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The Temptations of JesusThe Temptations of Jesus

How will you react when it is How will you react when it is your turn?your turn?

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In this LessonIn this Lesson

Why Jesus Was TemptedWhy Jesus Was Tempted How Jesus Was TemptedHow Jesus Was Tempted A Common Reaction to The A Common Reaction to The

Temptations of SatanTemptations of Satan

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Matthew 4 Matthew 4 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the

wilderness to be tempted by the devil.wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty

nights, afterward He was hungry.nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he

said, "If You are the Son of God, command said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."that these stones become bread."

4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"God.'"

5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, 5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,

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6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw 6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His Yourself down. For it is written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"a stone.'"

7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall 7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'"not tempt the LORD your God.'"

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly 8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.of the world and their glory.

9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You 9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."if You will fall down and worship me."

10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'"God, and Him only you shall serve.'"

11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.and ministered to Him.

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Not a Contradiction of ScriptureNot a Contradiction of Scripture

James 1 James 1

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot

be tempted by evil, nor does He be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.Himself tempt anyone.

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Matthew 4 Matthew 4 1 Then Jesus was 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the led up by the Spirit into the

wilderness to be tempted by the devilwilderness to be tempted by the devil.. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty

nights, afterward He was hungry.nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he

said, "If You are the Son of God, command said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."that these stones become bread."

4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"God.'"

5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, 5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,

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How will you react when you are How will you react when you are tempted?tempted?

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God Does God Does TestTest His Children His ChildrenExodus 16 Exodus 16

4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a

certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not.will walk in My law or not.

Exodus 20 Exodus 20 20 And Moses said to the people, "Do not fear; for God has come 20 And Moses said to the people, "Do not fear; for God has come

to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.“may not sin.“

Judges 2 Judges 2 21 "I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations 21 "I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations

which Joshua left when he died,which Joshua left when he died,22 "so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep 22 "so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep

the ways of the LORD, to walk in them as their fathers kept the ways of the LORD, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not.“them, or not.“

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Testing us makes us stronger.Testing us makes us stronger.Isaiah 48 Isaiah 48

10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as 10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace silver; I have tested you in the furnace

of affliction.of affliction.

1Peter 11Peter 17 that the genuineness of your faith, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by that perishes, though it is tested by

fire, may be found to praise, honor, and fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

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When you sin, turn it into “a When you sin, turn it into “a success”success”

How will you react when you are How will you react when you are tempted?tempted?

Repent, ask forgivenessRepent, ask forgiveness Recognize what your weakness isRecognize what your weakness is Pray about itPray about it Vow to never commit it againVow to never commit it again Learn from the experience and vow Learn from the experience and vow

avoid the things that would tempt you avoid the things that would tempt you to commit it again in the future.to commit it again in the future.

Tests make us stronger!Tests make us stronger!

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It is good for man to be It is good for man to be alone?alone?

Ecclesiastes 4 Ecclesiastes 4

12 Though one may be overpowered by 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a another, two can withstand him. And a

threefold cord is not quickly broken.threefold cord is not quickly broken.

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How Jesus Was Tempted #1How Jesus Was Tempted #1Matthew 4 Matthew 4

3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones are the Son of God, command that these stones

become bread.“become bread.“

Lust of the flesh (an appeal to the senses of Lust of the flesh (an appeal to the senses of our physical bodies):our physical bodies):

Greed:Greed: the appetite for some things can become the appetite for some things can become insatiable…the more that we have, the more that we feel insatiable…the more that we have, the more that we feel that we need (want).that we need (want).

Gluttony: Gluttony: (Loose morality); Can be riotous eating, but not (Loose morality); Can be riotous eating, but not necessarily so necessarily so

Lust:Lust: coveting something of which you have no right to coveting something of which you have no right to

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The Reaction of Christ:The Reaction of Christ:

Matthew 4 Matthew 4

4 But He answered and said, "It is 4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread written, 'Man shall not live by bread

alone, but by every word that alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"proceeds from the mouth of God.'"

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How Jesus Was Tempted #2How Jesus Was Tempted #2

The pride of life (an appeal to the ego)The pride of life (an appeal to the ego)

Matthew 4 Matthew 4

6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son 6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is of God, throw Yourself down. For it is

written: 'He shall give His angels written: 'He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, 'In their hands charge over you,' and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash they shall bear you up, Lest you dash

your foot against a stone.your foot against a stone.

