Overcoming Temptation

Title: The Temptation of Jesus

Theme: Learning to say no to temptation.

Text: Luke 4:1 - 13

Opening Scripture

Luke 4:1-13 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into* the wilderness, (2) being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. (3) And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." (4) But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' " (5) Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. (6) And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. (7) Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours." (8) And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " (9) Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. (10) For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,' (11) "and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' " (12) And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' " (13) Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.

There are three major events that happen in Jesus’ life mentioned here in Luke 3 & 4

First you have the baptism of Jesus recorded in the first three gospels. John doesn’t elaborate in this but he does announce about Jesus

Joh 1:29 "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

That is enough said within itself. Jesus Christ the one who has come to take away all sins. Any sin. Even up to the sins of all the world.

Sin - strongs definitions

- Transliteration: Hamartia - Phonetic: ham-ar-tee'-ah

- Definition: 1. equivalent to 264

a. to be without a share in b. to miss the mark c. to err, be mistaken d. to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong e. to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin

Again we are remined in Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. God did not leave us here but sent Jesus His only Son to die for us so that we might be forgiven. Sin might be “taken away”.

Luke describes Jesus baptism in Luke 3:21 - 22

Luk 3:21-22 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. (22) And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."

In this we see the interaction of the Father (voice), Holy Spirit (dove) and Son (baptism).

Next we see the temptation of Jesus as we read from the opening. We will view more of that in a moment.

After this we see the calling of Jesus.

Luke 4:18-21 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; (19) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." (21) And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

This verse is quoted from Isaiah 61, a prophecy of the coming Messiah. Jesus is declaring its fulfilment but also His calling. This verse is a verse of freedom. First, we see a freedom from sin but notice now we see a freedom from:

• Broken heartedness

• Captivity

• Blindness

• Oppression

This is Jesus’ calling. This is His purpose.

Today if you are not walking in this freedom, you are missing what God has called you to fully be. Some walk-in spiritual prisons that hold them back from being all that God has called them to be.

The Temptation of Jesus

Sandwiched in between Jesus’ baptism and calling is the temptation of Jesus. This morning, I want us to close by making a few notes on this passage.