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The Temptation Of Christ Part 1

February 01, 2009

Hebrews 2:18 “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted…”

Matthew 4:1-4 Then [after His baptism 3:16-17] was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be [since you are] the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The context is after His Baptism

Matthew 3:16-17 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

My Son is My King

Psalm 2:6-8 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. 7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

A son is tested

Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

The sons of God are overcomers

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh [testing] shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

Satan tempts us to do evil

1 Corinthians 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again lest Satan tempt you because of your lack of self-control

In Providential temptations – we count it all joy

James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Christ’s mission

Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

Jesus was tempted more than three times

Luke 4:2,13 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Most common areas of temptation

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Israel is My Son

Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

They were baptized before the wilderness

1 Corinthians 10:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers [Israel] were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

The wilderness was a test

Deuteronomy 8:2 “And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

The Son of God is the King of Israel

John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Self-preservation is man’s idol of worship

Job 2:4 And Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.

God knows better than us

2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

IT IS WRITTEN

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

His word is more important than food

Job 23:12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.

Hunger was for a purpose

Deuteronomy 8:3 “And He [the Lord] humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

Israel did not learn

Psalm 78:19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

Many were overthrown in the wilderness

1 Corinthians 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

For Jesus life is more than the physical

John 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

John 6:27 "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you…

Luke 12:23 "Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

Trust in God when deprived

Job 13:15 Though he slay me [starve me!], yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

It leads to blessing

Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

Life is found in obeying His voice

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,20 by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Deuteronomy 8:1 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live,

Proverbs 4:4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

Proverbs 7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.