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His Reaction:His Reaction:

Matthew 4 Matthew 4 7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again,

'You shall not tempt the LORD your 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'“God.'“

Exodus 17 Exodus 17 2 Therefore the people contended with 2 Therefore the people contended with

Moses, and said, "Give us water, that Moses, and said, "Give us water, that we may drink." And Moses said to we may drink." And Moses said to

them, "Why do you contend with me? them, "Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the LORD?"Why do you tempt the LORD?"

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How Jesus Was Tempted #3How Jesus Was Tempted #3 Lust of the eyes: (all that we can see…and Lust of the eyes: (all that we can see…and

covet)covet)

Matthew 4 Matthew 4

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an 8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed exceedingly high mountain, and showed

Him all the kingdoms of the world and their Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.glory.

9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will 9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship give You if You will fall down and worship

me."me."

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The Reaction of Christ:The Reaction of Christ:

Matthew 4 Matthew 4

10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him worship the LORD your God, and Him

only you shall serve.'"only you shall serve.'"

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Satan Still Makes Such Offers Satan Still Makes Such Offers Today:Today:

Lust of the flesh:Lust of the flesh: Adultery/fornicationAdultery/fornication Drug abuse/Alcohol ConsumptionDrug abuse/Alcohol Consumption Gluttony of foodGluttony of food

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Satan Still Makes Such Offers Satan Still Makes Such Offers Today:Today:

Pride of life:Pride of life: The desire to be looked up to and admired The desire to be looked up to and admired

among menamong men Might motivate us to take a job that would Might motivate us to take a job that would

hinder us from serving or worshiping God hinder us from serving or worshiping God as we ought toas we ought to

Might entice us to “show off” in front of Might entice us to “show off” in front of friends friends

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Satan Still Makes Such Offers Satan Still Makes Such Offers Today:Today:

Lust of the eyes:Lust of the eyes: The things we want that would detract from the The things we want that would detract from the

amount of time spent upon spiritual thingsamount of time spent upon spiritual things Video gamesVideo games Television/movies/entertainmentTelevision/movies/entertainment PornographyPornography Internet surfingInternet surfing Text messaging/talking on the phoneText messaging/talking on the phone

Do you spend more time Do you spend more time focusing on these types of focusing on these types of

things than God?things than God?

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Four Things That Motivate People Four Things That Motivate People to Act: to Act:

MoneyMoney EgoEgo

ConscienceConscience IdeologyIdeology

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““It won’t happen to me…”It won’t happen to me…”1 Corinthians 10 1 Corinthians 10

4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that

Rock was Christ.Rock was Christ.5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for

their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

Matthew 24 Matthew 24 24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and 24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and

show great signs and wonders to deceive, if show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.possible, even the elect.

Colossians 3 Colossians 3 12 Therefore, 12 Therefore, as the elect of Godas the elect of God, holy and beloved, , holy and beloved,

put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;meekness, longsuffering;

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““It won’t happen to me…”It won’t happen to me…”

Galatians 6 Galatians 6

1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any 1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore trespass, you who are spiritual restore

such a one in a spirit of gentleness, such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be considering yourself lest you also be

tempted.tempted.

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Be Watchful!Be Watchful!

Matthew 7 Matthew 7 15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to 15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are

ravenous wolves.ravenous wolves.

2 Peter 2 2 Peter 2 1 But there were also false prophets among 1 But there were also false prophets among

the people, even as there will be false the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring teachers among you, who will secretly bring

in destructive heresies, even denying the in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on Lord who bought them, and bring on

themselves swift destruction themselves swift destruction

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Conclusion:Conclusion: Let’s not forget to use the tests that God may send Let’s not forget to use the tests that God may send

our way to make us spiritually stronger.our way to make us spiritually stronger. Let us remember how Jesus responded to satan Let us remember how Jesus responded to satan

while tempted by him. while tempted by him. Let’s remember the lessons we learn from the Let’s remember the lessons we learn from the

temptations of Jesus:temptations of Jesus: Satan will appeal to your senses:Satan will appeal to your senses:

Your egoYour ego Your IdeologyYour Ideology Your desire for money, or the things of this worldYour desire for money, or the things of this world He may even use your very conscious against youHe may even use your very conscious against you (He pits you against yourself from within) and Jesus said in (He pits you against yourself from within) and Jesus said in

Mark 3:25Mark 3:25 "And if a house is divided against itself, that "And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”house cannot stand.”

God requires you to be obedient to Him.God requires you to be obedient to Him.