Good evening. It is a great honor to address you tonight. I was going to start with a joke about the extensive topic for tonight, but poor Roland was tasked with the entire Sermon on the Mount, so I have no room to complain. I am grateful for the two hours I have been given to cover this important subject adequately.
Setting jokes aside, let's dive right in.
"What is the hardest part of the Christian life?" Take 30 seconds to write down your answer to that question in your conference notebook. I tried to find a survey online that asked this question, but I couldn't find one. I am genuinely curious about what the top answers would be. Have you finished writing? How many of you wrote something down? Perhaps some of you mentioned "fighting sin." I am unsure of the other responses you may have come up with. I will take a bold guess. Did anyone write this? I would venture to say that waiting on God is one of the most challenging things we are called to do.
Open your Bibles to Matthew 4:1-11. I have titled my sermon "Waiting on God in the Wilderness." Pastor, leader, you must wait on God for your provision, recognition, and promotion (Matthew 4:1-11).
[Prayer]
In Matthew 3, Jesus is baptized, marking the beginning of His public ministry. The Father speaks from heaven, and the Spirit descends upon Christ, symbolizing His reliance on the Spirit for His earthly ministry. Immediately after His baptism, Jesus is led into the wilderness to face the devil.
This event holds immense significance in Christ's life. Jesus had to demonstrate that He, as the second Adam, would succeed where Adam failed, securing our righteous standing in Him. Tonight, I want to explore this story from the perspective of what we can learn from Christ about resisting temptation.
Pastor, leader, at some point, the Spirit will lead you into the wilderness. What is the wilderness? It is where challenging circumstances set the stage for powerful temptation. For Jesus, these circumstances included physical hunger, weakness, isolation, exposure, and pain.
It was the Father's will for Jesus to fast in the wilderness. He had water but no food. After forty days, Jesus began to experience true hunger, a sign that the body is about to consume muscle tissue to survive. He was starving when Satan presented his three best temptations.
Difficult circumstances can provide an entry point for Satan to influence us. Physical harm, health issues, financial crises, betrayal, loss, accidents, or conflicts can make us vulnerable to temptation. Lies that seemed absurd in good times suddenly make sense. Be vigilant!
Remember, God ordains the wilderness. Just as the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, God allowed Satan to tempt Him, as seen in Job's life.
God and Satan have dual purposes in temptation. Satan aims to lead us to sin, while God tests us to demonstrate that Christ succeeded where humanity failed. The wilderness tests our willingness to endure suffering without resorting to sinful measures.
While it is acceptable to seek relief from suffering through legitimate means, there are times when God allows us to endure hardships without an easy way out to strengthen our faith. Jesus faced a similar situation.
Now, let's examine the devil's temptations.
The underlying lie in this temptation was impatience for God's provision. Jesus, though hungry, resisted the urge to act independently of His Father. Pastors and ministries are often tempted to compromise financially instead of trusting God's provision. Are you waiting on God for your needs?
Turning stones into bread would have contradicted Christ's mission to live and suffer as a man. Jesus performed miracles to fulfill His Father's will and demonstrate His identity, not for personal convenience. Trusting in God's provision was crucial.
Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, emphasizing the importance of relying on God's word over physical sustenance. We must learn to trust God in our weaknesses and depend on His word for strength.
Scripture meditation was Christ's primary weapon against temptation. If you are in the wilderness, prioritize memorizing Scripture to overcome temptation.
Now, onto the second temptation.
Satan took Jesus to the temple's pinnacle and misused Scripture to tempt Him. Jesus refuted Satan by quoting Scripture, emphasizing the importance of interpreting Scripture in context.
The temptation to jump off the cliff stemmed from a legend that the Messiah would perform such a feat to prove His identity. Jesus resisted the temptation for instant recognition, teaching us to wait on God for acknowledgment.
Pastors may feel underappreciated and be tempted to seek recognition from worldly sources. Guard your heart against seeking praise from elites and focus on serving God faithfully.
Jesus chose to submit to God's will, even if it meant rejection by His people. Trusting in God's timing and plan is crucial for resisting the temptation of seeking recognition through worldly means.
Satan offered Jesus an earthly kingdom without suffering, tempting Him to bypass the cross. Pastors may struggle with discontentment or desire for promotion, but following Christ's example of self-denial is essential.
Jesus rejected Satan's offer and embraced the cross, leading to His exaltation by God. Trust in God's timing for promotion and humble yourself before Him.
After enduring temptation, Satan flees, God meets your needs, the Father receives glory, and God's people are saved. Your victory over temptation brings glory to God and impacts those around you.
Put on God's armor, rely on His word, and pray without ceasing to resist temptation. Even if you have faltered, remember that Christ's victory over Satan secures your victory as well. Worship Jesus for His triumph on your behalf.
Let us pray.