Pastoral Team

Sam Choi

How can we get ready for thirty new disciples?

Sam Choi

Jesus is the true and better son of God who is faithful through all temptations by the Spirit.

Despite all hell coming down on him, Jesus is our faithful overcomer.

Before I became a Christian I had an on and off addiction to pornography. When I was 15, God forgave me of all my sins and made me new. On top of many other powerful life changes, I experienced several months of freedom. However, old habits and bad roots crept back in and I found myself in a weekly battle against porn. And I remember going through the vicious cycle of falling and then beating myself up for a while and then repenting and then experiencing some time of freedom and then finally again. Rinse and repeat.

I remember distinctly times weeping on the floor because of my shame and how sorry I felt. I made promises to God that I would never do it again and then when I would, would feel the shame of breaking my commitment. I wonder why God would save me and ever forgive me again. I heard that Jesus would forgive any sin but wondered if that would be true for me.

How could God accept me?

Anyone know what I’m talking about? 

›    I had another problem in my earlier years as a Christian, I didn’t know how to fight.

I used all kinds of crazy unbiblical tactics to fight. In order to fight porn,

I remember one time I took a sharpie and wrote all over the family computer monitor, along the border. I wrote, “angels are watching you.” And other silly things like that to try to deter me. For some reason, my dad was not mad.

And perhaps like the Sam in high school, you feel similarly. You are stuck in the sin cycle of shame and going right back to your sin.

And perhaps, you do not know how to fight either.

And maybe it’s not lust, it could be food, it could be a substance, it could be acceptance. We all have different challenges we have to fight. And we all fail at times.

The Text we’re going to be looking at today answers both problems I had as a young Christian.

What if there was someone who always succeeded?

And his record and victory became our record and victory?

What if there was someone who exposed all the tactics of the enemy and showed us how he defeat him?

In our Text today, we will see the only one who never failed and never sinned. Even when the deck was stacked against him, he never gave into temptation.

Despite all hell coming down on him, Jesus is our faithful overcomer.

Context

Last week Pastor Ross went over the genealogy and showed us that Adam too was the son of God.

Also, if you remember the OT we find that Israel is also

 And Adam with all his descendents up to Jesus all failed in their life at some level. Some more than others. But in the moments of great temptation they all failed.

And last week, at Jesus’ baptism, we also heard that Jesus was beloved son of God

Is Jesus going to fail like Adam?

Is he going to fail like Israel?

›    Before we get into the temptation of Jesus, we need to understand this word, “tempt.”

What does “Tempt” mean?

It’s very important to have a clear understanding of this word.

The word in Greek, is the word, “Peirazo”

The reason I highlight this, is that we don’t have a word in English that exactly like this word, Peirazo.

We translate it as, tempt. However, tempt is always negative in english. You don’t tempt someone to do something kind. You tempt someone to do something bad.

So although this word is used in a negative way, it’s always used positively.

The word, test is maybe a better word for us.

2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.

The wilderness reveals what’s inside.

Temptations don’t cause sin but expose it.

Remember that one illustration I shared with you about water in a cup during family talk?

Why does water come out of a cup if you shake it?

Because there’s water in it.

If there’s no water, no matter how hard you shake, nothing will come out of it!

In the same way, shaking in life, reveals what’s inside.

Jesus is about to get shook and we’ll see what will come out of his heart.

Outline

•    Introduction: Lk 4:1–2 Spirit-led Fasting

•    Three Tests:

•    There are three tests. In each one, Satan both tests but also challenges Jesus’ identity. It’s temptation plus accusation.

•    Each test is made up of an If-Then. If you’re the Son of God, then you must do this.

•    Jesus then answers each test with Scripture.

•    Test 1: Lk 4:3–4: Satisfaction and provision

•    Test 2: Lk 4:5–8: Glory

•    Test 3: Lk 4:9–12: Trusting God

•    The Cliffhanger: Lk4:13 More tests to come

Text

Introduction: Spirit-led Wilderness

1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.

The Text starts off with Jesus being led by the Spirit. This is a test from God. And just previously, the Spirit descended on Jesus at his baptism.

This forty days marker should be a flag to the careful reader that Jesus is reenacting Israel’s 40 years of tests in the wilderness.

But where Israel failed, will Jesus succeed?

___

The text reads, “Being tempted by the devil.”

The Greek reads as if he was being hounded by Satan continually throughout the entire 40 days in the wilderness.

And the three tests we see in this passage were his final ones or perhaps, summed up the tests. It’s not clear.

___

The last line in v. 2 reads, “He was hungry.”

It’s kind of an obvious statement.

But the author is trying to help us realize that Jesus was human.

He was limited like us. He hungred like us. And in that state, the temptations came.

