OVERVIEW

• Worldview – a particular philosophy of life or conception of the world. It’s what a person believes about truth and the world in which they make decisions.
• Biblical Worldview – the means of experiencing, interpreting, and responding to reality from a biblical perspective.
• The definition of “but” – A conjunction that means “on the contrary,” and is used to indicate contrast or opposition between elements in a sentence.

THIS WEEK: Temptation – Matthew 4:1-11

Matthew 4:1-11 (NIV) – 1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” 7Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”10Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11Then the devil left him (for a more opportune time – Luke 4), and angels came and attended him.

• God does not tempt us, but the devil, our selfish desires and the world do.

James 1:13-15 (NIV) 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.

FIRST TEMPTATION – Prove your identity, choose satisfaction over sanctification & provide for yourself

• Jesus’ reply to the temptations of proving he was God’s son, satisfying his hunger and being self-sustaining was quoting scripture that those things are to be our priority, but God’s provision.

Deuteronomy 8:1-6 (NIV) – 1Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. 2Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. 6Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.

• God will allow testing in our lives that may include temptation, but it is for our good and growth

Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV) – “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

SECOND TEMPTATION – Question your identity, God’s word and put God to the test

Deuteronomy 6:16-19 (NIV) – Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. 17Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. 18Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors, 19thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said.

THIRD TEMPTATION – Gain the world, immediate gratification, worship the created over the creator

Deuteronomy 6:13-15 (NIV) – Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land.

TRUTHS ABOUT TEMPTATION

• Being tempted is different than succumbing to temptation – Jesus was tempted but did not succumb
• Temptation can be overcome by knowing and applying the Word of God

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) – 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

• Temptation gives us opportunity
• Temptation can happen in any and all seasons
• Temptation over-promises and under-delivers

QUESTIONS TO ASK:

• What do you think about the fact that God does not tempt? Explain.
• What tempts you the most?
• When are you most vulnerable to succumb to temptation?
• How have you grown from your past experiences with fighting temptation?