Resisting Temptation: Trusting God in Life's Wilderness
Summary
In our journey through the wilderness of life, we encounter temptations that challenge our faith and integrity. Reflecting on the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, as recorded in Luke 4, we find profound lessons for our own spiritual battles. Jesus, led by the Spirit, faced the devil's temptations after 40 days of fasting. This period echoes the 40 years the Israelites spent in the wilderness, where they often succumbed to temptation. Yet, where Israel failed, Jesus stood firm, demonstrating unwavering trust in God.
The first temptation Jesus faced was to turn stones into bread, a test to meet a legitimate need in an illegitimate way. Jesus responded with Scripture, affirming that life is sustained not by bread alone but by every word from God. This teaches us to trust God in the gaps of life, resisting the urge to fulfill needs outside His will. The second temptation involved the devil offering Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship. Jesus rejected this shortcut, emphasizing that true worship is reserved for God alone. This reminds us that the promises of the world are hollow, and compromising our faith for immediate gains leads to spiritual loss.
In our daily lives, we face similar choices, tempted to prioritize immediate gratification over eternal values. Yet, Jesus provides a model of resistance, armed with Scripture and prayer. He invites us to pray, "Lead us not into temptation," acknowledging our dependence on God's strength. Martin Luther's insights remind us that the devil is relentless, but through prayer and God's Word, we can stand firm.
Jesus, our high priest, sympathizes with our weaknesses, having been tempted in every way yet without sin. He offers us grace and mercy, standing with us in our struggles and lifting us when we fall. Our battle against temptation is not just about personal victory but also about the impact on those around us. Our faithfulness can inspire others to seek the hope found in Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- Trusting God in the Gaps: Jesus teaches us to rely on God when faced with the temptation to meet legitimate needs in illegitimate ways. Trusting in God's provision and timing is crucial, as He is faithful to His promises. [06:54]
- The Hollow Promises of the World: The devil's offer to Jesus of worldly kingdoms in exchange for worship highlights the emptiness of worldly promises. True worship belongs to God alone, and compromising our faith for temporary gains leads to spiritual loss. [15:17]
- The Power of Prayer and Scripture: Jesus models the importance of prayer and Scripture in resisting temptation. By praying "Lead us not into temptation," we acknowledge our dependence on God's strength to stand firm against the devil's attacks. [10:52]
- Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest: Jesus, having faced every temptation, sympathizes with our weaknesses. He offers grace and mercy, standing with us in our struggles and lifting us when we fall, reminding us that we are not alone in our battles. [22:37]
- The Impact of Our Faithfulness: Our response to temptation affects not only our spiritual journey but also those around us. By standing firm in faith, we can inspire others to seek the hope and strength found in Christ, making an eternal difference. [18:48]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[06:54] - Trusting God in the Gaps
[10:52] - The Power of Prayer and Scripture
[15:17] - The Hollow Promises of the World
[18:48] - The Impact of Our Faithfulness
[22:37] - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest
[26:00] - The Second Temptation of Jesus
[30:15] - The Danger of Compromise
[34:20] - True Worship and God's Faithfulness
[38:45] - Standing Firm in Faith
[42:10] - The Role of Scripture in Temptation
[46:30] - The Importance of Community
[50:00] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 4:1-13
2. Deuteronomy 8:3
3. Hebrews 4:14-16
---
Observation Questions:
1. What was the first temptation Jesus faced in the wilderness, and how did He respond to it? [06:54]
2. How does the devil attempt to tempt Jesus with the kingdoms of the world, and what is Jesus' response? [15:17]
3. According to the sermon, how does Jesus' experience in the wilderness compare to the Israelites' 40-year journey? [06:54]
4. What role does Scripture play in Jesus' responses to temptation? [18:48]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. Why is it significant that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted? How does this relate to our own experiences of temptation? [06:54]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the promises of the world are hollow? How does this understanding impact our daily decisions? [15:17]
3. How does the sermon describe the importance of prayer in resisting temptation, and what does this reveal about our dependence on God? [10:52]
4. What does it mean for Jesus to be our sympathetic high priest, and how does this affect our approach to temptation and sin? [22:37]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a temptation to meet a legitimate need in an illegitimate way. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now? [06:54]
