This is why Jesus was tempted: to help you and to save you. So when you’re battling, come to Jesus!

Father’s Day, June 18, 2017

Introduction and offering:

Welcome to our Summer Bible Series—we are working our way through the gospel of Luke. Today we’re in chapter 4—it’s the story of the temptation of Jesus.

How many of you are ever tempted to do the wrong thing? If your hand is not up, you either lack self-awareness or are living in denial! I often say that I can resist anything except temptation! Actually, Oscar Wilde said that—I have no trouble with temptation. I do have a problem with lying! I am tempted every day—as are you. I know you’re thinking, “Pastor Joe, how could a spiritual giant like you be tempted?” We tend to think that if we’re tempted, something must be wrong with us. But as we’ll see in today’s story, temptation comes to the best, most righteous among us!

Here’s the story:

Luke 4:1–13

1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

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

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

5 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; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

9 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.’”

12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

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