Temptation - Sermon Preview - 3-7-25
Temptation.
It is a reality of life. We all experience temptation
Jesus experienced temptation
Jesus resisted temptation by relying on God’s word. We can too.
Amen.
That’s the “It’s so simple – just do this and everything will be fine” version of temptation.
But doesn’t it seem hollow, arrogant and irrelevant as advice to anyone?
Let’s dig a little deeper.
Let me take you on a tour of how an early hearer of the first part of the account of Jesus’ temptation from Luke 4:1-13 would likely react – and how one today might react. I’ll use different voices to express the two times. The first one will be from the past and the second one from today. Any perceived bias in my voice is intentional.
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit . . .
Oooh! Just like Elijah and Moses – they were completely connected to God
Hmmm, just like the pastor at that really big church that just built a huge new building. Or maybe it’s more like the people who faint on TV.
. . . was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.
Wait! The Spirit led Jesus from a place of blessing to a place of danger? Is that right?
Where the Spirit leads – we must follow
And there’s so much more. Sunday.