Facing Temptations? JESUS HAS YOUR BACK! (CC)
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SERMON TEXT: MATTHEW 4:1-11
MARCH 9, 2014
A CLOSED CAPTIONED SERMON
MATTHEW CHAPTER 4,
[VERSES 1-11]
THEN JESUS WAS LED BY THE
SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS
TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL.
AFTER FASTING FORTY DAYS AND
FORTY NIGHTS, HE WAS HUNGRY.
THE TEMPTER CAME TO HIM AND
SAID,
"IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD,
TELL THESE STONES
TO BECOME BREAD." JESUS
ANSWERED, "IT IS WRITTEN:
'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD
ALONE,
BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES
FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.' "
[DEUT. 8:3] THEN THE DEVIL
TOOK HIM TO THE HOLY CITY
AND HAD HIM STAND ON THE
HIGHEST POINT OF THE TEMPLE.
"IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD,"
HE SAID,
"THROW YOURSELF DOWN. FOR IT
IS WRITTEN: 'HE WILL COMMAND
HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU, AND
THEY WILL LIFT YOU UP
IN THEIR HANDS, SO THAT YOU
WILL NOT STRIKE
YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'
[PSALM 91:11,12]
JESUS ANSWERED HIM, "IT IS
ALSO WRITTEN: 'DO NOT
PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE
TEST.' " [DEUT. 6:16]
AGAIN, THE DEVIL TOOK HIM TO A
VERY HIGH MOUNTAIN AND
SHOWED HIM ALL THE KINGDOMS
OF THE WORLD AND THEIR
SPLENDOR. "ALL THIS I WILL
GIVE YOU," HE SAID,
"IF YOU WILL BOW DOWN AND
WORSHIP ME."
JESUS SAID TO HIM, "AWAY FROM
ME, SATAN!
FOR IT IS WRITTEN: 'WORSHIP
THE LORD YOUR GOD,
AND SERVE HIM ONLY.' "
[DEUT. 6:13]
THEN THE DEVIL LEFT HIM, AND
ANGELS CAME
AND ATTENDED HIM. THIS IS THE
WORD OF OUR LORD.
LET US PRAY: GLORIOUS AND
GRACIOUS GOD,
MAY THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND
THE MEDITATION OF EACH OF OUR
HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR
SIGHT,
OUR ONLY SOURCE OF HOPE AND
COMFORT. AMEN.
[TEXT TAKEN FROM THE HOLY
BIBLE,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION
1973, 1978, 1984, 2011
BY BIBLICA, INC.]
DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD AND
SAVIOR,
JESUS CHRIST:
TODAY IS THE FIRST SUNDAY IN
LENT.
THAT SEASON OF THE CHURCH YEAR
THAT WE HAVE SET ASIDE TO
FOCUS
OUR THOUGHTS ON THE SUFFERING
OF JESUS CHRIST.
THAT PERIOD OF TIME THAT THE
CHURCH HAS SET UP ... FORTY
DAYS.
FORTY DAYS OF LENT,
NOT INCLUDING THE SUNDAYS FROM
ASH WEDNESDAY THROUGH EASTER
SUNDAY.
A PERIOD OF FORTY DAYS
REMINDING US
OF THIS VERY SECTION OF
SCRIPTURE
WHERE AFTER JESUS HAD BEEN
BAPTIZED,
HE IS TAKEN OUT INTO THE
DESERT
TO SPEND TIME WITH GOD.
TO SPEND TIME IN PREPARATION
FOR HIS MINISTRY.
TO SPEND TIME NOURISHING
HIMSELF
ON SPIRITUAL THINGS.
WHILE HE DENIED HIMSELF
PHYSICAL
FOOD. JESUS WAS
FASTING FOR FORTY DAYS
AND FORTY NIGHTS.
FORTY DAYS ...
AND FORTY
NIGHTS.
THAT JUST BOGGLES
OUR MINDS TO THINK
OF THE STAMINA THAT SOMEONE
NEEDS
TO TAKE ON THAT PATH.
TO THINK OF THE STRENGTH AND
THE WILLPOWER
TO ACCOMPLISH THAT. NOT ONLY
TO DEPRIVE ONE'S SELF OF FOOD,
BUT TO SAY: I AM GOING TO
FOCUS MYSELF
FOR FORTY DAYS
ON SPIRITUAL MATTERS.
