Sermon from Matthew 4.3-4 on May 6, 2012

The Temptation of Christ Matthew 4.1-2 Round 1 – Trust in God, Not Bread

Scripture: Matthew 4.1-4

The Tempter

Matthew now refers to the devil by his function.

Jesus replies by quoting Deut. 8:3.

If = Since

Satan was not questioning the fact of Jesus’ son-ship but he was tempting him to misuse it.

My Beloved Son – Well Pleased

The misery, pain, trials & testing that Jesus was facing were NOT owing to his Father’s displeasure with Him.

BREAD = BASIC FOOD

Bread was viewed as the basic food which sustains physical life.

STEP OUT OF GOD’S WILL

The 1st temptation was an attempt to get Jesus to doubt God’s providential care.

The devil argued – since Jesus is the Son of God, He should use His powers to meet His own needs. Jesus’ response (Deut. 8:3) teaches that spiritual nourishment is more significant than physical nourishment.

YOU DESERVE BETTER!

“Listen, You’re the Son of God, You deserve better than this! What are You doing out here in this wretched wilderness? What are You doing out here starving to death? You’re the Son of God, grab some satisfaction… You deserve it.”

How long are you going to wait here!? 40 more days!? 40 years!???

Anyone that starts a sentence with “You deserve” and does not complete it w/ “Death, Hell, & Judgment” is not thinking Biblically correct.

STONES – BECOME

Notice that Satan says something somewhat similar to John the Baptist.

John:  “God is able to re-create these stones into something else”

Satan:  “You’re God. Re-create these stones into something else.”

Two people can say almost the exact same theology but have completely different motives.

NOT THE FATHER’S WILL

But that was not the will of His Father for Him. The Father’s will was for Him to be hungry in the desert with no food.

NAME IT & CLAIM IT

This is not just bad theology…  This is Satanic!!

- God would never want you to go w/out food…

- God would never want you to endure hardship…

- God would never want you to be in need or go w/out…

 money,  cars,  worldly pleasure… bread!!

If you’re of God… then name it & claim it!

This is the heresy teaching of the prosperity gospel. They say you’re a little god… Therefore you have the power in your words to create for yourself… Name it & claim it!

This is Satanic! (Gen. 3.1, Mt. 4.3)

THE WORD OF GOD

The Word of God is not written so you might pull rank & throw commands around.

The Word of God is not written so you might name it and claim it.

The Word of God is not written so you might manipulate & change your circumstances.

The Word of God was not written primarily to change your circumstances… but to change you!

IT IS WRITTEN!!

Stones – temporary

Bread – temporary

Word of God – eternal

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

Grass -temporary

Flower – temporary

Word of God – eternal

illustration -

Lacy’s path in our backyard. The grass tramples under Lacy’s feet.

“O God our Help in Ages Past Our Hope for Years to Come”

God’s word is eternal!!

- He was your help yesterday…

- He is your hope for years to come!

So don’t put your faith & trust in stones!  Don’t put your faith & trust in bread! Not in grass… not in flowers… Not in yourself & your spiritual power…

Put your faith & trust in our eternal sovereign God who reigns forever!!

He has been our help in ages past… He is our hope for years to come!  God’s word is eternal!!

To make permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances is the epitome of immaturity & foolishness.

Grass Withers…

Some people are so busy watering the grass while there is a drought for their soul.

Flowers Fade…

Some people are so busy tending the garden of their backyard while the garden of their soul is dying.

Not Bread Alone…

Some people are so busy feeding the stomach while starving their soul.

You’ve heard it said:

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  The Bible is the most important meal of the day!!

Job 23.12

“I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.”

No Bible = No Breakfast.

You are the Son of God… You shouldn’t be hungry

Jesus doesn’t rebuttal with a God defense… but a man defense.

Jesus responds – “Man shall not…”

I don’t need to prove what is already declared as truth.

I have not come to prove I am God.

That has already been:

• established before creation.  

- stated at my baptism.

I have not come to prove I am God. I have come to prove I am the 2nd Adam.

I have come to live a righteous life… as a man.

MAN GETS LIFE FROM GOD’S WORD!  THE WORD OF GOD IS LIFE GIVING!

• God gave His Adam life by breathing into him.
• The Bible is “God-breathed”. (2 Tim. 3.16)

When we come to the Word of God and we read that it is life giving…

We are breathing in life!!

The Word of God ought to be oxygen to your spiritual body!!

John 5:39

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,”

Not just head knowledge of His word. The Devil has that. But a relishing that in them, we find the truth life… we find Christ!

John 6.63

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

His word is life!

His word gives life… Not just knowledge.

SALVATION

When you want to share Jesus Christ with a lost person, you ought to be sharing the Word of God with them. They need LIFE!!

SANCTIFICATION

This is why, if you are a child of God, and you are not regularly & frequently in the Word of God, then you are not renewed with LIFE by the breath of God.

Round 1 – Trust in God, Not Bread

The chosen child of God is saved & sustained by the holy Word of God which gives life as the very Breath of God.

Matthew 4.1-2

This is why there are so many Christians that are being spiritually strangled & suffocated. We need the words of Jesus because in them He is revealing Himself.

God breathes life to us through His word!

Just as much as:

• Man shall not EAT by bread alone but by every word that is the food of God…

• Man shall not BREATHE by oxygen alone but by every word that is breath of God!

So Don’t Trust in Bread… Trust in God!

Job. 13.15

Though he slay me (though he starve me) yet I will trust in him.

Bread won’t satisfy!

Poor w/ God > Plenty w/ Sin

Matthew Henry:

It is better to live poorly upon the fruits of God’s goodness, than live plentifully upon the products of our own sin.

Bread will not satisfy!

Personal Application:

Jesus resisted temptation by knowing, understanding, trusting in, & enjoying God’s Word.

Psalm 16.11

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 73.25-26

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”