What Did Jesus Do? | Week 1

August 6th & 7th

Pastor Josh Blount

Overcoming Temptation

1 Corinthians 2:1-2
You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s sheer genius, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did.

Temptation Effects Everyone

Temptation - to entice

Temptation is a tool used by the devil, to try to Entice You Into A Life Of Sin, to Entice You with sinful thoughts that lead to sinful actions.

Hebrews 4:15
Jesus… was tempted in every way”

Temptation Doesn’t Equal Sin

Hebrews 4:15
Jesus… was tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

It is not the temptations you have, but the decision you make about them that counts.
Billy Graham

Temptation Is A Drag

James 1:13-15
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

James 1:14
Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.

“Dragged Away” - to draw out, to pull you out from under a covering…

Enticed - to be lured by bait

Matthew 4:1
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

1 He was tempted in appetites

Matthew 4:5
Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

2 He was tempted in approval

Matthew 4:8
Again, the devil took Him the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Luke 4:5
And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.

3 He was tempted to accelerate

Matthew 4:10
Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For say this with me one more time: it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

The primary battlefield where the devil will challenge us with temptations is in our minds.

John 8:32
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
The freedom you need from temptation is found in the word of God and in the work of Jesus.

1 We submit our minds to God’s Word.

Isaiah 59:19
When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

John 14:26
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Remembrance - to cause to remember, to recall to mind.

2 Corinthians 10:5
We tear down arguments and every presumption idea that is exalted against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought and we make it obedient to Christ.

Captive - taking by force

Obedient - to listen under

We take temptations and we bring them under the scrutiny of the Word of God and the more we choose to do it, the more freedom we will have in our mind and in our life.

2 We partner with the overcomer

Hebrews 2:17-18
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. 

“is able” - have all the power or authority to achieve the desired action

Aid - to run to give relief and comfort for the purpose of assisting the person in need.

Romans 10:13
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in our time of need

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,  that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Obtain - to claim something for yourself, to take ahold of something that you can use.

2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.