LEARNING FROM GOD. SPENDING
TIME WITH GOD IN PRAYER.
STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES;
PORING OVER THEM.
KNOWING AND READING WHAT GOD'S
WILL IS
AND PRAYING THAT HE WILL ALLOW
ME TO UNDERSTAND
THAT AND LIVE THAT IN MY LIFE.
A PERIOD OF INTENSE
PREPARATION.
AND IS IT ANY WONDER THEN THAT
THE CHURCH SAID
IF OUR MEMBERSHIP IS GOING TO
BE PREPARED TO FULLY
CELEBRATE THE JOYS OF EASTER,
THERE SHOULD BE A TIME OF
REPENTANCE.
A TIME OF PREPARING ONE'S SELF
FOR THAT GREAT CELEBRATION.
THAT MOST JOYOUS OF DAYS OF
THE CHRISTIAN YEAR; WHEN
CHRIST
ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND WE
CELEBRATE THAT
IN ALL OF ITS SPLENDOR AND ALL
OF ITS GLORY.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE TO
PREPARE
OURSELVES; TO FOCUS
OURSELVES; TO FOLLOW
THE EXAMPLE OF OUR LORD AND
SAVIOR HIMSELF,
AND TO WITHSTAND TEMPTATION.
TO TRUST AND RELY ON GOD'S
WORD ALONE. AND TO RESIST
SATAN HIMSELF.
THAT EACH AND EVERY DAY OF OUR
LIFE
WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE GRACE
TO LIVE ANOTHER DAY
IN THE LOVE OF GOD THAT HE
POURS OUT UPON US SO
ABUNDANTLY.
THAT HE HAS GIVEN US THE POWER
OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT WHO LIVES
IN US.
THAT THAT MOMENT THAT WE
BELIEVE,
TO WORK WITH US, TO FIGHT
AGAINST OUR OWN SINFUL NATURE
THAT WE INHERITED FROM OUR
PARENTS.
THAT THEY INHERITED FROM THEIR
PARENTS.
THAT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO
THE ACCOUNT WE HEARD IN OUR
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON WHEN ADAM
AND EVE
"WILLFULLY" BROUGHT SIN INTO
THIS WORLD.
THEY KNEW WHAT GOD'S COMMAND
WAS!
THEY UNDERSTOOD WHAT GOD HAD
SAID.
THEY LIVED IN THOSE BLESSINGS
THAT GOD
HAD GIVEN THEM. ALL KINDS OF
TREES THAT GOD
HAD SAID TO THEM: HERE!
THESE ARE YOURS! ENJOY THEM!
TAKE CARE OF THEM. CULTIVATE
THEM.
EAT FROM THEM. HAVE YOUR FILL.
BUT OF THAT ONE TREE ...
YOU'RE NOT TO EAT THE FRUIT.
THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF
GOOD AND EVIL.
THEY HEARD WHAT GOD SAID.
THEY KNEW WHAT GOD MEANT.
BUT YET SATAN CAME TO THEM.
CAME TO THEM ... HOW MANY
TIMES
WE DON'T KNOW. BUT WE KNOW ON
THE TIME THAT WAS RECORDED FOR
US ... THAT TIME ...
SATAN PLACED DOUBT
IN THEIR MINDS.
SATAN GOT THEM NOT TO HEAR
WHAT GOD HAD SAID.
HE TWISTED AROUND GOD'S WORD.
AND YES,
EVEN THOUGH EVE IN HER OWN
ATTEMPT
TO THINK THAT I'M NOT GOING TO
DO THIS, SAID MORE THAN WHAT
GOD HAD SAID: OH, GOD SAID WE
CAN'T EVEN
TOUCH IT.
SHE KNEW THE SERIOUSNESS
THAT GOD HAD PLACED ON THEM.
BUT YET SHE CONTINUED TO
LISTEN TO SATAN.
LOOKED AT THAT FRUIT
AND IT WAS PLEASING TO THE
EYE.
BELIEVED THE LIE ...