2. Consider the "hollow promises" of the world that you might be tempted by. How can you remind yourself of the emptiness of these promises in your daily life? [15:17]
3. How can you incorporate prayer more intentionally into your life to resist temptation? What specific prayers or Scriptures might you use? [10:52]
4. In what ways can you rely on Jesus as your high priest when you face temptation? How does His understanding of your struggles provide comfort and strength? [22:37]
5. Think about the impact of your faithfulness on those around you. How can your response to temptation inspire others to seek hope in Christ? [18:48]
6. Identify a specific area in your life where you are tempted to compromise your faith for immediate gains. What steps can you take to stand firm in your beliefs? [15:17]
7. How can you create a supportive community that encourages standing firm against temptation? What role can you play in fostering this environment? [46:30]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God in the Gaps
In moments of need, we often face the temptation to meet legitimate needs in ways that are not aligned with God's will. Jesus, during His time in the wilderness, was tempted to turn stones into bread to satisfy His hunger. However, He chose to trust in God's provision, demonstrating that true sustenance comes from every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. This teaches us the importance of relying on God's timing and provision, even when we feel the urge to take matters into our own hands. Trusting God in the gaps of life requires faith in His promises and patience to wait for His perfect timing. [06:54]
Deuteronomy 8:3 (ESV): "And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you are tempted to take control instead of trusting in God's provision? How can you practice patience and faith in His timing today?
Day 2: The Hollow Promises of the World
The world often offers us shortcuts to success and fulfillment, promising power, wealth, and recognition in exchange for compromising our values. Jesus faced such a temptation when the devil offered Him all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship. Jesus rejected this offer, affirming that worship belongs to God alone. This reminds us that the promises of the world are empty and fleeting, and compromising our faith for temporary gains leads to spiritual loss. We are called to remain steadfast in our devotion to God, recognizing that true fulfillment comes from Him alone. [15:17]
1 John 2:15-17 (ESV): "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
Reflection: Identify a recent situation where you were tempted to compromise your values for immediate gain. How can you choose to prioritize eternal values over temporary satisfaction in similar situations?
Day 3: The Power of Prayer and Scripture
In the face of temptation, Jesus demonstrated the power of prayer and Scripture as tools for resistance. By praying "Lead us not into temptation," we acknowledge our dependence on God's strength to stand firm against the devil's attacks. Jesus used Scripture to counter the devil's lies, showing us the importance of knowing and applying God's Word in our lives. Prayer and Scripture are vital in our spiritual battles, equipping us to resist temptation and remain faithful to God. [10:52]
Ephesians 6:17-18 (ESV): "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints."
Reflection: How can you incorporate more intentional prayer and Scripture reading into your daily routine to strengthen your resistance against temptation?
Day 4: Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest
Jesus, having faced every temptation, sympathizes with our weaknesses and offers us grace and mercy. He stands with us in our struggles, lifting us when we fall and reminding us that we are not alone in our battles. As our high priest, Jesus understands our challenges and intercedes on our behalf, providing the strength and support we need to overcome temptation. His example encourages us to approach Him with confidence, knowing that He is ready to help us in our time of need. [22:37]
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 areas of your life do you need to rely more on Jesus' strength and grace? How can you actively seek His help and support in your daily struggles?
Day 5: The Impact of Our Faithfulness
Our response to temptation not only affects our spiritual journey but also influences those around us. By standing firm in faith, we can inspire others to seek the hope and strength found in Christ, making an eternal difference in their lives. Our faithfulness serves as a testimony to God's power and grace, encouraging others to trust in Him. As we navigate our spiritual battles, let us remember the impact our choices have on others and strive to be a source of encouragement and inspiration. [18:48]
1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (ESV): "And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything."
Reflection: Think of someone who looks up to you in their faith journey. How can your response to temptation serve as a positive example for them today?
