Obstacle Course – Week Four

When we begin to live life according to the path we believe God is leading us toward, we can face many obstacles along the way. We’ll discuss what God is teaching us through these obstacles by examining: 

1. The last temptation of Jesus in the wilderness.
2. Two aspects of testing.
3. The characteristic of trust.

• The last temptation of Jesus from His time in the wilderness involved testing God.

Luke 4:9-10   In this temptation, Satan tells Jesus to throw himself off the temple to see if the angels will save Jesus.

This would be a shortcut for Jesus to bring God’s Kingdom to earth without having to go through the agonies of the cross. It would be a huge spectacle and would amass a huge following.

Psalm 91:9-13,14   Satan twists Old Testament Scripture out of context.

Luke 4:12   Jesus responds by repeating the command to not put God to the test.

• There are two aspects of testing we can see from this temptation.

1st – Expecting God to bless disobedience.

“Don’t expect the blessing of God if you disobey the principles of God.” Mike Lee

2nd – Don’t test God.

Deuteronomy 6:16   Jesus replies to Satan with Scripture to not test God.

Exodus 17:1-4    The Israelites bring a legal complaint against Moses where the punishment could be death.

Moses replies, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”

Exodus 17:5    God answers that Moses should take some elders and the staff and go.

At the end of the story we get a picture of how God is good.

Exodus 17:6-7   God is better than we could imagine. He took the punishment the 

Israelites deserved and gave them what they didn’t deserve…water.

1 Corinthians 10:2-4   This story from Exodus was a foreshadowing of Christ.

• The characteristic that God wants to develop in His followers is trust.

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Corrie Ten Boom

Luke 4:13   While successful in resisting this last temptation in the wilderness, it didn’t mean that Jesus wouldn’t face these temptations again. (Matthew 16)

Jesus’ victory is our victory.