I want to make an important point that has been haunting me all week as I meditated on this passage,

Satan doesn’t fight fair!

Jesus fasted for 40 days. Satan waits for him to get to a point where He was physically exhausted, starving, lonely, and mentally drained.

To understand how tantalizing this was, remember our fast? For those who only drank water.  Imagine extending that fast for five more weeks. Imagine not having anything to eat from now until the month after next. Then imagine surviving such a fast out in the desert. Jesus must have been at the very limits of physical endurance.

Satan doesn’t wait for you to be top of your game but when you are most susceptible.

He’s doesn’t play by proper rulers of war.

This is why it is so important for us to increasingly grow in self-awareness of when we are most vulnerable.

Perhaps it’s late at night when you’re tired?

Or right after work?

Or when you feel rejected by someone?

Or when you’re lonely?

›    Now let’s take a closer look at these tests.

Test 1: Satisfaction and provision

This first test focuses on if Jesus will look to God for his provision and satisfaction or put it in his own hands.

So being, hungry,

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

Remember, each time, Satan is going to attack Jesus’ identity. IF you are the son of God, then you’ll do this or you must do this.

What’s wrong with turning a stone into bread?

1. Questioning the goodness and wisdom of God

Jesus could have easily rationalized,

“God would not want his own Son to starve.”

“I have a mission to accomplish!”

The end justifies the means, right?

If there would ever be a time where people would understand, it would be here. 

But Jesus succeeds where others would fail.

He doesn’t make excuses.

He doesn’t rationalize disobedience. God called him here and led him to fast, he won’t break it until God says so.

Sometimes we make excuses, don’t we?

Well, I was tired. Or I had a bad day. My wife wasn’t giving me the attention she should so I went somewhere else.

›    The 2nd problem with turning the stone into bread was that,

2. Rejecting His Humanity

Jesus never uses his power by the Spirit in order to self-serve.

He needed to live a life like a man, experience life with the weaknesses of man.

He did this in order to be the perfect representation of man for us.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

By saying this, Jesus was identifying himself as a human being. It was as a man that he stood against the devil. Jesus was not masquerading as a man—a divine mind trapped in a human body. He was fully human, body and soul. Thus it was in his humanity that he withstood the wiles of Satan. We need to see this because usually we think that it was easy for Jesus to resist temptation. He was God, after all! Yet the Bible also says that Jesus was made in our human nature, that he was fully man, and that therefore “in every respect [he] has been tempted as we are” (Heb. 4:15). Understand this: Jesus did not resist the temptations of Satan by the superior power of his deity, but in all the weakness of his humanity. This gives us hope. Sometimes we say that we sin because we cannot help it. But by the grace that we have in Jesus Christ, we too have the ability to resist the devil: “because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Heb. 2:18).1

So how did Jesus fight?

Jesus’ Answer: The Power of the Word

4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ”

Jesus quotes Deuteronomy.

This is not a denial of his need for bread for it says, “Bread alone.” His great need is for obedience. Whatever his Father says.

Jesus does not will himself out of this temptation. He doesn’t reason himself out of it. He speaks truth to it.

He does not consider any of them, he just shuts it down.

When you are weak, reality can be hazy. Your identity can be confusing.

But when you declare God’s Word, you declare truth. Unwavering truth no matter how you feel about it.

Sometimes I don’t fight like this. I reason. I ignore. I try to think about  some other distraction. I sometimes have conversations.

Jesus will have none of that. He shuts the conversation down!

Some of us need to stop conversing with the devil. Weighing the pros and cons of the temptation. And just shut it down with the Word.

This implies you need to know God’s Word.

Check out the promises page on our website.

Memorize Romans 8 with us, it’s not too late.

Fill your spiritual gun with plenty of ammunition.

if Jesus Christ did not think he could handle life without knowing the Scripture, do you think we can?

›    Jesus faithfully overcomes the first test.

 Test 2: Comfort and Glory

This second test, Satan is going to challenge Jesus’ allegiance to the Father but also his commitment to a hard path.

5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”

“It has been delivered to me.”

Once Adam rebelled and sinned against God, he relinquished his co-reign with God.

Satan gained power over the kingdoms of men, which is why Jesus called him “the ruler of this world” (e.g., John 12:31).

So Satan offers him co-rule with him if Jesus worships him.

I think this is not just a simple bow, but allegiance to him.

The irony of all this is that Jesus will indeed inherit the kingdoms of the world.

And at this point, Jesus probably knew that the way to that requires a cross.

He knew what the road ahead looked like.

So Satan is offering a crown without a cross.

Satan wants to promise him the results without the road.

But Jesus knew he couldn’t inherit the kingdoms without dealing with the kingdom’s greatest problem, their penalty.