Quotes
"Well, last week we began a series of messages based on the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness in Luke chapter 4. Now, if you missed last week because you were on spring break or because you forgot to change your clocks and you woke up in the morning and you realized, Oh no, we'll be late for church. We're getting it on YouTube today. You are going to get caught up into where we're going. I encourage you, you pull out your Bible and pull out the outline on the back of your bulletin this morning because this temptation that Jesus faces, that's recorded by Matthew and Mark and Luke is who we're looking at, gives us an insight to the kind of temptation you and I face each and every day. The temptation of Jesus happens right after he's baptized by John in the Jordan River. And we're told by all the writers, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days where he was tempted by the devil. Now, when we hear that he is in the wilderness for 40 days, that signals some connection to the Old Testament where for 40 years, the people of Israel were led by God by a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire where they themselves were tempted and tested as well. Time and time again, God showed his faithfulness during that 40 -year journey, providing them bread from heaven, providing them quail." [00:00:00] (90 seconds)
"It's a direct quote from the Old Testament, from the book of Deuteronomy chapter 8. It's Deuteronomy is Moses' longest sermon in the scripture. It's his final message to the people of Israel, where he hopes against hope that as they go into the promised land, they would not repeat the same mistakes of the last 40 years. And he tells them things like this, he, that is God, humbled you by letting you go hungry when he gave you manna to eat, which you and your ancestors had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." [00:03:19] (42 seconds)
"God is faithful to his people and to his promises. And so Jesus is able to stand firm on that word of God and would not compromise by meeting a legitimate need in an illegitimate or sinful way, because he knows God can be trusted." [00:04:00] (22 seconds)
"We find this temptation facing us day in and day out. In various stages and phases of life, we may find that temptation to meet a legitimate need in an illegitimate way. And in the areas of perhaps companionship and intimacy and money, belonging, identity, protection, safety, and love, and the list need." [00:04:35] (19 seconds)
"Lead me not into temptation. And Martin Luther, in his large catechism, I shared some words from it last week, and we've got some more words this week, does this beautifully when he tries to explain how this plays out in our daily walk when we ask God to lead us not into temptation. He writes this in his large catechism, paragraph 109. Therefore, we Christians must be armed and daily expect to be constantly attacked." [00:05:31] (30 seconds)
"No one may go on in security and carelessly as though the devil were far from us. At all times, we must expect and block his blows, though I am now chaste, patient, kind, and in firm faith, the devil will this very hour send sick" [00:06:01] (20 seconds)
"So when one temptation stops, there always arises others and a fresh one. And then here's this other quote. We heard it last week too. So there is no help or comfort except to run here, take hold of the Lord's prayer, and to speak to God from a heart like this. Dear Father, you have asked me to pray. Don't let me fall because of temptations." [00:06:29] (24 seconds)
"You and I are armed in dangers when it comes to temptation. We can be armed with his word. We can be armed with prayer so that it's not just about our ability to have better self -control or stronger willpower. No, it's bigger and it's better than that. We have the very word of God himself. We have Jesus in our corner fighting our battles for us. The writer of Hebrews helps us see this too. In Hebrews chapter 4, he says," [00:07:21] (29 seconds)
"You see, we don't take passages like this and say, well, I'm just simply going to stop fighting. If Jesus is going to forgive me anyways, why do I fight? And the reason that you fight, the reason you stand firm against temptation is, first of all, he's invited you to. He's invited you to pray, lead me not into temptation in the Lord's prayer. And because there is more at stake than simply you and your forgiveness. That is there in abundance, absolutely. But every time you and I are tempted, there's more at stake than we can perceive in the moment. That our family and those who love us are at stake. Our future and the legacy that we leave is at stake. And even our faith is at stake, and not just your faith, but especially the faith of those who are watching you." [00:09:14] (45 seconds)
"They're watching you to say, is there something different about you as a follower of Jesus when you face temptation and how you respond to it by the strength of Jesus?" [00:10:22] (12 seconds)
