Sermon Synopsis for February 17, 2008

“Into the Wilderness” Matthew 4:1-11”

Temptations come in a wide variety of choices.

Even pastors can’t escape temptation. This week I had a touch of the flu, and stayed home. I was already feeling bad, so I decided to work on my income taxes. There’s a lot of temptations (falsely) increase my deductions, misrepresent my income, lower my tax liability – “so I could give more to the church.”

Jesus said, “Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s”

Have you seen the commercial for a TV game show that asks a contestant, “Would you cheat on your wife if you knew she would never find out about it?”

Are they still temptations if no one knows about it? Is it still sin if no one finds out?

I remember Carnival (Mardi Gras) in Latin America – a time of debauchery, giving in to every sinful desire, wild celebration … leading to Ash Wednesday – penance, forgiveness, a chaste life. This ushers in Lent (a time of showing devotion to God by “giving up” stuff we like).

Is it possible to enter lent without going through Carnival?

After a strong sermon on sin, a parishioner told their pastor, “I didn’t know what sin was until you came.”

For Jesus, a time of temptation came just after his baptism.
Jesus’ baptism was a “high point” for him, a mountain top experience.
The heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended.
There was a voice from heaven, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Wow, what an experience … then God leads him into the wilderness.

When we enter the Christian life – we are not immune to problems.
The scripture tells us: We have a Savior who was tempted as we are (Hebrews 4:15), yet without sin.

During my recent trip to the Dominican Republic I tried to visit with two pastors. These were friends, I had helped disciple, who had “given in to fleshly desires” according to others. They were no longer in ministry, not in church, far from God – this was hard for me to take. They wouldn’t even see me. Giving in to temptation can bring separation; separation from God is the worst.

Today’s scripture passage is a bit troubling – the Spirit of God led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Mt. 4:1). Why would God do that?

The commitment of Baptism (to cast away sins, and follow Jesus) is often followed by testing. How firm is our commitment to Christ?

Jesus taught us to ask God: “Lead us not into temptation.”
That’s our desire – but when it comes – we need to be ready.

Satan was testing Jesus’ “sonship” – his relationship to the eternal God.
Imagine how hard it must have been for Satan to tempt Jesus. He had to tempt the Son of God to act totally out of character.

THE DEVIL’S FIRST TRY: Turn the stone into bread.

Physical hunger is a terrible thing. Have you looked at commercials and adds for “Food for the Hungry” or “Feed the Children” or “World Vision;” They’re difficult to watch.

Satan knew … “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”

Israel was tested in the wilderness. They said, “We had it better in Egypt. There was all sort of food to eat; even though we were slaves, we were never hungry.”

Could Jesus have turned the stone into bread? Of course he could have.
But he didn’t – because he wasn’t thinking about himself – he was thinking about you and me.

Jesus reply to Satan came from Deuteronomy 8:3, “God’s word is more satisfying than any food we can have.” It’s better to be hungry and spiritually whole than have a full stomach and be spiritually empty.

Jesus 1 / Satan 0

THE DEVIL’S SECOND TRY: Ask God to protect you from self-inflicted danger.

Daring God … is not a good thing to do.

Have you ever purposely done stupid things?
Have you ever gotten yourself into trouble and prayed, “God you’ve got to get me out of this one.”

As a Missionary in Bolivia (doing God’s work) I went to check out an anti-American march by the coca growers. Not a smart thing; I lived to tell about it. Did I learn?

During a visit to the Chapare (Cocaine region), first the Bolivian army detained me (took most everything – they left me with about a gallon of gasoline). Next the American DEA stopped me (they took everything else – I got my documents back at the Embassy a few weeks later). Finally the Drug Lords caught up with me; I didn’t have anything left for them, after some harassment, they send me on my way. All day long I was praying, “God, get me out of this mess.”

Could Jesus have thrown himself off the highest point of the temple and expected God to protect him? Of course he could have.
But he didn’t – because he wasn’t thinking about himself – he was thinking about you and me.

Jesus 2 / Satan 0

THE DEVIL’S THRID TRY: Worldly power, authority, prestige, etc.

