A WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE

Sermon Notes, February 14, 2016

Rev. Garry McGlinchy

One thing we all have in common is that we all have had, are currently in, or are going to have a wilderness experience.  Pastor Garry’s sermon was titled “A Wilderness Experience,” and was based on Luke 4:1-13, when Jesus was tempted by the devil for 40 days in the wilderness.

This story is important, because temptation is something all of us can relate to.  This is the same devil that tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  He is an evil and rebellious fallen angel. He is in a constant battle with God for our very souls, and he not only battles with God, but against all those who follow Him.  In order for Jesus to be fully human and to fully understand what humans go through, He had to go through temptations like we go through temptations.  Also, Jesus had to undo the damage that was done in the Garden of Eden.  Both Adam and Jesus were tempted by Satan.  However, Jesus did not fall to His temptations, and His victory frees us from our bondage and offers us true salvation.  It also solidifies Christ’s identity: fully human, and fully God.

Jesus’ first temptation, in verse 3, the devil said to Jesus “IF you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”  He attacks Christ’s identity, and he attacks his human weakness.  Jesus has gone without food for 40 days, and He’s hungry.  Satan uses these same tactics today; we may be tempted to doubt Christ’s identity and begin to doubt. Doubt and questioning are two different things: doubt often starts with unbelief and can lead a person away from the truth. Questioning starts with a need for clarity, and can lead us closer to truth.  However, when we question God, we become vulnerable.  It’s easier for Satan to persuade us to do what he wants.  To combat this, we need to stay plugged in to the Word of God and MEDITATE on His word day and night. (Psalm 1)

What’s so bad about turning a stone into bread?  The sin wasn’t in the act, but in the reason behind it.  Satan was trying to get Jesus to take the easy way out.  He wanted Jesus to forget His mission of saving humanity and just take care of His own needs, to get comfort through sacrificing discipline.  This is how Satan usually works.  Far too many people fall into sin by trying to fulfill their earthly desires before God’s timing and outside of His will.  We find ways to steal the blessings that God has in store for us, and when we do, we don’t fully appreciate those blessings as much as if we had waited to receive them when God had planned on giving them to us.

Satan not only attacks us through our weaknesses, but also through our strengths.  Jesus had power over everything; he could have easily to turn the stones into bread, but that would have been a misuse of power.  When we wrongly use our strengths, we become proud and rely on ourselves rather than God.  To avoid this deadly trap, we must realize that our strengths come from God, and dedicate our strengths to Him and Him alone.

Jesus’ second temptation, in verses 5-8, Satan was trying to get Jesus to reject God’s authority and worship him.  Jesus refused to bow and worship Satan; He already knew that His redemptive work would take place when He would give up His life for us on the cross.

Jesus’ third temptation, in verses 9-12, Satan tries to use scripture to tempt Jesus to forget about His mission of saving humanity.  Psalm 91 is about how God protects His people.  It is not meant to mislead people to use God’s power in an attempt to fulfill our desires or as a form of entertainment or foolish display.

Christ’s defeat of Satan in His wilderness experience was effective.  However, it was not final.  Throughout His ministry, Jesus would face Satan several times.  We need to be on our guard at all times. (1 Peter 5: 8-9)  Where are you most susceptible to temptation?  How are you guarding yourself against those temptations?  Christ used scripture, properly, to overcome His temptations in the wilderness.  What would it take for you to sell out, to compromise your faith?  Whatever it is, you can count on Satan throwing it in your path throughout your life.  He has one goal, and that is to utterly destroy you.  He does this by neutralizing us, causing us to become lukewarm through sin, shame and guilt.  Our best defense is to rely on the Word of God and worship the one true God at all costs!