Matthew4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13
S-1735
SLIDE # Read Luke 4:1-13 from The Message.
OK. There was this overweight man who was so serious about his new diet that he even changed his way to work driving route to avoid his favorite bakery.
One morning , however, he arrived at work carrying a big gigantic bag of donuts.
As he put them in the lounge for everyone to enjoy he explained that he accidentally drive by his favorite bakery that morning and there in the window was a host of warm donuts.
I felt that this must be a sign from God so I prayed that if God wanted me to have some donuts that he would open up a parking space directly in front of the bakery.
And sure enough, on my eight time around the block, there it was.
SLIDE #: “IF” or “Since?”
A lot depends on whether “if” means “if” or “since” or “both.”
SLIDE #: έι ύιος ει του θεου
“if son you are of the God …”
SLIDE #: If Satan meant, “Since (because) you are the son of God”, then he conceded that Jesus is God. Therefore, the focus of the temptations were on the kind of Messiah Jesus would be?
All tests are designed to avoid the cross.
SLIDE #: “Turning Stones to Bread” is a temptation to avoid the cross and gain a following by providing for the physical needs of people—a Bread Messiah
He rejected that invitation.
Feeds the 5000 out of deep compassion and the next day the people show up wanting breakfast. He declines and preaches the hardest sermon he ever preached: on full commitment to Him.
“Man can’t live by bread alone.”
SLIDE #: “Jumping Off the Temple” is the temptation to gain a following by performing Showy Tricks.
Seeking to attract a following by showy tricks is always doomed to failure. Today’s sensation is most often tomorrow’s bore.
Hr resisted that temptation when Standing before Herod.
SLIDE #: Worshipping Satan is the temptation to gain a following by bowing down to Satan.
After all, the kingdoms are his to give. Easy way, avoid the pain and suffering of the cross.
“The Lord is God. He alone is to be worshipped.”
Now, most of us don’t struggle with what kind of Messiah we are going to be.
We struggle more with the Doubt side, the “if” side (the child of God side) of Jesus’ struggle.
“If you are the child of God …” is designed to place doubt in the mind of Christ (and ours).
SLIDE #: “TURNING STONES TO BREAD
What Satan said to Jesus
SLIDE #: Luke 4:3-4: The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
What was wrong with turning stones to bread? To turn stones to bread was to admit that God His Father was not going to meet his needs in the desert.
SLIDE #: “You are really hungry. If you are the Son of God, why is He not taking better care of you?
Why don’t you feed yourself by turning this stone to bread?
This is self reliance.
WHAT SATAN SAYS TO US:
SLIDE #: Self Reliance: If You Are The Child Of God, Why Do You Have So Many Problems. God Is Not Taking Good Care Of You. You don’t need Him! Take Matters Into Your Own Hands and fix your problems yourself!
Here is the doubt: If you really are a child of God, Why has God allowed all these troubles to come … marriage to fail …job to be lost … children to disappoint … health to fail.
“I can’t trust that God will take care of my needs. I had better take of this myself.
This is self reliance without God reliance.
STORY of how Roger made Brie self reliant when she was shot.
Brie’s gun shot in the hospital.
Roger was not meeting her needs. She and comfort around her instead of a dad complimenting her on how well she was handling this on her own.
Brie’s sick
Self reliance says, “I really don’t need anything, and if I do, I will take care of it myself.
Let me share with you one of the painful realities of self reliance: Inevitably, Self-reliant people are insensitive and intolerant of other people’s neediness:
Self reliant people are all alone.
SLIDE #: Luke 4:4: Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”
It is possible to eat bread and die on a full stomach. Bread is not the sustainer of life.
If you think that your life subsists of bread then you will everything in your power to get bread.
If you think that you life consists of popularity then you will do everything in your power to be popular.
If you think that the fullness of your live consists in possessions then you will do everything in your power to acquire the bread of things.
If you think power….
If you thing manipulating and controlling others…
But, if you ever come to the point where you realize that bread is beyond the point, the clothes you wear is beside the point, the car you drive is beyond the point, the house you live in is beyond the point, then you will do everything in your power to submit to the life giving Words of Jesus Christ.
SLIDE #: Self Reliance is conquered by reliance on the living Word of Jesus Christ
Bouts of depression under stress at church. Only way to survive was to sit in blue chair, read the Bible and cry out for help.
Journals filled pain. I never needed to journal when all was well
People see journals and think I was always like that.
SLIDE #: “WORSHIPPING SATAN
What Satan said to Jesus
SLIDE #: Luke 4:5-8: The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8: Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'”
SLIDE #: If you are the Son of God, then why are you so tired, hungry and weak. Didn’t God say 40 days ago at your baptism that you were his beloved son? You must not be very important to Him. Look at you; you’re not worth receiving the kingdoms of the world. FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP ME and I will give you the kingdoms of the world.
This is the temptation to Self Condemnation.
The focus is here upon “Self. Nothing wrong with the Self”
SLIDE #: The problem is an over concern with myself which is pride.
It is universal. We all have trouble with it. Because pride is such a natural thing in all of us.
Job 41: 31-34: “Satan is king over all the children of pride.” We are children of pride. We have it in our blood. God gave us “pride” for a last name – Roger Pride.
We are like eggs. We’re so full of pride that there’s no room for anything else.
The one vitamin we all have too much of is Vitamin I.
Pride is the sin that invites Satan to rule.
Man was created to glorify God, but ever since the fall of man, man has an overpowering desire that never seems to die, to glorify himself.
Self Reliance
Self Condemnation
Self Centeredness
WHAT SATAN SAYS TO US: seen self reliance. Now see self condemnation:
SLIDE #: Self Condemnation: “You Are Not Worthy To Be A Child Of God. Why Don’t You Just Give Up And Quit.”
