{"id":863,"date":"2010-02-21T22:24:01","date_gmt":"2010-02-21T22:24:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/?p=863"},"modified":"2020-11-27T02:25:08","modified_gmt":"2020-11-27T02:25:08","slug":"lead-us-not-into-temptation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/lead-us-not-into-temptation\/","title":{"rendered":"Lead Us Not into Temptation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Luke 4:1-13<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

February 21, 2010<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sermon preached by Rev. Donald Ng at the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The golfer John Daly at Pebble Beach this last week said he was tempted to eat a gallon of ice cream when he got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Some of us would never have that thought cross our minds when we get up to go to the bathroom!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 2009 movie, Confessions of a Shopaholic<\/em> reveals a story of a woman who lusts for the credit-card lifestyle and the imagined freedom and fulfillment it would bring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a story of a young mother who took her pre-school-aged son to the mall to buy a birthday present for his friend. Before they entered the toy store, he dug in his heels and began to protest, \u201cMommy, I can\u2019t go in there. You know I\u2019m attracted to toys, and I\u2019ll see something I want. Then I\u2019ll cry, and it\u2019s just better if I don\u2019t go in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though the word temptation was not yet in his vocabulary, this little boy sure knew what it was and what to do about it. You and I know what it\u2019s like to be tempted. We know what it\u2019s like to have hunger for something we want\u2014something that others might say we need\u2014but that we know will serve only to distract or derail us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click on that questionable website. Spend that extra dollar. Gossip behind the back of your coworker. Sleep in on Sunday. Eat the doughnut. Ignore the kids. The list is endless. Temptation is everywhere. And, like the smell of fried Chinese food in Chinatown when your stomach is empty, its pull is too strong. The truth is that Jesus isn\u2019t the only one who has Satan whispering in his ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lent<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today is the first Sunday in Lent that stretches from last Wednesday that was Ash Wednesday up to Easter for 40 days that corresponds to Jesus\u2019 40 days sojourn in the wilderness of Judea. Just as Jesus was tested and tried in the desert, so we are invited to a voluntary wilderness in order to better hear God\u2019s voice and focus on our devotion and service. People practice fasting or giving up a kind of food or avoiding a certain activity to simulate how Jesus did not have food to eat when he was in the wilderness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In today\u2019s text, Jesus is praying in the wilderness for 40 days following his baptism. He\u2019s been purposely abstaining from food and meditating in the wilderness to prepare himself for the three years of ministry and miracles as humanity\u2019s Messiah and Savior that stood before him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus was tempted in three different ways. In verses 3-4, the devil tempted Jesus to change a stone into bread because Jesus was famished. Imagine if we could have the power to have everything we want while living on earth? All of our physical and bodily needs cared for. All the ice cream we want and not gain one pound!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus was tempted in verse 5-8 to have authority and power over the world. Imagine if we can write all the rules and laws to our favor? We would be accountable to no one. There would be no need for temptations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And lastly, in verse 9-12, the devil tempted Jesus by having him test God and in turn having the devil supplant the Lord God. Imagine the many excuses and rationalizing that we no longer need to do when we don\u2019t listen to God? We make ourselves the center of the world with no accountability to any one God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Temptation?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every Sunday when we recite the Lord\u2019s Prayer, we pray to God that circumstances won\u2019t, \u201cLead us not into temptation.\u201d How do we fight temptation and stay on track?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, it begins with understanding what temptation truly is. Some people see temptation as evil. Many Christians would probably even answer that being tempted<\/em> is a sin. And the end result of that idea is followers of Jesus worrying about the strength of their faith or the fullness of God\u2019s spirit in their lives because they feel the pull toward selling out to sin. However, when we look at the Scriptures, we see that this isn\u2019t true at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temptation was a part of life on God\u2019s planet even before everything fell apart and sin entered the picture through the disobedience of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3<\/a>. Likewise, we hear today of Jesus being tempted, and yet the Scriptures tell us he committed no wrong, that he \u201cknew no sin\u201d (2 Cor. 5:21). This may sound crazy coming from the pulpit, but don\u2019t treat yourself terribly because you\u2019re tempted. It simply means you\u2019re human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t to say that temptation shouldn\u2019t be taken seriously. It may not be a sin, but it is a tool of the devil who, Scripture tells us, is \u201cprowling around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour\u201d (1 Peter 5:8<\/a>). If the devil is bold enough to try to fool the Son of God, he surely isn\u2019t intimidated by you or me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just as the devil tried to tempt Jesus, the devil\u2019s goal is always the same: to pull us away from a life that gives glory to God in exchange for a life of gratifying ourselves. This is the tactic he tried with Jesus. \u201cHey, Jesus, forget about following the plans of your Father. Feed your stomach instead. Stop submitting as a son. Instead bow down to me and grab some glory for yourself. Why do you trust all God\u2019s plans in the first place? Jump down from these heights and see if he has your best interest at heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal of temptation, just like with Jesus, is to pull you off the mission of living a life that\u2019s obedient to God and give glory to God. Instead, the devil wants you to walk through life scratching every sinful itch and ultimately gratifying yourself. The hope is that if he can get you to do it enough, he can get you off God\u2019s team altogether. That\u2019s why we fast and give up something during Lent so that we may better focus on God\u2019s plan rather than gratifying ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what are we to do? The antidote to temptation isn\u2019t to assert more willpower. We think that we have within us the ability to resist every single sin if only we try hard enough. Some would argue that the best defense is to barricade your life from as many evil influences as possible. Cancel the cable. Pull the plug on the internet. Stop going to the movies. Home school the kids and start making your own clothes. Pull away from society and you\u2019ll stay far away from temptation. These are the ways that we try to deal with temptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only problem is that the devil can permeate our perfect world. He followed Jesus into the wilderness; he\u2019ll follow you, too. In an attempt to living in depravity, it often leads us to falsely think that we have successfully defeated sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seriously, what can we do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fight Temptation with Truth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we look back to Luke, we see that Jesus decides to fight temptation in a very specific way. He didn\u2019t assert his power, although he could have. He didn\u2019t flee, although it was an option. Instead, Jesus fought temptation with truth. He fought temptation with the truth of God\u2019s word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With each offer from the devil, Jesus answered by pointing the devil to the promises and standards of the one true God. As temptation tries to pull us away from God, the greatest antidote we have\u2014our lifeline\u2014is the truth of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the devil tempted Jesus to turn a stone into bread, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3<\/a> referring to God giving manna to the Hebrew children in the wilderness. The Hebrew people were hungry and wanted to return to Egypt, but God provided this strange food that they couldn\u2019t store for many days but it had to be eaten daily to teach them that they can depend on God for daily bread. Jesus reminds the devil that the meaning and purpose of life is having a connection and relationship with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the devil tempted Jesus to worship him, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 6<\/a> referring to the great commandment, \u201cThe Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates\u201d (6:4-9). Jesus reminds the devil that since he is already the Son of God, no measure of earthly glory and authority is worthwhile for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And finally, when the devil tempted Jesus by quoting and distorting Psalm 91:11-12<\/a> that suggests that God\u2019s holy one will be kept safe by the angels if he would recklessly throw himself off the pinnacle of the Temple, because God will not allow him to be hurt, Jesus goes back to Deuteronomy 6:16<\/a>, reminding the devil that Moses had to warn the people not to presume on God\u2019s favor, but instead to humbly worship and serve God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It makes sense, doesn\u2019t it? How can we fight temptation or even know that we\u2019re tempted if we don\u2019t know God\u2019s expectation? How might we know this choice or that option is less than God\u2019s best if we\u2019ve never been inspired to strive for his ideal? How will we spot the lies of the devil and self if we don\u2019t know the truth of God?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honestly, this is one reason studying the Scripture is so essential to the life of a disciple. This is the reason why you are here to worship. This is the reason why we have Lenten Bible study groups. It isn\u2019t just so we all become biblical scholars. It isn\u2019t that we become religious fanatics. It\u2019s so we can see the lies, hold to the truth, stay on the mission and steer away from sin. In this text, Jesus is fighting temptation the way we should fight it, too\u2014with God\u2019s word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now I can hear what\u2019s going through in your heads right now. You are saying we\u2019re not Jesus. How can we fight off temptation when Jesus is the Son of God?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forgiveness for our Sins<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is significant that the devil comes to Jesus when he is in the state of extreme deprivation and vulnerability, just as he will be in his final submission on the cross. In order for him to endure and prevail in his earthly assignment, he will have to be able to be triumphantly strong when he is weakest and most vulnerable. As fully human, Jesus sojourn and fast in the wilderness where food is unavailable and water is scarce. The text says he ate nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his time under the pressure of temptation, Jesus didn\u2019t budge. He didn\u2019t sway. He endured. He did it not only to stay on task, but he did it all for you. We give in to temptation all the time. Jesus never gave in once. But where we have fallen down, Jesus succeeded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During these 40 days when Jesus was in the wilderness, scholars believe that Jesus was replaying the struggles of Israel and being the faithful child of God that they weren\u2019t, so that through him, they might be restored to God. We believe that Jesus was also \u201creliving\u201d the struggles and temptations of you and me and being faithful in our place so we, too, might be counted as righteous in God\u2019s sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, when you fall into temptation and prove yourself unfaithful, you have the ability to hold on to the faithfulness of Jesus. You can cry out to God, saying, \u201cLord, I have sinned, but your Son is strong. I am rebellious, but Jesus is obedient. Forgive me for his sake, and set me again on his path.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As sure as there are tempting things to buy in Union Square or chocolates at See\u2019s or great food in Chinatown, there is forgiveness, there is mercy and there is grace abundant for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temptation comes in countless forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a worship service, the wife reminded her husband to turn off his iPhone in case it goes off. When the phone rang, he pleaded, \u201cI didn\u2019t mean to have the phone go off.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo why did you keep the phone on?\u201d the wife asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh,\u201d replied the husband, \u201cI kept it on just in case I was tempted to check the Olympic medal results.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May we model the strength of Jesus. May we quote the truth in the word of God like Jesus. But most of all, when we fall into temptation and sin, may we come to Jesus who forgives, gives mercy, offers abundant grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us pray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord Jesus, you were tried and tested, but you did not deter from your vocation. You were always true to who you were called to be. Keep being yourself, Lord Jesus. Keep loving us sinners, keep reaching out toward us, keep invading our world with your presence. May we not be led into temptation by knowing and living the truth in the Word of God. Our best hope, our only way, our salvation is that you would keep being who you are, Lord and Savior. And we have great faith that you will. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Luke 4:1-13 February 21, 2010 Sermon preached by Rev. Donald Ng at the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco. The golfer John Daly at Pebble Beach this last weekContinue readingLead Us Not into Temptation<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[11,18],"class_list":["post-863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-donald-ng-sermons","tag-fcbc","tag-luke"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=863"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1730,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/863\/revisions\/1730"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}