“Overcoming Temptation” - Luke 4:1-12
Sermon series: Right-side up Kingdom
Sermon Title: Overcoming Temptation
Scripture: Luke 4:1-12
Introduction:
Do you remember the last time you struggled to withhold yourself from something you knew was bad for you? That’s temptation, and that’s something we as humans dearly struggle with.
The Bible is full of stories of failures and consequences when dealing with temptation. Jesus was also faced with temptation, and today we’ll look at 3 different temptations Jesus faced to understand some characteristics of temptation and how to overcome it as followers of Christ.
Overview:
Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days without eating and was very hungry. Satan tells Jesus to turn stone into bread if he’s the Son of God.
Satan knows Jesus is hungry and is tempting him with what Jesus wants: food.
Satan questions Jesus’ identity as God’s son and whether God can really provide Jesus with what he needs.
Jesus quotes Deut. 8:3 “it is written, ‘man shall not live on bread alone.’” God was reminding Israel to trust his Word for provision.
When going through hard times and you feel like you really want something, follow God’s Word and He will provide.
Satan brings Jesus up to a high place and promises to give him all the kingdoms of the world if he bows down to Satan.
Psalm 2 says that Jesus is in fact promised all the kingdoms of the world. However, Jesus is supposed to die on the cross before achieving this.
Satan is promising a shortcut to the kingdom without the cross by trusting in Satan instead of God.
Jesus says in Luke 4:8 “It is written, ‘worship the Lord your God and serve him only’”. Trust in God!
God’s plan may require some sacrifice and suffering. However, nothing is out of God’s hands.
Satan takes Jesus to the top of the temple and tells him to jump off because the angels will catch him (he quotes this).
Satan knows that many people would know who Jesus is if he jumped off and angels caught him. This would vindicate Jesus as the Son of God.
Jesus knows his path towards vindication is filled with doubt, mockery, and eventually death, so this path is tempting.
Jesus says, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’”. Jesus knows he will be vindicated.
God loves us as his beloved children, and we can trust that He will always show us His love.
However, Satan doesn’t stop there. He will return again for an opportune time to strike at our defenses.
Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane and doesn’t want to go through the cross, but in the end he trusts God and does.
Jesus prays for others’ temptations while on the cross.
Satan will tempt us with things that we desire in our hearts. It is not wrong to be tempted, but it is wrong to obsess over what is being tempted. Nevertheless, we will always be confronted with temptation, and our only hope is trusting in Jesus.
We are saved not only through his death but also his life. If we repent of our sins and trust in Him, the Father will also give us that perfect record over temptations.
Application:
We need to cling to Jesus and follow his example.
Trust in the Father’s Heart in Prayer. Jesus teaches us to constantly pray for help against temptation.
Trust in the Father’s Heart by being equipped with Scripture. Jesus fought against temptation using Scripture. Being rooted in the Word will help us discern truth and the lies temptation leads us towards.
Sermon reflection questions:
Has there been any temptations in the past that you previously did not acknowledge as temptation but now do?
Do you have any victories over temptation? What helped you overcome that temptation?
What do you struggle the most with as the enemy sows seeds of: doubt, distraction (pulling you away from Jesus), or insecurity as you grapple with and believe in the power of your identity as a child of God?
