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Reference

Matthew 4:5-7
Temptation (3)

“THE BELIEVERS WALK WITH GOD, IS NOT ABOUT THE SPECTACULAR, IT IS ABOUT SUBMISSION.”

  • THE LUST OF SATISFACTION
    • The self-gratification of our appetites Matthew 4:3
    • The passion of our self-reliance Matthew 4:4
      • 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.
      • 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…
  • THE LUST OF THE SUPERNATURAL
    • Matthew 4:5-7
    • The attraction of the spectacular
      • Matthew 4:5-6 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
    • The answer to the spectacular
      • Matthew 4:7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
        • “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (Jn. 6:28–29).
        • “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)” (He. 10:22–23).
  • Application:
    • Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
    • Thought #1-Believers are often tempted the same as Christ.
      • 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
      • They are tempted to test God, to lay hold of some Biblical promise and take it out of context, to misuse and misapply it.
      • To center people’s attention upon the spectacular, not upon God and faith in God.
    • Thought #2-Three things are absolutely essential in order to conquer this temptation.
      • Living with God moment by moment
      • Living in God’s Word
      • Realizing that the power of Satan is a limited power.