Jesus is tempted in the wilderness – Luke 4 v 1-14

How to Overcome!

Why is this important? Necessary preparation of Christ He was really human He overcame the devil This will happen to us It is possible for us to overcome Temptation is NOT a sin (Heb 4v5)

How to Overcome!

Luke 4 v1-2 (After his baptism)Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 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.

How to Overcome!

Luke 4 v 1-2 Full of Holy Spirit Led by Holy Spirit Doubt for 40 days… Emphasis ‘he was hungry!’ Culmination of the testing ‘the

devil came to him’

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Luke 4 v 3-4 : Temptation 1

The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone.”

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Luke 4 v 3-4 : Temptation 1 Questions his identity When he is weak He could do it Able to refuse his appetite Echoes of Adam and Eve Echoes of Deuteronomy and

manna

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Questions from Temptation 1

What are you feeding on?Are you in control of your appetites?

Luke 4 v 5-8 : Temptation 2

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendour; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.’Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”

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Luke 4 v 5-8 : Temptation 2 If you worship me this will be

yours (and you’ll be …) Submission to the devil By pass the cross

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Questions from Temptation 2

Who are you worshipping?Who are you serving?

&Who are you seeking praise (glory) from?

Luke 4 v 9-13 : Temptation 3The 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. For it is written: ‘“He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”’Jesus answered, ‘It is said: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time…

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Luke 4 v 9-13 : Temptation 3 Attacks identity again Uses scripture Clear off! Don’t test me any more-

enough!

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Questions from Temptation 3

Are you testing God to rescue you?

Luke 4 v 13-14 : Closing verses

V 13 “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.”

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Luke 4 v 13-14 : Closing verses Lurking Waiting for when you are weak Yet…

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Are we really able to bat him away?

How? Heb 2 v 18

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Heb 2 v 18: Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

How? Heb 2 v 18 Heb 5 v 8

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Heb 5 v 8: Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

How? Heb 2 v 18 Heb 5 v 8 Heb 4 v 15-16

How to Overcome!

Heb 4 v 15-16: For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Christ overcame- I am ‘in Christ’I can overcome- I am overcoming

Even… I have overcome!

Rom 8 v 37: “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us”

1 Cor 10 v 13: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be

tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

Luke 4 v 13-14 : Closing verses

V 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

How to Overcome!

Practicalities Get discipled Be prayerful, honest and

accountable Avoid second looks Read the Bible

How to Overcome!

Summary of Questions:Temptation 1What are you feeding on?Are you in control of your appetites?

Temptation 2Who are you worshipping?

Who are you serving?Who are you seeking praise (glory) from?

Temptation 3Are you testing God to rescue you?Final questionAre we really able to bat him away?