JOURNEY TO THE CROSS: RECOGNIZING TEMPTATION

Sermon Notes, February 10, 2013

Pastor Jan Sinozich

 

Pastor Jan’s message was titled “Journey to the Cross: Recognizing Temptation,” based on Luke 4:1-13, the story of Jesus’ temptation in the desert after his baptism by John.

We are entering the Lenten season this week.  It is similar to the Advent season before Christmas, but it’s different and harder to understand.  The journey of Lent is a journey of deprivation, of introspection, and reflection.  It leads us ultimately to the Cross of Christ, and we see our sin being nailed there, our punishment being taken away by Jesus.  To prepare ourselves for the joyous celebration of Easter, we must know what Christ did for us. We identify with Christ on the cross in the Lenten season.  As we begin this 40-day journey with Jesus we need to recognize temptation, turn to scripture, and look to the cross.

How did Jesus deal with temptation?  We see in verse 1 that God allowed the temptation; it was not Satan’s plan, but the Holy Spirit’s plan, and God used it for His purpose.  It was not Jesus’ fault; he had done nothing to deserve temptation.  It is a real test of physical endurance and spiritual strength. Verse 2 tells us that Jesus endured the test.  There is an end to temptation: the time of testing will be over when mastery is achieved, when God’s plan has been fulfilled.  Even Jesus, both human and divine, had to rely on God to pass the test.

There are four points in this story that we can apply to our lives right now:

1. It’s not your fault.  Temptation is not sin, nor is it failure.  It is part of being human.

2.  It’s a time of testing, of learning, of application and action.  We are to use what God’s given us. 

3. There’s an end to it.  The test will be over when we learn what God wants us to know. 

4. You can’t pass the test without God.  Only our dependence on Him will get us through.

Before Jesus began his ministry, he was taken aside and tempted severely.  In his humanness Jesus showed us how to defeat Satan.  He’s won the battle, and all we need to do is use the weapons He’s given us—God’s Word and prayer (Ephesians 6).