THAT SATAN SAID TO HER:
GOD DOESN'T WANT YOU TO EAT IT
BECAUSE WHEN YOU EAT IT
YOU'RE GOING TO BE LIKE HIM.
YOU'RE GONNA UNDERSTAND
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD
AND EVIL.
AND EVE THOUGHT: THAT'S A GOOD
THING
FOR ME TO HAVE.
I NEED THAT KNOWLEDGE. I WANT
THAT KNOWLEDGE.
AND SHE ATE IT.
AND SHE GAVE IT TO ADAM WHO
WAS THERE WITH HER
AND HE ATE IT ... BECAUSE THEY
WANTED TO. THEY DISOBEYED
THE COMMAND OF GOD.
THEY DIDN'T TRUST THE WORD.
AND THEY BROUGHT SIN INTO THE
WORLD.
THEY LOST THAT IMAGE OF GOD
WHICH WAS HOLINESS
AND PERFECTION. IT WAS MARRED
FOREVER.
THE CHILDREN THAT THEY BORE,
THAT WERE BORN TO THEM,
WERE NOT BORN IN THE IMAGE OF
GOD,
BUT NOW IN THE IMAGE OF MAN.
SINFUL. SINFUL FROM THE MOMENT
OF CONCEPTION.
DESTINED TO DEATH.
BECAUSE THAT WAS GOD'S WORD:
WHEN YOU EAT OF THIS, YOU WILL
DIE!
AND THE AMAZING THING ABOUT
GOD IS
THAT HE KEEPS HIS WORD!
HE MEANS WHAT HE SAYS!
AND IT IS SERIOUS; THAT'S WHY
IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US IN
OUR LIFE
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT WORD
OF GOD IS.
TO KNOW THAT WORD OF GOD. TO
TRUST
THAT WORD OF GOD. TO CONTINUE
TO BE "IN"
THAT WORD OF GOD TO STRENGTHEN
OUR FAITH.
TO BE ABLE TO STAND. TO BE
ABLE TO WITHSTAND
THE TEMPTATIONS THAT ARE ALL
AROUND US.
TO REALIZE THAT WE ARE NOT
LEFT
IN THAT UNHOLY SINFUL
CONDITION
BECAUSE JUST AS ADAM BROUGHT
SIN INTO THE WORLD,
PAUL REMINDED US IN OUR
EPISTLE LESSON,
THAT JESUS CHRIST BROUGHT
FORGIVENESS
AND HE BROUGHT LIFE.
THAT GRACE THAT IS POURED OUT
SO ABUNDANTLY AND SO RICHLY
FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
THAT GRACE THAT IS FOUND
"ONLY" IN JESUS CHRIST!
THAT THERE IS OUR STRENGTH
AND THERE IS OUR POWER FOR
LIVING IN THE KNOWLEDGE
THAT OUR SINS HAVE BEEN
FORGIVEN BY THE SUFFERING
AND DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST.
THAT WE WILL LIVE BECAUSE HE
ROSE FROM THE DEAD.
HE IS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR ...
WHO LIVES FOR US ON OUR
BEHALF.
AND WE KNOW THAT FROM THE
WORD.
AND WE TAKE THAT WORD AND MAKE
IT IMPORTANT
IN OUR LIVES;
SO THAT WE WILL WITHSTAND
TEMPTATION. THAT WE CONTINUE
TO GO BACK TO THE WORD; THE
WORD THAT IS
SO IMPORTANT. IT IS THE WORD
THAT SHOWS US
THAT JESUS WAS THE VICTOR OVER
SATAN HIMSELF.
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT
THE EXAMPLE
IN OUR SERMON TEXT FOR THIS
MORNING. WE KNOW THAT
JESUS WITHSTOOD THOSE
TEMPTATIONS OF SATAN.
AND SATAN COMES TO US
JUST LIKE HE DID TO JESUS.
AT THE MOMENT WHEN WE ARE WEAK
WITH THE THINGS THAT HE
BELIEVES WILL SURELY
ENTICE US. HAVING NOT EATEN
FOR FORTY DAYS AND FORTY
NIGHTS IN THAT FAST,
SATAN COMES TO JESUS AND
SAID: YOU HAVE THE POWER. YOU
HAVE THE
ABILITY TO TURN THESE STONES
INTO BREAD.
