Resisting Temptation: Trusting God's Provision in Lent
Summary
In our journey through the liturgical calendar, we find ourselves at the beginning of Lent, a season marked by reflection and preparation. This period begins with the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, a narrative that appears every year on the first Sunday of Lent. This year, we delve into Luke's account, which offers a profound insight into the nature of temptation and the steadfastness of Jesus. After His baptism, Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, is led into the wilderness for 40 days, paralleling the 40 years the Israelites spent in the desert. Unlike Israel, which succumbed to temptation, Jesus stands firm, embodying the perfect obedience that humanity could not achieve.
The temptations Jesus faces are not just about His ability to perform miracles, such as turning stones into bread, but about trusting God's provision and timing. The devil's challenge is not merely a test of power but a temptation to meet a legitimate need in an illegitimate way. Jesus' response, rooted in Scripture, highlights the importance of relying on God's Word and trusting in His faithfulness. This narrative reminds us that every temptation we face has more at stake than we might perceive, affecting our relationships, future, and faith.
As we reflect on our own lives, we recognize that while the devil may not tempt us to turn stones into bread, we are often tempted to meet our needs outside of God's will. Whether it's in relationships, finances, or personal ambitions, the temptation to take shortcuts can lead us away from trusting God. Martin Luther's insights in his large catechism remind us of the constant battle against the flesh, the world, and the devil. Yet, we are not alone in this struggle. Jesus, who was tempted in every way as we are, offers us His strength and grace.
In this Lenten season, let us draw near to God in prayer, seeking His guidance and strength to resist temptation. As Luther encourages, we must cling to the Lord's Prayer, asking God to lead us not into temptation and to deliver us from evil. Through prayer and reliance on God's Word, we can stand firm, knowing that Jesus has already conquered sin and temptation on our behalf.
Key Takeaways:
- The story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness is a powerful reminder of His perfect obedience and trust in God's provision. Unlike Israel, which faltered in the desert, Jesus stands firm, showing us the importance of relying on God's Word and faithfulness. [04:46]
- Temptation often involves meeting legitimate needs in illegitimate ways. Jesus' refusal to turn stones into bread highlights the importance of trusting God's timing and provision, rather than taking shortcuts that compromise our faith. [10:02]
- Our daily lives are filled with temptations that challenge our trust in God. Whether in relationships, finances, or personal ambitions, we must be vigilant in recognizing when we are tempted to rely on our own strength rather than God's. [14:33]
- Martin Luther's teachings remind us of the constant battle against the flesh, the world, and the devil. Despite the challenges, we are called to rely on God's strength and grace, knowing that Jesus has already overcome temptation on our behalf. [20:52]
- Prayer is a powerful tool in resisting temptation. By turning to God in prayer, especially through the Lord's Prayer, we can find strength and guidance to stand firm against the devil's schemes and remain faithful to God's will. [24:56]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [04:46] - The Temptation of Jesus
- [10:02] - Trusting God's Provision
- [14:33] - Recognizing Our Temptations
- [16:59] - The Stakes of Temptation
- [20:52] - Luther's Insights on Temptation
- [24:56] - The Power of Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 4:1-13
- Deuteronomy 8:3
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Observation Questions:
1. What parallels are drawn between Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness and the Israelites' 40 years in the desert? How does this comparison highlight Jesus' role in the narrative? [04:46]
2. In Luke 4:1-13, what are the specific temptations that Jesus faces, and how does He respond to each one? What does this reveal about His character and mission?
