! Week 2: Beginnings (Matthew 4:1-11) Discussion Questions

1. How is temptation a struggle for us all? Have you had specific times during which temptation was more of a problem? Without necessarily sharing the details, why was this the case and how did you respond to it? 2. Do you ever find yourself being tempted in the same way over and over again? Why do you think this is the case?

Read Matthew 4:1-11 3. How do you see the (especially the declaration of his sonship) and his temptation in the wilderness linked? In what way is the Holy Spirit involved in both? 4. Do you think it is true that where there is spiritual baptism that there is also spiritual battle? Do you have an examples that you could share? 5. What is temptation? How would you describe it simply to a child or someone who isn’t a Christian? 6. In what way was the temptation in the wilderness a test of Jesus’ vocation? How is it a test of our vocations as Christians? 7. Is being tempted a sin? 8. When identifying the enemy – the – how dangerous is it to either over-believe or under- believe in his existence? 9. How does Jesus’ time of testing compare to that of Israel in the wilderness (you may wish to have a look at Deuteronomy 8:5)? 10. Reading verses 3-9 again, identify as a group the three key ways in which the devil tempted Jesus. What is at the heart of each of these temptations? 11. How do we see the same type of temptations manifest in our lives? 12. Identify as a group how Jesus responded to each of the temptations. Identify and discuss each of the Scriptures that he quotes to the devil. 13. How can we confront temptation? 14. How might we better equip ourselves with the Word of God so that we are ready to respond in the face of temptation? 15. Finally, please spend some time specifically praying for spiritual protection.

St Bart’s Anglican Church Toowoomba ! !

! ! Talk 2/4 (Jesus Beginnings): 12/01/14 “Jesus Beginnings… The Temptation” by the Rev’d Adam Lowe ! !

INTRODUCTION \\ WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH TEMPTATION

I thought we’d start with a little experiment today - you don’t need to answer aloud, but just to yourself. Do you struggle with temptation? If the answer is ‘no’, then it probably means that you’re either not a Christian, not a human, or you’re dead.

The reality is that temptation is a struggle for us all. Temptation was a struggle for Jesus.

In the passage just preceding Jesus being led out into the wilderness, we’ve had his baptism with the declaration of the Father, that “this is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (:17). This is my child. This is the one.

And then immediately, after this declaration - have a look with me…

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 3:17 - 4:1)

…The very first thing that happens to Jesus after his baptism is that he is led into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 The link between the baptism and what happens next is not accidental.

…where there is spiritual baptism there will be spiritual battle. …where there is a voice from heaven there will also be a voice from hell.

What we read as ‘then’ should be more considered as ‘thus’. Jesus was baptised - he was identified as God’s Son, and THUS he was led out to be tempted.

The very same Spirit of God who comes upon Jesus at the baptism leads him out to the desert. Now if you miss that, you will distort the entire passage. {B}

Key principle: Spiritual baptism therefore spiritual battle.

Imagine yourself that you were so filled with the Spirit that you are absolutely and totally pleasing to God. Perfectly pleasing to God. Now how do you imagine your life would go? How would it be? My suspicion is that our natural inclination would be to think that our life would be perfect. Let me push further, when difficulties and conflict start to happen in life, what do you immediately assume?

In the Sound of Music you might recall one of the songs - Something Good - (a rather strange song) the captain and Maria are marvelling at this great gift of love that they have with one another and Maria sings: “So somewhere in my youth or childhood, I must have done something good”. 3

At the heart of this, she’s saying, my life is going so well I must be better than other people. I must have earned it. Which must mean of course that if my life is going worse, then I must have done something wrong. This is not how the economy of God works. Because there was one person who was utterly led by the Spirit and completely pleasing to God… and what were the results?

The more God pours his strength and peace into your life, the more conflict you’ll experience. You’ll find temptation within and opposition from outside.

Baptism and temptation are never separate. And anyone who offers you without tears is lying to you. So as we look at Jesus’ temptation we’re going to have a good look at one that means in our lives. So I want to explore three things:

What is temptation? What is the front? What are the weapons?

4 1. WHAT IS TEMPTATION & WHO IS THE ENEMY? \\ OVERVIEW

So what actually is temptation and who is the enemy. So the situation is clear: Jesus led by the Spirit (same Spirit who has just come upon him at the declaration of his sonship) leads him into the desert for the precise purpose of being tempted.

So at the heart of this is the test of Jesus’ vocation as the Son of God. Of course God leading into the desert to test is not a new concept. We remember the people of Israel spending time in the desert being tested. In Deuteronomy 8 (this passage will keep coming up), Moses recalls how God led the Israelites in the desert for forty years:

Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. (Deuteronomy 8:5)

We’re meant to have the allusion between what has happened for Israel and what is now happening for Jesus sharply in our minds. Because what we’re going to see that whilst Israel’s vocation was tempted and they failed comprehensively, Jesus’ vocation is tested and he triumphs.

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If we want to understand what temptation is, we’ve got to understand the central issue:

As the Son of God, who will determine Jesus’ action? Evil or God? And friends, that’s what is at the heart of temptation for us too. As children of God, who will determine our action? Evil or God?

Because whilst we are not innately perfect, we’ve been made so in the sight of God through Jesus. You are a child of God.

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27)

#1 So, just as temptation was a test of Jesus’ vocation, temptation is a test of our vocation. It’s a test of our resolve to hold fast to the way.

#2 The second thing that we must remember is that to be tempted is not sin. Jesus was without sin, but he was still tempted. In fact, he was tempted in every way, ways in which we cannot begin to even imagine.

