Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness

Deuteronomy 8:1-5, Matthew 4:1-11

Lent is often viewed as a time to give up something.  We look at the temptation of Christ remembering that the devil temps but God tests.  We learn from the three temptations of Christ in the wilderness to be careful about the flesh, presumption, and short circuiting God's plan.

First Temptation:

• In the first temptation dealing with the flesh Jesus was hungry.  Hunger is legitimate but meeting that need in a way that disrespects God is sin.  In this case thinking that bread was the complete answer instead of living by ever word that proceeds from the mouth of God

• In our own issues dealing with the flesh we must not void,  contradict, or override God instruction on the issue. 

Second Temptation:

• In the second temptation Jesus was temped to inappropriately draw attention to himself and presume on God.

• The issue of pride is something we all have to deal with.  With pride go presumption.  Romans 12:3 "not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned."

Third Temptation:

• In the third temptation of Jesus he was really being ask to short-circuit the crucifixion; God's plan of redemption.

• How often we are tempted to short-circuit God's plan in a matter and end up with results that are disappointing or simply a total failure.