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Since 2008
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Battling Temptation

4/20/2012

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“Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” -Matthew 4:1

All of us have been tempted at one point or another. I am relieved to see that Jesus was tempted during His time on earth, because I have temptations pop into my head several times a day. I have found that a review of Jesus’ experience in Matthew 4 can show all of us how to keep temptation from leading us into sin and find the weapons to defeat it.

Lesson 1 – Temptation is not the same as sin.

The Bible says that Jesus was perfect and did not sin, yet was tempted just as any human (Hebrews 2:18, 4:15). What happens to me is that I take the bait of the temptation, and follow through until it becomes sin.

The Bible says I need to “take every thought into captivity” (2 Corinthians 10:5), in the power of Jesus, especially those thoughts in opposition to the way God wants me to live.

Lesson 2 – Temptations are designed just for our weakness.

In Matthew 4, Jesus was tempted three times, three different ways. I believe this reveals the strategy of the tempter, the devil. 

Temptation #1 – The Flesh. In the first temptation, Jesus was tempted to feed His hunger by doing a miracle and making bread out of a stone (Matthew 4:3). Jesus had not eaten anything for 40 days, and I’m sure He was craving sustenance. I can imagine that there were stones all around that were shaped like little loaves of bread. All Jesus had to do was speak the word and His hunger would have been satisfied, but He didn’t. Do you realize Jesus never did a miracle for Himself?

How many people in the world succumb to the first temptation, to feed their body with pleasurable sensations? This could be drugs, sex, alcohol, eating disorders, smoking, adrenaline highs, etc.

Satan zeroed in on Jesus’ hunger and created a temptation designed just for Him. What is it your flesh craves? Can you avoid the temptation to feed the pleasures your body desires when the devil throws his fiery darts?

Temptation #2 – Pride. In the second temptation, Jesus was tempted to display His power and majesty by making a big display in the temple square (Matthew 4:6). Satan was hoping Jesus would show off some His power and put on a little flying demonstration in front of a few thousand people. While this would have been an awesome way to kick off His ministry, being a show off was not why Jesus came to earth.

Satan again zeroed in on Jesus’ need to get His ministry off to a big start and created another temptation specially designed to do that. What is it your pride needs? Do you need constant encouragement and acknowledgement? Are you needing to draw a crowd, be the most popular and are always worried about what others may think? Satan has a temptation designed just for that need in your life. Be ready for it when it comes.

Temptation #3 – Power. While most people fall victim to the first two temptations, people with authority fall to the third. Jesus was tempted with IMMEDIATELY becoming king and ruler of all the kingdoms and nations on the earth (Matthew 4:8-9). This specially designed plan was to let Jesus take a short-cut from His pre-determined path. Jesus is going to be king and ruler of all the earth, but not until He returns (Mark 14:62, Revelation 5:12,13, Romans 14:10,11, Matthew 28:18, Isaiah 9:6, Luke 1:32, 33, Romans 14:9, Philippians 2:9-11). By taking a short-cut, Jesus would not have had to be crucified and die on the cross. If He had taken the short-cut, we would still be in our sins and Jesus’ mission would not have been accomplished.

Many good people get corrupted or fall into sin when they get more and more responsibility. Power can come from money or a place of great responsibility, as large as a nation or as small as a household. Power is intoxicating and additive, to the point where a person believes they do not need God.

Lesson 3 - God has given us a weapon. If you notice, Jesus battles the temptations with the same weapon each time, “It is written…” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). Jesus fought the devil with scripture, even when the devil fought back with scripture of his own. Over and over Jesus showed us the weapon he gave to all of us to defeat the enemy. 

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12

Pastor Jay Merritt

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7 Reasons I believe the resurrection is true

4/8/2012

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1) His disciples put their lives on the line

Acts 2:32 "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.” One at a time, each of Jesus’ disciples spoke of Jesus and the resurrection as eye witnesses. One at a time (except for John), they were put to death. If you knew a story were not true, if the body was stolen, would you continue to tell the lie if you would be killed for telling it?


2) The Roman soldiers story

Chief priests went to the governor, Pilate, and requested a guard on the tomb. Pilate put Jesus’ enemies in charge of the Roman guard. They sealed the stone with wax, to assure the tomb was not opened (Matthew 27:64-65). In Matthew 28:4, it says the guard, on the morning of the resurrection “shook with fear” and “became like dead men.” The guard reported back to chief priest what they saw. In Matthew 28:11, it says the priests bribed the soldiers to keep quiet and to lie about what they saw. The priests promised to speak to the governor if he received news of their dereliction of duty. If a Roman soldier fell asleep on duty, or failed in their duty, he and his entire company would be put to death.


3) Women were first to tell the story

In the 21st century, it is an insult for me to think that a woman’s word is less than that of a man. In the time of Jesus, a woman’s word, sad to say, was the same as a barking dog. It was a problem for the disciples to exclaim, as proof their story was true, that women came forward as the first witnesses.  If the story was made up, the first to see Jesus would have been a man. In saying that the women came forward first (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:9, Luke 24:10, John 20:18), elevated the credibility of the story, because of the social status of the women. 


4) His enemies

His enemies had the tomb sealed, because Jesus said he would rise from the grave (Matthew 27:64-65). They also tried to cover up the statement of the guards by bribing them and making amends with the governor (Matthew 28:11). They also did not produce a body. If Jesus body was stolen and they were able to produce the body, they would have put it in a wagon and showed the whole world.

After hearing the story of the resurrection, the Jewish teacher Gamaliel, an opponent of Jesus, compared the new movement to fly by night leaders saying in Acts 5:38-39, "And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God."


5) His death

Crucifixion was a serious business for the Romans. The guard pierced Jesus’ body with a spear, to make sure he was dead. Because the blood and water spilled out separately, the blood was no longer circulating (John 19:34). Governor Pilate verified Jesus’ death with the Centurion (Mark 15:44) before allowing Joseph of Arimathaea to take the body. 

The life and crucifixion of Jesus is also mentioned in many non-Christian sources: the Babylonian Talmud, Josephus’ Jewish Antiquities, Lucian of Samosta, Tacitus , The Acts of Pilate (referenced by Justin Martyr). 

Jesus lived and died.

6) Witnesses

Jesus walked the earth after the resurrection for 40 days. On at least 5 occurrences, Jesus appeared to 7 or more witnesses. 1 Corinthians 15:8 says that “He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once,” and emphasizes that at the time it was written, most of them were still alive to tell the tale.


In the Bible (Acts 2:32) the word “witness” was translated from the Greek word “martus,” which means “martyr.” Is your faith and witness for Jesus strong enough to die for? Have you given your life to Jesus?

7) Jesus said he would rise again

"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." See Psalms 16:10,  Matthew 16:21, 20:19,  26:32,  Mark 9:9, 14:28,  John 2:19,  Acts 26:22,23

Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius and Sathya Sai Baba all have tombs. I choose to follow a living savior.


Paul says (1 Corinthians 15:17)  “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!”

Pastor Jay Merritt

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    Pastor Jay Merritt writes about God in every day observations.

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