Speak Up Luke 4:1-12

Luke 4 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

Luke 4 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’” 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.

Luke 4 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.

Luke 4 10 For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 12 Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

1 Peter 5:8 Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…”

Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin.

1. Temptation is often strongest when you’re in the center of God’s will

Luke 4 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

1 Corinthians 10:12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!

2. Temptation often strikes at your most vulnerable point.

Luke 4 2 He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

Be aware of your vulnerabilities; Be prepared to guard them.

3. Temptation often appears as a distortion of the truth.

Luke 4 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

4. Temptation is never gone for good.

Luke 4 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Understanding Temptation When you’re in the center of God’s will and on the receiving end of his blessings, the enemy will target you. He hits you where you’re vulnerable. He’ll twist the truth to try to trick you into justifying sinful behavior. If he doesn’t win this round, he’ll be back for another round.

Keep your guard up.

There are 3 questions we need to ask ourselves when facing temptation.

1. What do I really need?

Luke 4:4 “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’”

Deuteronomy 8:3 (KJV)...Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.

2. What do I really want?

Luke 4 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.

Luke 4 7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

3. What do I really believe?

Luke 4:12 Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

What do I really need? What do I really want? What do I really believe?

I need God, and only God. I want God, and only God. I trust God, and only God.