Point of Grace Online Worship         1.17.21  

Sermon Notes – “Identity Under Attack-2021” – The Temptation of Jesus

 Identity is everything?  Affects everything?  Is the bullseye for the enemy of your soul?

 Matthew 4

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.

 Helpful Insights:

·       This is a continuous narrative from the baptism account.  The chapter break is unfortunate.

·       We get a picture of who Jesus is up against by the names used,

     Devil, diablo, slanderer – vs. 1,5,8,11
     Tempter – vs.3
     Satan, adversary – vs. 10

·       The connection between Israel history and Jesus’ journey. 
Israel failed to be faithful to their identity as God’s son – Will Jesus?

First Temptation

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.’”

What is the “false choice based on a false assumption”?    (The devil is very good at this strategy.)

Jesus responds as a person who has a close, personal union (identity) with God as a Heavenly Father! 

His identity as Son means He uses his ability according to His Father’s will not to take care of self. 

Second Temptation

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.’”

What is the “false choice based on a false assumption”?   

Jesus responds as a person who has a close, personal union (identity) with God as a Heavenly Father! 

His identity as Son means He has no need to test whether God is for him. 
His role is to trust the Father not test whether He will come through.

Third Temptation

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.’”

What is the “false choice based on a false assumption”?   

Jesus responds as a person who has a close, personal union (identity) with God as a Heavenly Father! 

His identity as Son means He has one Father in Heaven and He only is worthy worship. 
Jesus will trust the Father to give “kingdoms, authority and splendor” when and if He chooses. 
Satan is offering a path to “rewards worthy of a king’s son” without traveling the way of the cross.

Jesus overcomes Satan as He relentlessly clings, as a man, to His identity, “This is my Son, whom I love, in Him I am well pleased”

We overcome Satan as well… not by performing as well as Jesus…
but by having identity and living in union with the One who won! 

How could a group of people living like this change the world?

Afterthoughts for 2021 - Thursday @ 7

Resources for this Week

Here are some suggested readings for each day of this week.
The Meditation Hints below may help you listen and receive all God has for you.

Mon –  Matthew 4:1-11
Tue –   Luke 4:1-13
Wed – John 8:33-47
Thu –  John 8:48-59
Fri –   Ephesians 6:10-20
Sat  - Psalm 23

Meditation Hints:

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!  I rest in You!”

Scripture – Read the scripture slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  Reflect on what you are noticing and where He is leading your thoughts.

Prayer – Have a conversation with God, “What are You saying to me, God?”  Talk about what you notice is on your heart.  Begin to own the “word of God” being revealed to you. 

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God, resting and listening and being loved.

Helps:   “Sermon Resources” for this week from pog.church

New Book Recommendation from Pastor Weiser, “Union with Christ” by Rankin Wilbourne

The “One Minute Pause” App from your app store

“Get Your Life Back” by John Eldredge

“Restoration Year – A 365 Day Devotional” by John Eldredge