WEBVTT 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:01.600 Well, good morning. 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:05.519 We're breaking from the book of Nehemiah for the season of Lent. 00:00:05.599 --> 00:00:10.240 So Lent is the season of the 40 days leading up to Easter. 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:21.359 And so during this season, each Sunday, we'll meet mainly looking at a gospel reading, a story of Jesus, as to prepare our hearts for Good Friday and for Easter. 00:00:21.679 --> 00:00:28.480 Three months ago, the week before Christmas, my daughter shows up into our home with a Christmas Danish Kringle. 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:29.440 Do you know this treat? 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:30.640 Here's a picture of it. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:41.200 And so it's just layer after layer of dough and cream cheese and icing, which is it's the perfect treat for breakfast. 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:43.280 And, you know, for lunch. 00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:48.640 And when you get home, you get home from work, you need a little upper, and it's great for then. 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:52.079 And then nobody else in my family really loved it like I did. 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:55.359 So I am responsible for this gift. 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:58.479 You know, I need to really make sure it goes not to waste. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:06.480 And so even at night, I could I'd be watching my my nightly Seinfeld episode, and I I could I could hear it in the kitchen. 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:08.400 Russ. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:11.040 Russ. 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:14.239 I will make you happy. 00:01:14.719 --> 00:01:17.120 So it's right, you know the feeling. 00:01:17.280 --> 00:01:23.920 It's calling you because you know the the afterwork piece was good, but it didn't really, you know, satisfy you. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:30.480 But the the nighttime piece, like that one, that's gonna be the one that satisfies all the lack of joy in your heart. 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:32.079 Like that will totally do it, right? 00:01:32.239 --> 00:01:34.480 We all know temptation. 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:37.760 We want something that's not good for us. 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:41.200 It won't really deliver, but we still want it. 00:01:41.519 --> 00:01:45.120 And then there's also unhealth and destruction there. 00:01:45.680 --> 00:01:48.959 Author Kathy Keller wrote this prayer. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:53.920 Lord, help us remember that when we break your laws, we also break ourselves. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:57.439 When we violate your word, we also violate ourselves. 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:05.920 Help us to remember that sin is first of all an offense and grief to your holy good heart, but is also stupid. 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:07.200 Amen. 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:12.319 All right, Luke chapter 4, verses 1 and 2. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:26.960 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil, and he ate nothing during those days, and when they were ended, he was hungry. 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:30.560 So there's two easy mistakes we could make when reading this passage. 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:37.039 The first mistake is that there is a demon or a devil behind every door. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:43.360 The second mistake is thinking I am just like Jesus. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:45.039 So let's talk about the first mistake. 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:47.039 There is a demon behind every door. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:55.039 If we look at the text, it's very clear that the Spirit of God, God Himself, not a demonic force, leads Jesus into the desert. 00:02:55.120 --> 00:03:00.159 It's there that the devil, known as the liar, shows up and begins to tempt him. 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:02.800 See, God uses the devil. 00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:08.639 God uses the devil to show that Jesus is who he says he is. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:13.120 Now, a spiritual experience with the devil or demons is possible. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:16.000 That's possible for us as spiritual people. 00:03:16.319 --> 00:03:22.319 But is it it is an exception to the normative daily Christian life? 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:28.400 So we should be aware, but we never have to live in fear. 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:34.400 Let me give you six reasons why we have no fear of the devil and demons. 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:39.120 Number one, the devil and demons operate under God's sovereignty. 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:41.120 That's the book of Job. 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:47.599 Number two, Jesus publicly disarmed and humiliated the devil and demons on the cross. 00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:49.520 Colossians 2, 15. 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:54.960 Number three, demons beg Christ Jesus not to destroy them. 00:03:55.199 --> 00:03:57.199 Matthew 8, 28 through 31. 00:03:57.280 --> 00:03:59.840 And that same Christ lives in you. 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:03.360 Number four, God promises to protect his children. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:05.280 1 Peter 5, James 4. 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:08.879 Our souls are safe with God, Matthew 10, 28. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:11.599 Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:12.800 That's Romans 8. 00:04:13.280 --> 00:04:20.879 See, to live in any fear of demons or the demonic, to live in fear of that, it's just unneeded. 00:04:21.759 --> 00:04:37.040 And any church that creates fear of that is diminishing Christ's centrality, sufficiency, and power, and is actually just manipulating you towards something other than Jesus. 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:40.720 Now, this story itself forces us to admit something. 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:45.519 We have to admit that the worst enemy is not out there. 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:49.920 The demons and the devil and the culture and my horrible cousin. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:54.879 Like the worst enemy is not a the worst enemy is actually inside of us. 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:56.160 Right? 00:04:56.480 --> 00:04:57.360 Taylor knew it. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:04:57.839 Right? 00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:58.879 What does she sing? 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:00.160 It's me. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:00.879 Hi. 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:02.959 I'm the problem. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:04.079 It's me. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:04.560 Right? 