War And Wilderness
Matthew 4
Chris Seidman
Part of The Gospel of Matthew—King & Kingdom
January 9, 2022

The Gospel of Matthew — King & Kingdom

War And Wilderness
January 9, 2022
Chris Seidman, Lead Minister, The Branch Church


Matthew 4:1 (NIV)
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

H A L T Acrostic

  • Hungry
  • Angry
  • Lonely
  • Tired


Matthew 4:2-3 (NIV)
After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

You Could Think Of This Temptation As Being …

  • About how far Jesus is willing to go in using His freedom and power.

Matthew 4:4 (NIV)
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”


Matthew 4:5-6 (NIV)
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

  • About how far Jesus is willing to go to be seen as powerful.

Matthew 4:7 (NIV)
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”


Matthew 4:8-9 (NIV)
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

  • About how far Jesus is willing to go to gain power.

Matthew 4:10 (NIV)
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

In All Three Temptations, Satan Uses The Word “You”

  • “If you are the Son of God … .” (vs. 3)

  • “If you are the Son of God … .” (vs. 6)

  • “ All this I will give you … .” (vs. 9)

Jesus Answers All Three With …

  • “It is written … .” (vs. 4)

  • “It is also written … .” (vs. 7)

  • “… it is written … .” (vs. 10)


Matthew 4:11 (NIV)
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

When It Comes To Dealing With Temptation We Can …

  • Count on His empathy.


Hebrews 2:14-18 (NIV)
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity… . (vs.16) For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.


Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

  • Count on His strategies.

  • Count on His victory.

Communion

  • Give thanks for His perfection in the face of temptation.

  • What is your strategy for feeding on the Word of God this week?

  • Do you know someone in a wilderness that you could serve or pray for this week?