Luke tells us of a private encounter between Jesus, God in the flesh, and Satan, an arrogant, rebellious angel who thought he had caught God off-guard and could turn his own fate around. We see how Jesus responded to his sneaky attempt to defile that which was holy, to trash the innocent, and disfigure the face of Hope personified.
And the coolest thing about it? There’s not a single miracle in the story. Everything Jesus says and does is something you’re capable of saying and doing. You just didn’t think of it, until now.
[Luke 4:1-2]
“Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.”
FIRST Observation:
The Holy Spirit LED Jesus into the wilderness! We think every desert is a punishment from God. I’m reminded to see God as a perfect football coach. Wind-sprints are not an attempt to humiliate me in front of my friends but an attempt to give me stamina to run longer than my opponents. Drills are not to knock me down but teach me how to get back up AFTER being knocked down
SECOND Observation:
Satan follows the same outline for attack that he ALWAYS uses
[1 John 2:16]
“For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”
If you struggle with the same sins over and over again, this sermon is for you.
If you have begged God to take this temptation away from you, this sermon is for you.
If you feel like giving up, giving in, laying down or turning around from the good path you’ve been called to walk, this sermon is for you.
FIRST TEMPTATION – Lust of the Flesh (Give in to what you crave)
[Luke 4:3-4]
“Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”
Maybe his voice sounds bit different when he’s whispering to you? What does that voice say to you?!
[Hebrews 4:12]
“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”
[Psalm 119:11]
“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
SECOND TEMPTATION: Lust of the Eyes (The ends Justify the means)
[Luke 4:5-8]
“Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”
Satan’s voice will seek to convince you that it’s okay just this once because of the good you’ll be able to do on the other side of the bad. What bad thing are you toying with because you believe it will result in a good thing down the road?
THIRD TEMPTATION: Pride of Life (I need more to be more)
[Luke 4:9-13]
“Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.”
[Galatians 6:9]
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
[Luke 4:1]
When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.”
Reflection Questions:
- What inappropriate thing do you crave that you KNOW is out of bounds?
- What bad thing do you want to do that you are trying to rationalize by the good on the other side?
- What excuse are you giving for not doing what you know you NEED to do?
There will always be opportunities for Satan to tempt you
- Like Jesus, you need to be prepared with Scripture in your head
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Application Questions
1. What stood out to youa
Background of Judas
[Luke 6:12-16]
One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names: Simon (whom he named Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot),Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
Judas wasn’t a straggler that snuck his way into the inner circle of Jesus, he was handpicked.
[Luke 9:1-6]
One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples[a] and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases. Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “Take nothing for your journey,” he instructed them. “Don’t take a walking stick, a traveler’s bag, food, money,[b] or even a change of clothes. Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town. And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.
[Luke 22:3-6]
Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.
When you started following Jesus, you probably didn’t expect you’d betray him either…yet maybe you did today. Maybe you did last week. Maybe you did just a couple of hours ago.
- Your proximity to Jesus does not equal intimacy with Jesus
[Luke 22:47-48]
But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss.But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
are there spiritual practices right now in your own life… prayer, attending Church, reading your bible, living in community with each other, sabbathing, that are merely empty hollow gestures like Judas’ kiss?
[Romans 12:1-2]
And so, dear brothers and sisters,I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
[Luke 14:25-27]
A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
2. Judas followed Jesus until it cost too much.
Where when the cost is too high, I say see you later Jesus.
You’re asking me to surrender my career? see ya later. you’re asking me to surrender my marriage? see ya later. you’re asking me to surrender my sexuality? see ya later. my finances? see you later.
[Matthew 26:15]
and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver.
[Matthew 27:3-4]
When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”
3. A disciple of Jesus must be willing to reorganize their lives around him.
[Philippians 2:5-8]
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
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Application Questions
1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in the your relationships?
from this message and why?
2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in the your relationships?