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:06.560 She knows this truth. 00:05:06.800 --> 00:05:13.360 That every lie coming at us only means something because we desire it. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:15.839 Or else it just wouldn't even mean anything. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:17.759 There's something in us. 00:05:18.240 --> 00:05:23.199 Have you ever watched something, said something, done something, thought something? 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:29.759 And the entire time you simultaneously love and hate it. 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:31.600 Right? 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.079 Because there's a war within us. 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:38.240 Paul explains it this way, Galatians 5, 16 and 17. 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:43.040 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 00:05:43.279 --> 00:05:52.800 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:59.600 Paul says there's a war in us, flesh and Holy Spirit, lie and truth. 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:03.839 Now let's look at how Jesus responds as temptation comes to him. 00:06:04.079 --> 00:06:06.079 Luke 4, 3 and 4. 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:10.959 The devil said to him, If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:15.920 And Jesus answered him, It is written, man shall not live by bread alone. 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:22.639 Point number one is this our souls are created for wholeness and satisfaction in God alone. 00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:27.839 The lie is that the next Danish Kringle will satisfy you. 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:29.759 Suddenly you will be okay. 00:06:29.920 --> 00:06:32.639 The next image, the next hit, the next person. 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:37.120 This past Sunday on CBS Sunday morning. 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:40.160 Does anybody else as old as I am and watch CBS Sunday morning? 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:41.120 Anybody record it? 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:42.800 Watch like old souls. 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:45.920 Those are old souls if you're watching Sunday CBS Sunday morning. 00:06:46.079 --> 00:06:46.879 I always record it. 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:47.680 I watch it at night. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:50.959 I have my old man time, Sunday morning, 60 minutes. 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:54.639 I mean, that's just a bucket of old people stuff, and I love it. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:57.839 Last week they interviewed Dan Lannigan. 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:02.319 He has spent 30 years collecting movie stuff. 00:07:02.639 --> 00:07:08.879 So from the Blues Brothers movie, Belushi's Hat, the hat, Belushi's the guy on the right. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:12.480 He paid$28,000 for that hat. 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:17.279 So he owns that hat and his warehouse, huge warehouse full of movie stuff. 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:23.839 He paid$270,000 for the Blade Runner gun, which I didn't even know was a thing. 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:25.439 I didn't know that was a big deal. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:27.600 Apparently, it's a big deal. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:31.199 He has a warehouse full of just movie stuff. 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:34.639 And they asked him, Will you ever have enough? 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:38.240 And he said, Well, I already have too much. 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:42.480 And yet, the next item that comes up, he's gonna want it. 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:43.279 Right? 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:44.959 It's always the next item. 00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:49.360 It's always the next, the next thing will complete the collection. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:52.000 We all know this lie. 00:07:52.800 --> 00:07:56.319 This is a temptation to self-nourish. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:03.759 That I can nourish my soul by my own means and my own resources apart from God. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:11.439 But our souls were created for wholeness and satisfaction in God alone, so everything else is like a foretaste or a substitute. 00:08:12.560 --> 00:08:17.360 The good news is that in the grace of God we're relieved of this exhausting way of life. 00:08:17.680 --> 00:08:25.040 Our souls can be satisfied in that God actually does know you and created you and loves you. 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:27.759 Luke 4, verses 5 through 8. 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:40.799 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 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. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:44.559 If you then will worship me, it will all be yours. 00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:51.519 And Jesus answered him, It is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. 00:08:51.919 --> 00:08:58.399 Point number two is this our souls were created to be the created, not the creator. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:01.679 The temptation here is to be in control. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:04.639 That I should be the creator. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:06.000 I'm gonna be in control. 00:09:06.080 --> 00:09:09.919 It's the burden to have to have everything controlled. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:14.240 That your kingdom, that you reign in your kingdom. 00:09:14.960 --> 00:09:22.879 This week I was watching Friends with one of my daughters, and while Monica was at work, uh Chandler decides he's gonna clean the apartment. 00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:24.399 I don't know if you remember this episode. 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:28.559 And if you know Monica, Monica is a clean freak and a control freak. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:38.080 And so Chandler wants to be sweet boyfriend, and so he's gonna clean the apartment, and as he gets into it, he decides to do a really good job because to clean for Monica, you need to do a really good job. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:40.879 And so he starts to move the furniture and move items. 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:52.879 He's gonna clean the best he can, and then he gets about halfway through and everything's a mess, and Ross helps him, but he realizes uh he doesn't know how everything goes back in its place, in its right place. 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:57.360 And Monica knows where everything goes in her kingdom. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:02.799 So Monica walks in, you know, the couch is you know four inches off, and the coffee table's not centered. 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:05.440 She likes things a certain way, her way. 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:06.879 It's gotta be her way. 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:09.600 Monica fans, you know exactly what I'm talking about. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:13.440 And if you relate to Monica at all, um I'm with you. 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:16.320 Here's a couple questions to diagnose us. 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:19.200 Control freaks, you'll you'll associate. 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:22.799 Do you often feel the need to be in charge? 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:25.120 I mean, look what I'm doing right now. 00:10:25.279 --> 00:10:27.600 I can't get more in charge. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:33.200 Like, that's the the how deeply rooted this is. 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:40.080 Number two, are you uncomfortable when things are uncertain or out of your control? 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:46.720 Do you sometimes micromanage situations or people to ensure they are correct? 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:48.559 Anybody else? 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:51.840 Yeah, we all have an inner monica. 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:57.679 We want to use control to feel okay, to feel safe, to feel secure. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:01.679 To feel like that we fully control our kingdom. 00:11:02.879 --> 00:11:08.159 And while we are participants in our kingdom, we do not fully control it. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:14.399 And that's what Jesus was saying when he says, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. 00:11:14.559 --> 00:11:19.120 While we're participants in our kingdom, we we have a freedom in humility. 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:28.399 And the freedom is as much as I participate and I use wisdom and I steward, there's a freedom to know, oh, actually I serve the Creator. 00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:30.639 My kingdom is his. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:33.679 Luke 4, 9 through 13. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:41.120 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:50.240 For it is written, He will command his angels concerning you to guard you, and on their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:55.840 And Jesus answered him, It is said, You shall not put your Lord your God to the test. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:02.399 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:08.559 Point number three is this our souls were created for humility, not elitism. 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:12.399 Verse nine, did you pick up on that word? 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:13.360 Pinnacle. 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:15.840 The devil sets Jesus on a pinnacle. 00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:18.879 The temptation here is self-importance. 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:29.679 So we have a temptation to self-nourishment, and we have a temptation to self-importance, constantly having to make yourself seem important or righteous. 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:32.639 But what if? 00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:35.840 What if you are already important? 00:12:36.879 --> 00:12:38.720 What if you're already righteous? 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:44.480 See, the gospel declares you in Jesus fully worthy, fully important. 00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:48.399 You matter, fully forgiven and fully righteous. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:51.440 Not because of anything you do, but because of what Jesus did for you. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:59.039 That identity secures you, it gives you a humility, but it makes you incredibly secure. 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:07.679 And this is the gift that we have, this freedom of humility, which actually equips us to act to love another person who's not perfect. 00:13:08.159 --> 00:13:09.600 So let's get practical. 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:14.879 What do we learn from Jesus in this passage on how he deals with temptation? 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:16.480 How do we fight temptation? 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:17.840 Five observations. 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:20.960 Number one, ignoring the temptation will not help. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:22.080 We have to face it. 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:24.720 If the temptation's there, we need to face it. 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:30.960 Number two, we seek to understand the lie, the untruth underneath the temptation. 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:35.919 So there's a temptation, but under that temptation, fueling it is a lie. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:41.759 What is the temptation promising me, but it will not deliver. 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:48.080 Number three, we combat the temptation with what is true about ourselves as Abba's child. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:51.919 We remember who we are as God's son or God's daughter. 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:56.480 We begin with our identity, what's already true about us in Jesus. 00:13:56.720 --> 00:14:01.200 Number four, we combat the temptation with what is true about sin and goodness. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:05.759 We remember there's more going on in this moment. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:11.120 If we can just slow down, like I got a lot of emotions, I got a temptation. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:14.559 Can I slow down to remember who I am in Jesus already? 00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:17.759 Can I slow down enough to remember, okay, what's going on here? 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:18.879 What's the promise here? 00:14:19.039 --> 00:14:20.000 What's the lie? 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:21.200 What's true? 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:22.960 What's actually true about sin? 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:24.799 What's actually true about goodness? 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:32.000 Then number five, with the Holy Spirit's help, we recenter our heart and mind on what is true. 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:34.240 One more practical application. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:36.799 Two questions for your heart for this week. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:44.159 Number one, Abba Father, what is an influential lie in my heart that no longer needs to be there? 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:48.879 That would be something worthy to be repent of, to say, God, God, this is this is a lie. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:53.600 This is not healthy, it's destructive, but it's in me, it's constantly in me to begin to confess that again. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:58.480 Number two, Abba Father, what does it mean for me to walk in the truth today? 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:08.960 Now remember, I said there's a second mistake we could make reading this passage, is it's thinking that we are Jesus rather than letting Jesus be Jesus for us. 