Have you ever felt that you were not worthy of God and His love? Have you ever felt so unworthy that you just decided to give up and not even try?
I have.
Let me get personal.
STORY: Discouraged, mostly tired. Feeling like a failure. Feeling God was disappointed with me.
Driving across town. Stopped at red light. Had this image of being in Heaven. Standing in line waiting to see Jesus. I pictured myself getting out of line and slinking away because I did not figure Jesus wanted to see me anyway.
Julie: “How much does it take to be enough? Church well, people love relocation, site, space, attendance soaring, reaching new people, kids doing well, teach pastors and wives all over the country. How much is enough?” It just did not help.
“I’m not good enough for God.”
Why would we feel not worthy enough for God?
I can think of three reasons.
SLIDE #: 1. We were raised to have a poor self image so we never feel worthy to receive anything.
Where does a self image come from? Reflections from the people around us.
Good mirrors or curved and broken mirrors.
Poor self image: incorrect mirrors
Julie and I were leading a conference for pastor’s and wives recently. During a testimony time, one woman, with tears in her eyes, shared a childhood experience with her parents. Dad wanted to go somewhere and mom did not want to go. Mom was angry. Daughter was sent to the neighbors to be cared for while mom and dad were away. While at the neighbors, she was attacked by the neighbor’s dog.
She said, “I remember awakening with blood all over my face and chest, my heart racing in terror.
“When mom came home, she was angry.” Now she began to sob. “She wasn’t angry at the neighbors, she was angry with me. How could I let this happen?”
I am so sorry. Children are not well equipped emotionally to handle their parent’s anger. Hard to process anger from the one who is supposed to love and care for you.
“But, that’s not all. The dog had not been vaccinated. I remember my parents talking about what to do. Rabies has no symptoms until it is too late. If they took me for shots the neighbors would get upset and they might put down the dog. So they decided not to get me shots. (weeping) I learned that the neighbor’s dog meant more to my mom and dad than I did.”
Talk about rejection, betrayal, disappointment, and hurt.
Steele Wright: “My prayer is good enough for God but not good enough for mom.”
SLIDE #: 2. We feel guilty because we have done some things of which we ought to be ashamed.
Bill Starnes: one of best friends, catch up homework assignments; brilliant, never made anything less than A+. Never called me for homework again. Friendship went down hill
Moon’s car at Union News
Done some other things I will not mention that embarrass me.
Appropriate lines of things I’ve done. You have done the same.
Ashamed of …..
SLIDE #: 3. We have not yet fully experienced our acceptance in Jesus Christ.
SLIDE #: Luke 4:8: Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'”
Come to worship in the preacher’s line. It is not about me.
SLIDE #: Self Condemnation is overcome by receiving approval from Jesus Christ in worship.
Sit in front of Jesus’ mirror
Sit at Jesus’ feet and find value.
“I Am Accepted in the Beloved.
SLIDE #: Ephesians 1:6: to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Receive from Jesus the value He has placed upon you.
SLIDE #: “JUMPING OFF THE TOP OF THE TEMPLE”
What Satan said to Jesus
SLIDE #: Luke 4:9-12: The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’
SLIDE #: “Jesus, if you are the Son of God then you are so important to Him as his child that you can do anything you want to and He will rescue you no matter what.”
“And, oh, by the way, in case you are wondering whether or not He will save you, it is right here in the Bible.”
Satan misquotes the verse. God never promises to protect any one who jumps off the temple. He promises only to protect those who are in His will.
The temptation is self centeredness.
WHAT SATAN SAYS TO US
SLIDE #: Self Centeredness: “If You Are A Child Of God Feel Free To Go Out On A Limb Because God Will Take Care of you because he loves you too much to let anything bad happen to you.”
Selfishness is an ugly thing. We can’t live anyway we want to without hurting our selves and the ones around us.
Camera in Colorado: wouldn’t let Ron take a picture.
Later at Rocky mt lake. Uncle took Ronnie fishing. I wanted to fish. “Could I try that.” “No, you are the most selfish boy I have ever met.”
Never felt so isolated and alone in my life.
I held on to the camera.
I hurt Ronnie, mom and dad, and I was miserable.
Selfish Presumption is an even uglier thing to God.
SLIDE #: Luke 4:12: Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'”
Don’t presume on God’s will. You just might jump and he won’t catch you.
“Marry a non-Christian and God will still bless my marriage: The marriage will work on two different sets of plans.
“Go into business with a nonChristian and God will bless our business.”
“Spend everything I make and God will take care of me in retirement.”
“Abuse drugs and god will hide the truth when I take the polygraph for my first job.”
SLIDE #: Self Centeredness is put to rest by choosing to live Christ’s way instead of ours.
Determined decision: plaque on our back door: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
MEDITATION
Our Prayer:
Oh Lord, deliver me… help me keep my self in proper perspective …. from an over concern with myself…. …help me resist the temptation to live alone and without God or others….
Deliver me … from the desire to be extolled… being honored… preferred to others…
Help me overcome my … fear of being humiliated… fear of being despised… fear of being embarrassed… being rebuked… fear of being forgotten… fear of being wrong…. that others may be chosen and I set aside… fear that I may go unnoticed while others are praised.
Help me to know when my selfishness is rearing its ugly head. I have no desire to hurt you or the people around me. Help me from expressing my self in a way that isolates me from You and others. I am sorry for those times I am so arrogant as to think that I am so important that I can live however I want and still find your approval.
I want to God dependence, God approval and God centeredness in every area of my life.
Amen