Point of Grace Worship 1.14.24 Sermon Notes – “The War, The Warrior and The Win!”
What is God revealing to us about Jesus and the Kingdom of God through the “temptation” account?
There is a War…… There is a Warrior…. There is a Win
Matthew 3:16-4:11
16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
Helpful Insights:
• This is a continuous narrative from the baptism account. The chapter break is unfortunate.
• There is a connection between Adam’s story, Israel’s story and Jesus’ journey. Adam and Israel failed to be faithful to their identity as God’s son – Will Jesus?
• Verses 4:1-2 creates the tension of war – battle – attack. Is Jesus in a position of weakness? Who took the bait? Jesus is a different kind of human being? Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
There is a War…… There is a Warrior…. There is a Win
1 Peter 5 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith,
Ephesians 6 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
What was the first temptation and how did Jesus do?
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
What is the “false choice based on a false assumption”? (The devil is very good at this strategy.)
How does the devil use “doubt” in temptation? What is his goal – where is he trying to create doubt?
Jesus, being Son of God and truly human, uses his power within the boundaries of His Father’s will not to take matters and His future into His own hands. He is a different kind of human – the kind we were all meant to be.
How are we tempted like this? Where is my weak spot where it is natural for me to “take matters into my own hands” falling for the temptation to “doubt” my Father in heaven and His provision for me?
How does it look different when I show up to battle “aligned with Warrior Jesus” or I just show up to battle with the best that I can muster?
There is a War There is a Warrior There is a Win
“But for us fights a valiant One whom Himself elected.”