Matt. 4:1 NASB 1995 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

A FAITH UNTESTED IS A FAITH THAT CAN’T BE TRUSTED!!!!

TEMPTATION BY ITSELF IS NOT SIN: GIVING IN TO IT IS

(HEB. 4:15 NIV) 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. – “You can't stop a bird from landing on your head. But you can keep it from building a nest”

TEMPTATION IS COMMON TO ALL

(1 COR. 10:12-13 NIV) 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 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.

JESUS HELPS US WHEN WE ARE TEMPTED

(HEB. 2:17-18 NIV) 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

3 DIFFERENT TACTICS THE DEVIL USES

1 JOHN 2:15-16 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

- MATTHEW 4:2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.

LUST OF THE FLESH – MATTHEW. 4:3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

(PICTURE NFL STAT)

MATTHEW 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

Deuteronomy 8:2-3 NASB 2 You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

PRIDE OF LIFE - MATTHEW 4:5-6 Then the devil *took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You’; and‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

MATTHEW 4:7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

LUST OF THE EYES – MATTHEW 4:8-10 Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”

MATTHEW 4:11 Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

Vs. 12-16 Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew into Galilee; 13 and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

[a]By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the [b]Gentiles—

16 “The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light,

And those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death,

Upon them a Light dawned.”

PROVERBS 24:10 MSG If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place.

2 COR. 2:9-11 NIV 9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

3 KEYS TO FIGHTING TEMPTATION LIKE JESUS

1. KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN GOD

2. STAY FULL OF AND LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

3. KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE WORD OF GOD