Facing Temptations? JESUS HAS YOUR BACK! (CC)

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.