10/16/2022 - God's Desire
God Created humanity to continue his work of blessing others
Jason Deuman
Part of Made To Flourish
October 16, 2022

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(S) Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 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.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
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.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
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.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.


Big Idea: God Created humanity to continue his work of blessing others.

Genesis 2:8-9
Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.


Genesis 2:15-17
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”


God gave man purpose - to care for his creation.

What is my Purpose? What am I here for? And am I living out this purpose?

Shame comes when we are out of alignment with God.

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.”


“If you are really the son of God …”
- Turn these stones to bread - feed yourself
- Jump off the temple - have angels protect you
- Bow down and worship the Tempter - Gain all the splendor of the world.

God’s word helps us overcome temptation.

God’s word gives people purpose.

God’s call is outward-focused.

Genesis 12:3
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.


God promised to bless Abraham but the blessing was never supposed to stop with Abraham.

Acts 4:32-35
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.


God’s church is designed to be a blessing to the community.


Next Step: Reflect on Acts 4:32-35
Next Step: I will let Gospel blessing shape my purpose.
{NOTE}
Next Step: I will start to give something.


Next Step: Start following Jesus.

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