›    Again, Jesus does not entertain Satan’s temptations,

Jesus’ Answer: Worship Only God

8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ”

Notice Jesus doesn’t say, I’d really like to but I can’t cause the Bible says so.

Only God is worthy of worship and service and you’re NO GOD!

›    Now, Satan is no dummy. He is picking up a pattern. Jesus uses God's word as a sword to dismantle everyone of his tests. So, Satan plans to use scripture himself.

 Test 3: Trusting God

This final test is very similar to the heart of the last test. Can Jesus speed us this whole process of his glorifying. 

9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ 11 and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”

Satan probably took him to the top of temple called, the Royal Porch. This was about a 450 ft. drop. Josephus the historian mentions that just looking over the edge would make some people dizzy. So if Jesus were to jump off in front of a large crowd, he would be able to show his glory.

Satan is twisting God’s Word in order to get Jesus to violate God’s ways.

This is an age old trick from him,

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Just because someone uses Scripture, doesn’t mean it’s actually God’s intention.

Context is everything!

All false teachers use Scripture. They just use it out of context.

If you’ve ever have had a Jehovah’s Witness come to your door, they will often invite you to have “Bible” study.

›    Again, Jesus will not entertain his temps,

Jesus’ Answer: You Shall not Test God

12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

What’s wrong with testing God?

A final way we tend to show a lack of trust in God is to try to force him to act on our behalf. In the test we often set up, we want to see if he is for us or against us. This type of spiritual wagering does not involve leaping from tall buildings, but in walking into events where we say in effect, “If you care for me God, then this situation will turn out this way.” In effect, we test the “emergency broadcast system” of God’s presence and presume on how he should react. This kind of testing is an attempt to control God, not follow his leading. We are setting ourselves up for disappointment, since it may be in our best interest for events to go in a different direction than we desire.

- Darell Bock

Think about the arrogance we can have in trying to force God’s hand. You prove yourself to me. As creatures this is unfathomable that we would challenge the creator.

For the Christian,

What more can he do but give us his son?

32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

The Cliffhanger: More Temptations to come

13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

How will Satan know when there’s an opportune time?

He watches. he prowls.

This is true for us too, 

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Let’s go back to that early question I posed in the beginning,

All of us have tests all the time, tests that reveal what’s inside. And we all like Adam and Israel, fail these tests at times.

The accuser will come to all of us and challenge our identity.

There’s no way God could love you! Look at what you did.

There’s no way God could forgive you, you just asked for forgiveness the other day.

The good news is that you don’t have to pass the test. Jesus already did. He did it with flying colors!

In those moments when we fail, this is what you say,

“You’re right Satan, I have failed and even more than you know and I know and God shouldn’t love me. And yet, Jesus, stood the test. He is the perfect one. He was condemned for my failures and sin. And now, I am forgiven and clean because of him.”

When Martin Luther was asked how he overcame the Devil he said,

“Well, when he comes knocking upon the door of my heart, and asks ‘Who lives here?’

the dear Lord Jesus goes to the door and says, ‘Martin Luther used to live here, but he has moved out. Now I live here.’” -Martin Luther

If you’re not putting your trust in your savior your putting your trust in yourself.

You will fail like we all have.

And you will stand before God one day.

And you will not be able to stand beneath the accusations.

Your good deeds will not be enough.

But praise be to God, that he has made a way.

You must repent of being your own God and savior.

And if you put your trust in Jesus, his transcript will be yours. It is as if you only have perfect scores.

He will give you his Spirit that will empower you to live the life he’s called us to live.

He will adopt you as a one of his blood children.

This is the good news!

Conclusion

Who are you putting your confidence in today?

Your obedience or Christ’s obedience?

And so Church, we will all fail this week at some point.

We will be test and dirty junk will come out of us.

In those moments, let us look to Jesus. The one who was shaken and only goodness came out.

He is our record.

He is our confidence.

He is our goodness.

He is our only hope.

Let me end with the famous lyrics of Martin Luther,

our striving would be losing,

were not the right Man on our side,

the Man of God's own choosing.

You ask who that may be?

Christ Jesus, it is he

should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear, for God has willed

his truth to triumph through us.

The prince of darkness grim,

we tremble not for him;

his rage we can endure,

for lo! his doom is sure;

one little word shall fell him.

Ross Tenneson

Pastor Ross covers the tough topic of "Attachments". Drawing heavily from the book Attachments: Why You Love, Feel and Act the Way You Do by Dr. Tim Clinton and Dr. Gary Sibcy, Ross shows us how all of our relationships, with God and others, is affected by our relationships with our earliest caregivers. He also offers some practical wisdom for caring for those in your life who have brokenness in this area, and shows us how Christ offers redemption to every one who looks to him. 

Ross Tenneson

Dale Gruber