FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT- YEAR-C

I Reading: Deuteronomy 26:4-10: The Creed of the chosen people.

II Reading: Romans 10:8-13: The creed of the Christian.

Gospel: Luke 4:1-13: Jesus was led by the Spirit through the wilderness and was tempted there.

The Temptation of Jesus: Victory Over Temptation, Lk 4:1-15

Victory over temptation is essential before we can live and minister for God. No temptation has ever confronted man that Jesus Christ has not confronted. This is seen in this passage. In Him confrontation, Jesus reveals what lies behind each temptation and how to conquer it. Once it has been conquered, we can then live a victorious life and serve God effectively.

1. Being prepared to serve God (v.1-2)

a. By being filled with the Spirit

b. By spending time along with God

c. By being tried and tested

d. By fasting and prayer and alms giving

e. By reading the Word of God

2. Tempt. 1: To meet the necessities of life by His own power (v.3-4)

a. Satan’s temptation: To misuse His power

b. Jesus’ answer: Man needs  more than bread-he needs God’s life or spiritual food

3. Tempt. 2: To seek His ambition by compromise (v. 5-8)

a. Satan’s enticement: He shows the world’s possessions and glory

b. Satan’s claim: He controls world and its glory

c. Satan’s offer: He will give the world to anyone he wills

d. Satan’s condition: A person must worship and follow him

e. Jesus’ answer: He must worship and follow God alone

4. Tempt. 3: To prove himself through sensationalism (v.9-12)

a. Satan’s temptation

          1) To choose another way

          2) To misuse and twist the Scripture to suit his own ends

          3) To give people sensations-a religion of feelings

b. Jesus’ answer: God is not to be tempted-God’s way alone is to be followed

5. Conclusion: Satan left Jesus for a while (v.13-15)

a. Jesus’ great power

b. Jesus’ great fame

c. Jesus’ great ministry

Thought: There is nothing wrong with ambition and desiring to fulfil one’s calling in life. The wrong is found in following Satan (evil) when tempted to satisfy one’s desires and ambitions instead of following God.

Thought: The armor of God is the glorious provision God provides for the believer’s victory over temptation (Eph 6:10-20)

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