The Power of God's Word
February 9, 2014 Speaker: Fred Greco Series: Luke
Topic: AM Service Passage: Luke 4:1–4:13
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Have you ever been given advice by a friend when you were facing a powerful temptation to do the wrong thing? Have you thought to yourself: “He just doesn’t understand. He’s never faced something this difficult!” It may be that this way of thinking has caused you to doubt the Bible’s and God’s authority over your life. After all, God is perfect, isn’t He? He does not struggle with the temptations you do – how can He expect you to face temptation and stare it down? The answer is found in the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is perfectly God, and perfectly man. Jesus became man (in part) to show us the important gospel principle of the holiness of God’s Law, and that man was created to obey God’s Law. He also became man to perfectly obey in our place, so that we could know the forgiveness of sins and the adoption as sons and daughters. He was, as Hebrews says, “one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” () It is that last phrase that gives us hope – for even though we are unable in ourselves to obey without sin, One has gone before us who has fulfilled the Law and gives to us the righteousness He earned!
I. Tempted
A. Real Temptation
B. Purposeful Temptation
II. Tried
A. First Temptation: Provide for Yourself
B. Second Temptation: Power without Pain
C. Third Temptation: Put God to the Test
III. True
A. Resisting the Devil
B. The New Adam
Questions for consideration: (1) Why is it important that Jesus’ temptation was real? Does that mean He had to be able to sin? (2) Can you think of ways in which you face temptations similar to those Jesus experienced? What make you most vulnerable to those temptations? In what ways do you tend to give in to temptation? (3) What are some practical ways that will help you battle temptation?
More in Luke
December 20, 2015
The Reality of JesusDecember 6, 2015
The Road to EmmausNovember 29, 2015
The Resurrection of Jesus