Make-up: January 15, 2012

The Wilderness Temptations

On January 15th, we studied the wilderness temptations. We ask you to take a look at the lesson, read the scriptures and watch the video clip and then comment. You may comment as anonymous and then just put your first name or initials in the box. In the comment section, give a few sentences on the lesson.

Bible Text: 

Luke 4:1–15; Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13

Lesson Focus: 

Jesus used scripture to resist the devil's temptations.

Big Question: 

How can I resist temptations if I can't quote scripture?

Key Words: 

TEMPTATION, SCRIPTURE, HOLY SPIRIT, SATAN

Definition of Key Words

TEMPTATION: anything that controls us and leads us away from God or threatens our relationship with God.

SCRIPTURE: God's word in the Bible and the words that Jesus used against Satan.

The HOLY SPIRIT: the third person of the Trinity (with God and Jesus) and the one who guides us in our decision-making.

SATAN: the one who tempts us in order to draw us away from God. Satan is also known as the "accuser."

Quick Overview

Jesus was tempted—really tempted—but did not succumb to using his God-given powers for any cheap thrills, fantastic duels with Satan, or evil misuse.

In all three gospels, the temptation scene comes toward the beginning of Jesus' story and—in some fashion—inaugurates his ministry.

Some have suggested that the point of the mysterious temptation scene is that Jesus was fully human and was fully tempted. Others say that we are to glean, as any first century Jew would, that Jesus was a model Jew. Still others maintain that this scene shows up-front the conflict between God's reign and the reign of Satan, setting up the thematic undercurrent that all of Jesus' ministry is an attack on Satan's work.

Jesus stymies the devil finally because he knows whose he is—He is God's Son.

Movie Connection: 3:10 to Yuma

Main Idea: A Person Of Integrity Does The Right Thing Even When No One Is Watching

Scene Set Up: Dan Evans has made it all the way to the small town of Contention where he is being paid $200 to deliver outlaw Ben Wade to the 3:10 train. Wade’s outlaw gang has been trailing them and Dan’s son William has snuck along and is now caught up in the deadly adventure. Dan desperately needs the $200 to save his ranch, and he wants the respect of his son who thinks he is a weak, boring, religious nobody. As they wait for the local sheriff and his deputies to show up Ben takes another opportunity to try to tempt Dan into letting him go.

Application: 

Your character reveals itself when you face a moral issue and nobody is around to catch you. Daniel is facing an integrity issue. Ben Wade knows Dan is a strong Christian, but his experience is that everybody has a price, and most people of faith live differently from the foundational teachings of the bible in their private lives. So Ben expects Dan to be like the other Christians he has met…saying one thing and doing whatever it takes to get ahead.

Dan has become a man of integrity. A man of integrity is a man who keeps his word. A person of integrity is a person who does what he says even when temptation hits. A person of integrity is the same person in every part of his life. When the chips are down you can count on a person of integrity to be sturdy and solid, like an oak of righteousness.

We begin the journey of integrity when we live in the presence of one who truly sees us as we are, and longs for us not to be impressive, not to be inconsistent, but to be people who live whole and complete lives. We live as people of integrity when we have a solid center. This center comes from knowing we were bought with a price and are now the ones who represent Jesus. It is Him who lives at our core, and that center will ground you to make choices that line up with the Word which will set you free. When you are the same in private as you are in public that is a good start. When you are pursuing righteousness regardless of who is watching that is an even better measure of your integrity