AND TO EAT.
WHAT A TEMPTATION.
WE KNOW THOSE TEMPTATIONS
IN THE TIMES IN OUR LIFE WHEN
WE HAVE THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO
DROP A FEW POUNDS.
AND AN HOUR LATER ALL THAT WE
CAN THINK OF IS FOOD.
IT CONSUMES US. AND YET
JESUS TURNED TO SATAN IN THAT
MOMENT OF TEMPTATION AND SAID:
MAN DOES NOT LIVE
BY BREAD ALONE.
BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES
FROM THE MOUTH
OF GOD. THAT'S THE
IMPORTANCE OF THAT WORD.
OF KNOWING THAT WORD. OF USING
THAT WORD
IN OUR LIFE TO PUT SATAN IN
HIS PLACE.
TO STOP HIM IN THAT TEMPTATION
PROCESS.
CUZ WE KNOW HE'S GOING TO COME
BACK.
WE KNOW THAT AS LONG AS
WE ARE A CHILD OF GOD, SATAN
IS GOING TO BE
NIPPING AT OUR HEELS TO HAVE
OUR SOUL.
AS LONG AS WE ARE SAVED BY
JESUS CHRIST
AND REDEEMED BY HIS BLOOD,
AND HEADED TOWARD HEAVEN,
SATAN IS GOING TO MAKE
EVERY EFFORT TO BLOCK THE
PATH.
TO STOP US. TO MAKE US HIS.
HE DID THE SAME THING WITH
JESUS.
CONTINUED TO COME BACK TO HIM.
TAKES HIM UP TO THE TEMPLE AND
SAID: WELL, YOU WANNA USE THE
WORD OF GOD, I'LL USE THE WORD
OF GOD AS WELL. YOU KNOW,
THROW YOURSELF OFF
THE TEMPLE BECAUSE GOD SAYS:
HE WILL SEND HIS ANGELS ... TO
GUARD AND PROTECT YOU.
AND JESUS RESPONDS
TO HIM BY SAYING, IT ALSO
SAYS:
DO NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD
TO THE TEST.
THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING
SCRIPTURE
IS TO KNOW WHEN TO USE IT,
HOW TO APPLY IT, AND
WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR LIFE.
THAT COMES FROM STUDY. THAT
COMES FROM USING IT.
THAT COMES FROM THE KNOWLEDGE
THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT
GIVES TO US TO SAY TO SATAN:
YOU ARE TWISTING THE WORDS OF
GOD
AND I AM NOT LISTENING!
I STAND ON THIS WORD OF
SCRIPTURE.
IT IS THE TRUTH; IT IS THE
FOUNDATION
OF MY LIFE AND THIS IS WHAT
GOD HAS SAID
AND I BELIEVE IT.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT IN OUR
LIFE
EACH AND EVERY DAY IS BECAUSE
SATAN IS THERE EACH AND EVERY
DAY.
TIME IN. TIME OUT ... COMING
TO GET US.
HE CAME TO CHRIST AGAIN. TAKES
HIM UP AND SAYS:
I WILL GIVE YOU ALL OF THESE
THINGS OF THE WORLD.
THEY CAN BE YOURS IF ALL YOU
DO IS BOW DOWN
TO ME.
AND JESUS RESPONDS: WORSHIP
THE LORD YOUR GOD
AND SERVE HIM ONLY.
GET AWAY
SATAN!
SIMPLE WORDS.
BUT WHAT POWER AND STRENGTH
THEY CONTAIN!
ESPECIALLY FOR US AS THE
CHILDREN OF GOD
TO HAVE WITNESSED THAT BATTLE
BETWEEN
CHRIST AND SATAN. THAT BATTLE
THAT WAGED
CONTINUALLY WHERE SATAN WANTED
TO STOP
AND DESTROY CHRIST'S SAVING
WORK.
AND HE THOUGHT HE HAD
ACCOMPLISHED THAT WITH
HIS DEATH ON GOOD FRIDAY. BUT
YET WE KNOW
THAT CHRIST WAS THE VICTOR;
THAT DEATH WAS THE ATONING
SACRIFICE FOR THE SINS OF ALL
PEOPLE.
