THE WORD

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THE WORD

Al

The Preaching Ministry of Ashley River Baptist Church

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Going for the Gold: Showdown in the Desert (Part 3) Matthew 4:1-11

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THE CONTEST: Temptation (verse 1) - TEMPT: “put to the test” “try” “prove” “entice” “attract” “an enticement to evil” “An invitation to trespass beyond God’s moral boundary line.”

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THE CONTESTANTS:

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Jesus Christ, Satan

THE SETTING: Desert Wilderness - Temple in Jerusalem - High Mountain (verse 8) 3rd HEAT: Values: Gain without the Pain, and the Pledge of Allegiance Satan’s Game Plan: (Verses 8-11) 1. Dangle all the kingdoms of the world and their enticing attributes before Jesus. (Verse 8) 2. Pretend to own all the Kingdoms with the power of disposition. (Verse 9) 3. Offer opportunity to be Messiah immediately with all the power, position, and possessions. (Verse 9) 4. Don’t question His Sonship or use Scripture since that failed twice. 5. Make the offer conditional upon a simple one-time act of submission without explaining the costs. Temptation: 1. Appeal to the human ambition and desire to gain ultimate power, prestige, and possessions. (Eve) 2. Take the expedient shortcut and fulfill your mission as Messiah without the suffering and pain. 3. Gain it all immediately. RESULT: Jesus Wins! Jesus defeats Satan by : 1. Refusing to bow down and worship Satan. 2. Placing ultimate value on his call and commitment as the Son of God, resulting in His obedient worship and service of the Father alone! 3. Recalling and relying on Scripture to resist temptation. Deuteronomy 6:13, Psalm 24:1 4. Separating Himself from the source of the temptation. “Be gone Satan!” POST GAME ANALYSIS 1. It is not a sin to be tempted. A. Recognize it. B. Refuse it. 2. The best weapon against temptation is to assert the Word of God. What is the source and standard of your accountability and direction in life? Psalm 119:1, Deuteronomy 6:13

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The closer you are to God, the easier it is to resist temptation. James 4:7 All lies and those who succumb to them, when exposed by truth are revealed for what they are—Sinful, deceptive, foolish, shameful and ridiculous! Stepping out in faith is not a disobedient act of testing God! Negligent acts and lifestyles that disregard common sense, the gift of health, and the fragile nature of life may constitute a disobedient and sinful testing of God when we unnecessarily put Him in a position to save or deliver us. The best strategy is to avoid tempting situations and spend time with Godly people. 2 Timothy 2:22 When confronted with sin and deception, upon close inspection, there is always some irony – something that does not seem right. To avoid succumbing to temptation, focus on the character and nature of the Father and His Purpose and Will for your life to which He has called you as an obedient Son. Guard your heart and mind—your sanctuary within—where most temptation takes place. 2 Corinthians 10:5 It is always BEST to trust the promises of God even when His timing and method may not be what we desire. Delayed gratification! Matthew 4:11 “Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.” Even one sin is a serious offense against God and damaging to our relationship as Children of God. We face the same temptations today to disregard obedience & pursue expedience for immediate self-gratification or for the provision of our perceived needs. An emphasis or priority in life on the wealth, ways, or pleasures of this world reveals those things to be your god and you are worshipping Satan in idolatry. Matthew 6:21. You never become immune to temptation. Luke 4:13 The earth is not the true Kingdom of God, nor is it our final destination. Philippians 3:20, John 18:36 No temptation is new or irresistible. I Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 4:15 The only way you can overcome temptation is in the power of the Holy Spirit. Sin never delivers the promised or the BEST results! Only fools blinded by the deception do not know better. (Verse 11)

Jesus valued obedient Sonship more than anything else. He endured temptation to demonstrate that obedience to the will of the Father alone is the ultimate goal and “gold” of life and the measure of true Sonship, and because He withstood it in faithful obedience, so can we through the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. (Matthew 22:37-38) You, likewise, must value obedience to God more than anything else, even to the point that in the face of suffering, severe testing, the painful challenge of self denial, or the enticing allure of wealth, power and position, you will resist temptation and stand firm, trusting in the nature, power and promises of God. "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:36