SERMON NOTES:  

Matthew 3-4   17 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 wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”  4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then 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.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, 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.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. 

We live in a world at war and Jesus invaded enemy territory on a rescue mission!

Satan’s primary strategy (with Jesus and with us) is to create doubt:

·         that by faith in Jesus I am given a new “child of God” identity!

·         whether my Father in heaven is good and for me!

·         so I will take matters into my own hands …… justifying myself along the way!

Jesus, what is going on in me when I return to my default which is doubt instead of trust?

Jesus, how can I order my life so that trust is fed and doubt is starved?               

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  John 1:6-13
Tuesday:  Ephesians 6:10-13
Wednesday:  Ephesians 6:14-20
Thursday:  Colossians 1:9-18
Friday: Colossians 3:1-11
Saturday:  Psalm 130