Download Expressing the Fullness of God`s Heart

The Testing of the Savior:
Who Let The Snake In?
Luke 4:1-13
I. At the outset of his ministry, Jesus was tested (Luke 4:1-2)
A. Who was testing Jesus?
1. The devil was tempting him.
2. But it was the Spirit who was testing him (Matthew 4:1).
B. The tempter tells Jesus to make bread (Luke 4:3).
1. Jesus responds with an Old Testament quote (Deut. 8:3).
(a) To understand the test we need to see the context.
C. Moses said that God had tested Israel (Deuteronomy 8:2).
1. God wanted to test them, “to see what was in their hearts.”
(a) Was he testing them for heartworm?
(b) Was he checking out their romantic inclinations?
(c) No, he was testing their character; their faithfulness.
(d) He wanted to see if they would obey him.
2. He wanted to teach them what we live on (Deut.8:3).
(a) Notice that he’s speaking of commands and obedience.
(b) He’s not saying that we live by just reading the Bible.
(c) He’s saying that we live by obeying the Bible.
D. But we are saved by grace, not by Law following.
1. In what sense do we live through obedience?
2. God has reveled his characer and his values in his Word.
(a) God is good.
(b) God does not give arbitrary rules.
(c) He tells us to “do” or “don’t do” for our good.
(d) His desire is to bless and protect his children.
3. So God wants our lives to be a reflection of him, his values.
(a) When we live out his values it is good. We thrive.
4. Some of the Old Testament Law is fulfilled (i.e. sacrifices,
dietary restrictions).
(a) But the moral component of the Law is still true.
(b) The New Testament teaches us how to apply it.
(c) The Law is summed up by: Love God. Love people.
5. What was God looking for in their hearts? (Proverbs 3:5-8).
(a) Trust (faith).
6. An example: Why does God restrict sexual relations?
(a) Because people get hurt otherwise.
(b) What is the loving thing to do?
(c) Trust God and obey.
(d) The result is life.
II. Everybody gets tested.
A. The first Adam was tested in the garden.
1. Was God surprised when the serpent showed up?
(a) As with Jesus, the tempter provided the test.
(b) Who let the snake in? God did.
2. The tempter undermined Eve’s trust in God.
(a) Adam and Eve would have lived through obedience.
(b) Adam failed the test.
(c) What did God find in his heart? Not trust.
III. We get tested, too (James 1:12-14).
A. What is in your heart?
1. Jennifer Garner” “Capital One. What’s in your wallet?”
2. The Bible: “God’s Word. What’s in your heart?”
(a) Does God find trust in your heart?
(b) …even when your flesh is screaming for disobedience?
B. It’s not just about rules.
1. It’s about relationship.
(a) God wants to remind you of his love.
(b) God wants to guide you and strengthen you.
C. Rhema vs. Logos (the written Word and spoken Word).
1. God still speaks (“every word that proceeds”).
(a) The “sword of the Spirit” is rhema.
(b) It doesn’t refer to the whole Bible (logos).
(c) It refers to the Word the Spirit brings to remembrance.
(d) What if Jesus has not known the Word of God?
(e) Do you know the Word well enough to parry the lies?
(f) What’s in your heart?
D. Make a new commitment to be in the Word in 2017.
1. Without the Word your faith will never mature.
2. God was telling Israel that they were vulnerable without the
Word.
3. Engaging with God in the Word is our best defense.