AND CHRIST SEALED HIS VICTORY
BY BURSTING FORTH
FROM THAT TOMB ON EASTER
SUNDAY
MORNING AND THEN DESCENDING
INTO HELL
TO SHOW THAT HE WAS THE VICTOR
OVER
SATAN HIMSELF. CHRIST IS
THE ONE WHO WON!
HE IS THE ONE WHO IS THE
STRONGEST.
HE HAS VANQUISHED
THE FOE! AND AS HIS CHILDREN,
WE LIVE IN THAT VICTORY.
WE LIVE IN THAT STRENGTH. AND
WHEN TEMPTATION
COMES TO US, KNOCKING AT OUR
DOOR, IN WHATEVER
FORM IT IS, WE RELY
ON THE STRENGTH OF OUR LORD
AND SAVIOR.
AND THE FIRST THING WE SAY IS:
GET AWAY FROM ME,
SATAN! WE DON'T LET HIM IN.
WE DON'T OPEN THE DOOR AN
INCH!
BUT WE SCREAM THE NAME OF OUR
LORD AND SAVIOR
BECAUSE HE IS THE ONE
THAT WE WORSHIP AND HE IS THE
ONE THAT WE SERVE.
THE BLESSINGS OF THIS LIFE
ARE TEMPORAL AND NOTHING IN
COMPARISON
TO THE GLORIES THAT AWAIT US
AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
THIS WORLD
HAS A LOT OF THINGS THAT
ENTICE US,
BUT ALSO A LOT OF THINGS THAT
ARE NOT BENEFICIAL TO US
THAT WE SHOULD SAY "NO" TO.
AND YET
SAY "YES" TO ALL THOSE
BLESSINGS THAT GOD PROVIDES.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN WE'RE
TEMPTED,
WE GET FOCUSED LIKE ADAM AND
EVE ON THE ONE THING
THAT GOD SAID "NO" TO.
AND FORGETTING THE THOUSANDS
OF BLESSINGS
THAT GOD HAS SAID "YES" TO.
TO OPEN OUR EYES TO THOSE
LOVING THINGS
THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO US.
THOSE THINGS THAT HE HAS SAID:
DO! USE! ... ENJOY
IN THIS LIFE! BUT REALIZE
THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE
AGAINST HIS WILL.
AND IN THESE DAYS OF LENT,
IT IS GOOD FOR US,
IT IS PROPER FOR US,
TO REMIND OURSELVES THAT WE
ARE WEAK. OUR SINFUL NATURE
MAKES US NOT AS STRONG AS WE
WANT TO BE.
OUR MIND WANTS US TO
CONSTANTLY
BE FOLLOWING CHRIST, BUT YET
THOSE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO
DO, WE DON'T ALWAYS DO.
BUT WE COME BACK TO THE WORD:
OUR FOUNDATION! WE COME BACK
TO OUR LORD
AND TRUST IN HIM. AND RELY ON
HIM.
WE TAKE HIS VICTORY AND HIS
STRENGTH AS WE PREPARE TO
CELEBRATE
THAT GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF
THE RESURRECTION!
WE COME TO HIM ACKNOWLEDGING
OUR SINFULNESS.
AND RECEIVING HIS FORGIVENESS.
WE SPEND TIME
DAILY IN THAT WORD
FOCUSED ON GROWING
SPIRITUALLY.
FOCUSED ON INCREASING OUR
FAITH.
FOCUSED ON TRULY UNDERSTANDING
THAT GREAT SACRIFICE THAT
CHRIST MADE.
AND IT HAS IMPACT
IN OUR LIFE.
WE GROW IN KNOWLEDGE OF THE
WORD ... SO THAT WE CAN
FIGHT TEMPTATION. WE TRUST
AND KNOW THE VICTORY THAT IS
OURS
AND WE LAUGH IN SATAN'S FACE
AND TELL HIM
TO LEAVE US ALONE. AND ABOVE
ALL,
IN THESE DAYS OF LENT,
WE WITHSTAND TEMPTATION!
AMEN.
LET US RISE.
NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH
GOES BEYOND ALL OF OUR
UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR HEARTS
AND YOUR MINDS AND ESPECIALLY
YOUR LIVES IN THE ONE TRUE
FAITH
UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.