3. How does Jesus use Scripture to counter the devil's temptations, and what specific verses does He reference? [10:02]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness? How does this relate to the concept of divine guidance and trust? [14:33]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the nature of temptation as more than just a test of power, but a challenge to trust in God's provision and timing? [10:02]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the consequences of meeting legitimate needs in illegitimate ways? How does this apply to modern-day situations? [14:33]
3. How does Martin Luther's perspective on temptation, as discussed in the sermon, deepen our understanding of the spiritual battles we face? [20:52]
4. In what ways does the sermon highlight the importance of prayer, particularly the Lord's Prayer, in resisting temptation? How does this practice empower believers? [24:56]
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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? [14:33]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting God's timing and provision. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with this trust. What steps can you take to strengthen your reliance on God? [10:02]
3. How can you incorporate Scripture into your daily life to help resist temptation, as Jesus did in the wilderness? What specific verses might you memorize or meditate on? [10:02]
4. Consider the role of prayer in your life, especially in moments of temptation. How can you make prayer a more integral part of your daily routine to seek God's guidance and strength? [24:56]
5. Martin Luther speaks of the constant battle against the flesh, the world, and the devil. Identify one specific area where you feel this battle most intensely. How can you seek support from your faith community in this struggle? [20:52]
6. Reflect on the sermon’s message about the stakes of temptation affecting our relationships, future, and faith. How can this awareness change the way you approach decisions and challenges in your life? [16:59]
7. The sermon encourages believers to draw near to God during Lent. What specific practices or disciplines can you adopt during this season to deepen your relationship with God and resist temptation? [24:56]
Devotional
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Quotes
And what we see every year as we dig into this temptation story there at the beginning of Lent is a reminder of our sin and a reminder that while Jesus will stand firm against temptation, we don't always stand firm against temptation. In fact, he had to do it for us in our place. [00:01:22] (19 seconds)
And so this past week as we were preparing for this Lenten season, I realized for myself, I have spent a lot of time talking about Matthew's version of the temptation of Jesus, a little bit of time talking about Mark's version because it's a really, really short account if you read it, but I'd never really sat in, spent time with Luke's telling of this important story of Jesus. [00:02:24] (25 seconds)
And every time that we are tempted, there is more at stake than we can perceive in the moment. We might think it's just once. small decision, one choice, one indiscretion. But yet every time you and I are tempted, there is always more at stake than we can perceive in the moment. [00:03:31] (20 seconds)
And so there's a direct correlation with what Jesus is doing to what Israel has done in the past. And where Israel in the past during those 40 years would not stand up to temptation, would fall to temptation time and time again, despite God's faithfulness, Jesus will do what Israel and what mankind could not. [00:05:09] (21 seconds)
And so Luke tells us here at the very beginning, there is this direct connection between what happened in the past in Exodus, in the Exodus account, to what Jesus is facing even now. And in the midst of this all, Luke tells us this 40 -day temptation of Christ in the wilderness found him fasting. [00:06:39] (20 seconds)
And that Word of God that Jesus calls on is from the Old Testament. It's from the book of Deuteronomy. In fact, this is where Jesus is going to go every single time that he is tempted, back into the God's Word, back to this final sermon that Moses is preaching to the Israelites before they finally end their wilderness wandering and go into the Promised Land. [00:08:48] (23 seconds)
And so in Jesus being tempted by Satan to take a shortcut, Jesus realizes he's, in doing so, if he would do what Satan has requested of him, what it was showing is this lack of trust of God's plan, who had led him, the Father who had led him by the Spirit to this time. [00:10:05] (17 seconds)
And so Jesus, remembering this event and firmly placed on that Word of God, recognizes he does not need to meet this legitimate need of food in an illegitimate way. In a way that would would rob, would feed his body, but rob him of his relationship with his Father in heaven. The danger that is to forget. [00:14:21] (26 seconds)
And he writes it this way in the large catechism, and this is in Concordia, the Lutheran Confessions edition of the large catechism. It's the sixth petition. Lead us not into temptation. Luther writes, we've heard enough about what toil and labor is needed to keep all we pray for and to preserve. [00:18:09] (18 seconds)
And third, the devil. He punishes and provokes in all directions, but he especially agitates matters that concern the conscience and spiritual affairs. He leads us to despise and disregard both God and his works. Great and grievous indeed are these dangers and temptation which every Christian must bear. [00:20:37] (22 seconds)
Friends, there is nothing new under the sun when it comes to temptation. Maybe new ways of packaging it and making it easier to be tempted and to fall into sin. But you read Luther's list in the large catechism and you're like, how does he know? Because he knows you and he knows me. [00:24:04] (23 seconds)
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