"Temptation is not just about you and your self -control and your willpower. It's about the other people around you whom God has perfectly positioned in your life to make an eternal difference." [00:10:54] (15 seconds)
"So let's be armed and ready when temptation comes. Just like Jesus, who stands with us in the gaps, who holds us up when we fall." [00:11:06] (11 seconds)
"And the devil said to him, I will give you their splendor and all this authority, because it has been given over to me, and I can give it to anyone I want." [00:11:45] (12 seconds)
"If you then will worship me, all will be yours. The devil has a deal for Jesus. Jesus, you won't believe the opportunity that you can have right here, right now, here on this mountain. I've shown you all the kingdoms of the world, the devil says. All of them can be yours for the very low price of simply just bowing your knee and worshiping me." [00:11:58] (26 seconds)
"I know you've come into this world, Jesus, to seek and to sake. That was what's lost, which is partly the kingdoms of this world. So I know that it's going to be a long journey, and I know, Jesus, it's already been a long journey. You've been here 30 years already, 30 years away from the Father in heaven, and isn't this place miserable? Wouldn't you rather take a shortcut and get what you're come, come get?" [00:12:19] (22 seconds)
"You know, every time I read this part of the temptation to Jesus, I can't help but think one of the favorite things that each one of my kids takes turns being the favorite in our family. Not the favorite kid, but the favorite of this kind of series." [00:13:09] (13 seconds)
"Maybe you've watched it, or you've played the game or the toys, Star Wars. You heard about it? Star Wars. The scene kind of reminds me of Star Wars. If you know the Star Wars thing, there's this, Caleb's the favorite Star Wars person right now at eight years old, but there's this battle between the dark and the light side of the force." [00:13:23] (21 seconds)
"And on the dark side of the force, in the episodes four, five, and six, you've got Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, and leading the good side of the force, the light side, is the rebellion led by Luke Skywalker." [00:13:44] (13 seconds)
"And one of the conflicts that you see in Star Wars, both in four, five, and six, with Vader and Palpatine against Luke, is this idea that if they could get Luke to just compromise a little bit and join the dark side, that the peace that Luke would desire to bring for the entire galaxy could be brought about, if he would just compromise and not fight." [00:13:56] (25 seconds)
"It's the same scene that repeats itself in 7, 8, and 9, only we've got a new heroine, Rey, who's going up against Kylo Ren and Snoke, and they too have the same offer. Just compromise a little bit. Just take a shortcut, and the peace to the galaxy that you long to bring can be brought about if you just compromise a little bit." [00:14:19] (24 seconds)
"They cannot deliver what they promise, and the promises of Satan to Jesus or to you and to me or to Adam and to Eve in the garden are hollow promises too. They are." [00:14:42] (17 seconds)
"I mean, look at it again in Luke chapter 4, how Satan says it. He says it this way. He says, I will give you their splendor and all this authority because it's been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want. If you then will worship me, it will all be yours. It's a hollow promise." [00:14:56] (24 seconds)
"Adam and Eve found it out in the garden the hard way, this hollow promise. They believed the devil. They gave in to temptation, ate from the fruit that they were not to eat from, of the knowledge of good and evil, and that hollow promise of salvation." [00:15:20] (13 seconds)
"You want what he has to offer and you end up like Adam and Eve, estranged from God and stripped of the true authority and power that God has given to you." [00:15:50] (14 seconds)
"You see, you look at what Satan does and what Satan does here is he helps us actually see something. He helps us see how we can actually mess up worship as well." [00:16:23] (12 seconds)
"Friends, that's a dangerous, dangerous way to worship. That is not worship that the triune God would have of you. He is not a God who is waiting for you to get your life in order in order to bless you. He is not a God who can only release the blessings of heaven if you give him certain amount of money, if you do certain things, as if God is up there needing you to do something in order for him to release blood." [00:16:52] (27 seconds)
"If ever you hear someone say, you've got to do this in order for God to do something for you, danger, Will Robinson. Run to the word." [00:18:29] (11 seconds)
"And Jesus knows this too, because when Satan makes this offer, he responds with the incredible words in verse eight, Luke chapter four, verse eight, it is written, worship the Lord your God and serve him only, only." [00:18:50] (21 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?