temptation, I've realized that it is sufficient. You guys are all really good Jesus followers, and so now all of your temptation problems have been solved, and you will never be tempted again. Yeah, right." [00:00:01] (69 seconds)
"And there's a great quote from Luther in his large catechism that we've looked at each week, and I want to point it out again. It's on your bulletin, because I really want you to have this in front of you, because Luther says it this way. He says, great and grievous indeed are these dangers and temptations which every Christian must bear, and we bear them even though each one were alone by himself. And now look how he says it. He lays it out there. So every hour, we are in this vile life. We are attacked on all sides. We are chased down. We are hunted. We are moved to cry out and to pray to God that he would not allow us to become weary and faint, and to fall again into shame, or sin, shame, and unbelief. Otherwise, it is impossible to overcome even though." [00:01:48] (46 seconds)
"Faith is based on what God has already done for us. We're not going to say, Lord, I'm going to believe in you if you do this. That's hope. It's nice to have hope, but that's not faith. Faith is based on the past promises of God where he has been faithful to his people, has been faithful to his promises. Jesus shows us this in spades when he's tempted by Satan and the devil in the wilderness here. God is faithful to his people and faithful to his promises, but we want to take a step back to the edge and pray not just simply lead us not into temptation, but there's another good prayer we pray in that Lord's Prayer. It's all good, but another one that relates, I think, to temptation." [00:18:20] (42 seconds)
"And so in Exodus 17, verse 1, we hear this. The entire Israelite community left the wilderness of sin. It's good to leave the wilderness of sin. Moving from one place to the next, according to the Lord's command. And they camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So the people complained to Moses, give us water to drink. Why are you complaining to me, Moses replied? Why are you, here it is, testing the Lord? But the people thirsted there for water and grumbled against Moses. And they said, why did you ever bring us up out of Egypt? To kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst? I mean, talk about passive -aggressive behavior, right? These guys got it down. Then Moses cried out to the Lord, what should I do with these people? In a little while, they will stone me. And the Lord answered Moses, go on ahead of the people." [00:13:20] (52 seconds)
"The temptation that Israel failed on, and the temptation that Jesus is not going to fail upon, is a temptation to presume upon God. To make him respond to our demands. And I know what you're saying, Pastor, I never do that. He's God, I would never do that. Oh, friends, we do this all the time. We do this all the time. The temptation to presume on God. And sometimes, friends, sometimes we're even like the devil. And we've got verses, right? The devil's got Psalm 91. Well, we've got Jeremiah 29, 11. I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you future and a hope." [00:15:53] (49 seconds)
"But I think the other way, especially in our culture today, where we hear and find God's will is when we pause, when we stop talking and we spend a moment simply to listen and to be still. The psalmist tells us to be still and know that I am God. And for most of us, finding a time of stillness in the midst of crazy, hectic, busy, loud days seems almost impossible. So I want to give you a resource today. To help you in the midst of your own loud, crazy world around you. And there's a resource I just recently got acquainted to it. There's a QR code on the back of your bulletin. It's also available in app stores as well. It's the Pause app." [00:20:53] (56 seconds)
"And this Pause app is a blessing. It's been a blessing to me. I've only known about it for about a week or so, but I've got it on my phone. And what it's designed, it's the one -minute pause app that a couple times during your day, and you can control this, it'll go off and it'll just remind you to be still, to pause. And just for one minute, listen. There's some guided prayers with it if you want a guided prayer. But there's power in the pause and in the stillness where we can remember that we are not God. That He is God." [00:21:48] (39 seconds)
"He's given you the assurance of that identity as a beloved son and chosen daughter of the king of kings in the water of your baptism. He's fed you with that body and blood of his son to strengthen your faith and to once again declare to you, you are forgiven. You can go back out into this world knowing that you are going not alone, but that Jesus is in your corner, ready and willing to fight your battle with you. You know, this gospel lesson ends in Luke chapter 4. 4, telling us that the devil, after he does this third temptation, leaves Jesus, but looks for an opportune time to put him to the test again. Friends, that's the devil against Jesus, and that's the devil against you and against me." [00:24:01] (51 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?