6 #3 The third thing to remember is that there is an enemy. In fact it’s incredibly naive to write-off the existence of the devil and believe that there is no intelligent and intentional force behind evil. Often people believe, or acknowledge that there’s evil in the world, after all it’s advertised everywhere, but simply don’t want to acknowledge the existence of the devil. I once heard someone describe the devil like a lizard who can either puff himself up to look bigger than he actually is, or lay down flat and pretend he’s dead so that no one believes he exists.

C S Lewis would say time-and-time again: there’s two equal and opposite errors when it comes to evil, to ‘over believe’ in an unhealthy way or to not believe in the existence of evil and the devil at all.

So when it comes to temptation, remember that:

#1 It is a test of our vocation. #2 It is not a sin to be tempted. #3 Jesus and the tell us that there is an enemy.

And when we’ve got those three things in mind, we can then dig a bit deeper and really ask, so how does temptation actually work. If there is a battle, where’s the frontline?

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2. WHERE’S THE FRONT? \\ OVERVIEW

To do that, let’s look at how Jesus was tempted.

So we see Matthew's record the devil tempting Jesus three times…

#1 If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread. (v.3) #2 If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. (v.6) #3 All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me. (v.9)

So you see what the devil does just in the first two alone, he’s playing on the very strength that Jesus just received, you are the Son of God… very well the devil whispers, if that is true… if you really are the Son of God surely he wouldn’t want you to go hungry, surely he would want everyone to see who you are. And then, dropping that strategy altogether, the devil just boldly comes out saying “forget your Heavenly Father” and worship me, and you’ll have greatness like no one has ever seen. !

8 And so what we’re See the weakness that the Devil And in doing so, the seeing is temptation is trying to exploit. devil tries to steer us on three fronts. away from:

#1 …tell these stones to He’s taking the physical hunger God’s Purposes. become bread. and using that to question if God will really provide.

#2 …throw yourself He’s taking the potential God’s Plans. down. emotional need of security and questioning if God will really protect.

#3 …bow down and He’s taking the potential God’s Person. worship me. psychological need for significance, power, and achievement and questioning if God really rules.

These are so often the fronts in which temptation works in our lives too. 9

We’re often not tempted in comfortable times, but when we’re tired and hungry (physically, emotionally, psychologically) - we’re often tempted when we’re most vulnerable in the moments in which our convictions are most difficult to uphold. {B}

Sometimes we’re tempted with things that might be otherwise good - but only if it is within the context of God’s plan.

Sometimes even our friends might even convince us with attractive reasoning that something is okay when we actually know that it is wrong - they might even use inappropriately. That’s exactly what the Devil does in the second temptation.

Some of the worst evil doers in the world can speak the most cunning deceit with the sweetest of words.

Sometimes all sorts of things in the world are offered in order that we might direct our worship away from God.

For each of us there will be different vulnerabilities. Sometimes we even have the same temptation over-and-over again because there is a weakness or even a strength that the devil is wanting to exploit and turn it away from God’s purposes, plans, and person. 10 See the big picture is not the sin, but the distraction from all that God has planned.

The devil is trying to convince Jesus to not go the way of the cross - don’t go the way of weakness, go the way of strength. Jesus, you don’t need to go to the cross to draw people to yourself, just throw yourself from this high point.

You can have the mountain without the valley. The crown without the cross.

Jesus, be an example, not a saviour. Let people be saved by emulation, not grace. Be a religion just like all the others.

Why? Because the devil knows that there’s only one way for us to be saved.

Temptation is a reality that will keep intersecting with our lives, because just like the devil wanted Jesus to be led away from the cross, he wants us to be led away too. ! ! 11

3. WHAT ARE THE WEAPONS? \\ OVERVIEW

So how do we possibly respond in obedience? Well it’s not through our own strength. There’s two weapons, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, especially when we pray will help us identify when we’re being tempted and give us strength.

Note how in every temptation, Jesus responds: it is written.

The temptation… The response…

#1 …tell these stones “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on to become bread. every word that comes from the mouth of God. ’’” (Deuteronomy 8:3)

#2 …throw yourself “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the down. test. ’ ’” (Deuteronomy 6:16)

#3 …bow down and Jesus said to him, “Away from me, ! For it is worship me. written:‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. ’ ’” (Deuteronomy 6:13)

12 It is written, it is written, it is written.

With the question of would God provide - the Word says trust in God’s Purposes. With the question of would God protect - the Word says trust in God’s plans. With the question of would God rule - the Word says trust in God’s person.

Note Jesus doesn’t spend too much time contemplating any of those options! The same is for us too - the more time we spend entertaining temptation, the more it takes hold.

When we take Scripture we rebut the devil - we reject the (distorted) evil view and proclaim (true) God’s.

It’s no a coincidence that Jesus is responding with the words from Deuteronomy - it is being made clear, what Israel failed to achieve, Jesus has accomplished.

But even further beyond the story of Israel is that of Adam and Eve. As Tom Wright says: “a single command; a single temptation; a single, devastating, result. Jesus kept his eyes on his father, and so launched the mission to undo the age-old effects of rebellion”.

Right until the end, Jesus would face temptation. But right until the end he would respond with the Word of God. {B} 13

CONCLUSION \\ OVERVIEW

Day by day as we all face temptations, we’re facing critical decision points in our lives which may be different from Jesus, but have the same point. They’re not just trying to get us to sin, but they’re trying to lead us and others away from the glorious mission given to each and everyone of us.

The enemy will do whatever it takes to try and lead us astray.

If we have heard God’s voice welcoming as his children, then we too will hear the whispers of the enemy.

But we’re entitled to the same defence as the Son of God himself.

As children of God, who will determine our action? Evil or God?

We are to store Scripture in our heart and know how to use it. We are to take the Word and the and tell evil to go away, for it is written.

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