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:18.799 There's a scene in the 1975 movie Monty Python Holy Grail, incredibly silly, silly, silly, silly movie. 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:24.080 Arthur a black knight to head down the path. 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:31.279 And in this two-minute clip we're gonna watch, in this two-minute clip, we are we are the black knight. 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:32.639 Here we go. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:36.399 I move on no man. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:08.240 Now stand aside what are the adversaries. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:09.519 But a scratch. 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:10.480 A scratch? 00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:13.279 Your arms off! What's that then? 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:18.320 Come on, you fansy. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:27.600 Victory is mine. 00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:40.080 We can't be lord, but in my mouth Come on, then what you're indeed brave tonight, but the fight is mine. 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:41.679 Oh, I don't know, eh? 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:47.600 Look, you're stupid! And you've got no arms left! Yes, I have. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:50.159 Look! Just a flesh wound. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:17:00.480 Look, stop that! Chicken! Chicken, look, I'll have your leg! Right! Right, I'll do you for that. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.279 You what? 00:17:01.519 --> 00:17:03.360 Come here! What are you gonna do? 00:17:03.519 --> 00:17:04.400 Bleed on me? 00:17:04.640 --> 00:17:11.759 I'm invincible! You're a loony! The black knights always trouble! How about you? 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:21.359 Come on, then! All right, we're calling the draw. 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:24.720 Come, Patsy! Oh, oh, I see. 00:17:25.119 --> 00:17:37.279 Running away! You yellow! Come back here and paint one's coming to you! I'll bite your legs off! So we're a lot like the Black Knight. 00:17:37.359 --> 00:17:40.720 We're saying, I'm invincible, tis but a scratch. 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:43.039 But we really need a lot of help. 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:46.960 We need the Holy Spirit's help in us at a given temptation. 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:54.640 And we need a secure promise that can hold us in the temptation, in our victory, and in our failure. 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:58.559 Last point is this temptation is always a conditional statement. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:01.920 The gospel is a secure promise. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:06.640 Did you notice that in the passage, every temptation is conditional? 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:08.319 Like, hey, if you do this, you'll get this. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:09.759 If this, then this. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:12.720 Priest Paul Walker explains it this way. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:16.480 Who doesn't know the power of this devilish temptation? 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:18.000 What is it for you? 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:21.279 Money, sex, and power are the usual suspects. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:23.200 I'm not immune to that triune. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:29.599 But a few years ago I preached a sermon saying that if we just had crown molding in our living room, I would be happy. 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:32.720 Fulfilled homeowner and person, well, wouldn't you know it? 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:39.599 We put crown molding in the living room, and gosh darn it, it looks really good and made me happy for a month or two. 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:46.960 Now, if we could just figure out a way to put it in the master bathroom, adjoining our bedroom, I'd be really happy. 00:18:47.200 --> 00:18:53.599 Some of the more searing conditional sentences are if you were lovable, then you would be loved. 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:57.440 Or if you had worth, then you would show your worth. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:01.200 If you were a better parent, your children would be happy and successful. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:03.839 The list goes on and on and on. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:10.880 If the sentence structure of Satan is conditional, then the grammar of God is declarative. 00:19:11.279 --> 00:19:17.200 Jesus responds to each of the devil's temptations with a declarative statement from Scripture. 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:20.960 It is written, he says three times over. 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:23.279 One doesn't live by bread alone. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:26.960 Worship God only, don't put God to the test. 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:32.240 To each of the devil's slippery slopes, Jesus answers back with a solid rock. 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:39.680 I don't know your mistakes, I don't know your temptations, I don't know your crown molding, but we all have it. 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:46.880 We all have temptations, we've all made mistakes, and what we need is we need a promise from beyond ourselves. 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:50.240 We need the one-way love of God in Jesus. 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:58.720 That Christ lived the sinless life, we did not, that he lives Luke chapter 4 sinless and we do not. 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:03.920 That he died on the cross for our sins, so we're fully forgiven and fully righteous. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:07.920 Now, maybe you're here and you have a question about that or something else. 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:11.759 I'll be down front after we'd love to speak to you or pray with you. 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:12.960 But let's pray together. 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:20.240 Heavenly Father, we thank you that you do not leave us on the path alone to fight our fights and struggles and temptations. 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:22.400 But you are with us. 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:30.640 We acknowledge this morning there is a war inside of us between lie and truth, between flesh and spirit. 00:20:31.119 --> 00:20:35.599 Would you help us rest in our secure identity in Jesus alone even more? 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:40.319 Would you help us to find our wholeness and satisfaction in you? 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:43.599 Forgive us for all the ways that we try to self nourish. 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:47.359 Forgive us for all the ways we try to be important outside of you. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:49.200 Help us to rest in you. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:56.079 Help us to grow in you and to know the implications of your radical grace to us in Christ alone. 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.279 Amen.