Mat 4:1-11; The Power of Words.

Class Outline:

 

Wednesday January 24, 2004

 

PSA 12:6 The words of the Lord are pure words;

As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.

 

Refined in a furnace speaks of purity, but we should not miss the connection to pressure or trial.

 

The Exodus should have done what Jesus did - used God’s Word precisely and with faith.

1) Tested by hunger [God’s Word].

2) Promised a kingdom [God’s Word].  

3) Told to obey and wait [God’s Word].  

 

The Exodus should have done what Jesus did.

1) The Exodus was tested by hunger (DEU 8:3).

 

If they had quoted and believed what Christ said they would not have failed their calling from God.

 

DEU 8:3

“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.”

 

2) Israel was also promised a kingdom.

“Fall down and worship me …”

 

DEU 6:10-11

“Then it shall come about when the Lord your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, 11 and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied,”

 

We have been given a kingdom of which we are members and are in possession of though it is not here on earth among us. Satan will test us with a substitute earthly kingdom.

 

What do human kingdoms offer? Position, wealth, philosophy, welfare (security).

 

Wealth, position, influence, security, prosperity are all areas of temptation, and within each area, many ways to tempt us.

 

MAT 6:33

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

 

ROM 14:17

for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

 

JAM 2:5

did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

 

Jesus is tempted to take hold of power over the earth through Satan. This would bypass the cross and make a world ruled by the Son of God.

 

Satan’s test was that kingdoms could be had another way. If Jesus would fall down and worship him.

 

God failing in His plans is not enough for Satan if he is not worshipped.

 

It was not enough for Nebuchadnezzar to be the king of greatest kingdom in the world, he had to have a 90 foot gold statue of himself made.

 

So, after Israel took hold of splendid cities that they did not build, and all the assets that go with them …

 

DEU 6:12-16

then watch yourself, that you do not forget the Lord who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 13 "You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name. 14 "You shall not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you, 15 for the Lord your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; otherwise the anger of the Lord your God will be kindled against you, and He will wipe you off the face of the earth.

 

16 "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah.

 

At Massah (bitter waters) they worshipped God (EXO 15:1-21) and directly afterward, when the water stores had become low, the people complained.

 

“Worship Him only” means to trust Him for everything.

Our Lord trusted the Father.

 

Jesus does what Israel failed to do; what everyone has failed to do.

 

3) Israel was told to obey and wait.

“Throw yourself down …”

 

DEU 6:17-19

You should diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you. 18 "You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which the Lord swore to give your fathers, 19 by driving out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has spoken.

 

A frequent and powerful temptation is that you don’t have to wait or obey.

 

1Pet 5:6-7

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

 

HEB 11:1

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

 

HAB 2:4

But the righteous will live by his faith.

 

Our trials are the means of learning.

 

Our Lord waited with trust, endurance, patience. He who had the power of deity at His disposal did not use it.

 

All believers are tempted from the source of the devil to abandon strict adherence to God’s word. This is not done in one way.

 

The Holy Spirit leads every believer to the word.

 

The devil uses anything he can to distract the believer from the Word.

 

It is up to you to prepare yourself. Man “shall” live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

 

What occupies the eyes of your heart? Tell God right now, whether it is His word or something else. Be honest. You can’t lie to Him. For more and more people it is their phones. What do you mostly think about? That will answer the question. Don’t wait, tell God and get honest with Him and with yourself.

 

The life of the one who lives by the Word of God, who knows it particularly well and trusts it, has the most abundant life of all mankind, and it will not matter a lick what his socioeconomic status happens to be.

 

Poor but more powerful that the devil himself.