Most everything looks good from a distance:
During my trip to the DR, everything looked peaceful and tranquil from the airplane. But when you get down to things – there are problems, and troubles, and sickness and sadness. These are things you can’t see from the mountain top.

Satan was trying to mask Jesus’ main reason for coming to the earth – to save us from our sins, to get close to us. We may look OK from a distance – but close up, you can start to see the flaws, the failings, the “undesirableness.” That’s where Jesus needs to be – close up, in relationship with you and with me.

A SHORT CUT
There are five words that almost always get me into trouble: “I know a short cut.”
My daughters would say, “Oh no, not one of Dad’s short-cuts!”
Inevitably I would get lost, it would take longer, and everyone would be upset with me. Why didn’t I learn ….

The Messiah will have all the things Satan was offering … but he must first go through the suffering for our sins. Satan was offering Jesus a short-cut to full messianic authority.

Who is Lord of Lords? Satan wanted that place and the only way he could have it is if he could put Jesus under his domination.

Jesus knew that the only way to being the messiah is to follow the way God laid out for him. There are no true short-cuts.

It reminds me of the passage in Matthew 27:40, where one of the thieves crucified with Jesus said to him, “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

I’m sure Jesus was tempted to do that – he could have, but he stayed there for you and for me. When tempted, Jesus thought of us (his mission to save us) and not himself. He is the Son of God, but he didn’t abuse that relationship.

Jesus 3 / Satan 0

What do you think about when you’re tempted? Do you think about yourself or about others? Do you think about the effect your giving in to sin will have on them?

JESUS DIDN’T TRY TO AVOID TEMPTATION, HE MET IT HEAD ON

Every time Jesus was tempted, he went to the Word of God (Bible) for help and direction.

Specifically, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6-8.
These words came to Israel when they were “In the Wilderness.”

Israel received salvation (deliverance from slavery in Egypt) and then was led (40 years) in the wilderness to be tested. There they received the word of the Lord – the Law. They didn’t realize it at the time, but all of this was necessary as preparation for them to go into the Promised Land.

We have God’s promise: 1 Cor 10:13 “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.”

Satan was testing his sonship – his relationship to the eternal God.
Imagine how hard it must have been for Satan to tempt Jesus. He had to persuade the Son of God to act totally out of character.

And yet it is exactly the same when the Evil One tempts you. He tries to inflict you with a desire to do something utterly contrary to your nature. The real you is Christlike.

From the moment you were born again, Christ took up residence inside you. You took on his goodness, his holy character, his purity of motives, his inexhaustible love. All the sins of your former life are forgiven. Certainly you still commit sins. But, every time you commit that sin, you are acting out of character. Satan will muster all his brainwashing skills to try fooling you into thinking that sinning is your real nature.

Social Workers tell us that rape victims often believe it’s their fault, it affects their self image. Victims of child molestation, often have their self worth affected to where they cannot enter into healthy relationships.

When you give into sin, you will be like a rape victim plagued by a wrong self image. This is more than just unpleasant; keep believing that false self image, and you will end up acting as if it were true. It’s just not you; you’re like Jesus, a child of God (1 John 3:1)

Jesus cleans us from all unrighteousness – and helps us to stay that way.

So do not despise yourself when evil thoughts come to you, or when you find yourself longing to do wrong. It simply means that, like God’s holy Son, and all his saints, you have been spiritually molested. And like the most despicable child molester the, the Evil One tries to make his innocent victim feel guilty for his crime, and for feelings he induces.

It’s only if you cease trying to resist those evil thoughts and urges, that the harassment could touch your purity. And even if you totally gave in, you would have no rational basis for continuing to imagine you are impure, because the instant you return to your Savior with genuine regret, you are again spotless in the eyes of the Holy One.

Are you going through a wilderness period in your life?
Where do you go when you’re tempted?
Go to God / God to God’s word.
It’s the only way to have victory over temptation.

When Temptations come to do things we shouldn’t do – we need to ask God for help.
We need to remember: “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me the strength.” (Phil 4:13) “Greater is the one who is in you, than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)


Our wilderness experiences are to help us draw closer to God.