First Sunday in Lent : TEMPTED?

March 1, 2009 ~ First Sunday in Lent

LENTEN SERIES: The Road to the Cross
SERMON: Tempted?

FIRST READING Mark 1:9-15
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, 13 and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

SECOND READING Psalm 25:1-5
PS 25:1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

PS 25:2 in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.

PS 25:3 No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.

PS 25:4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;

PS 25:5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

SERMON: Tempted?
INTRODUCTION
Mark is the briefest of the gospels in reporting the events of the 40 days that follow Jesus’ baptism. To get a fuller account of those days, go to the gospels of Matthew and Luke. But our focus today is Mark’s report. After a very public act of commitment Jesus had a deep and meaningful spiritual experience. He became aware of God’s love and approval. He heard God say—“You are my son…” Jesus felt the empowering Holy Spirit fall upon him and move him to a place of solitude. [Jesus] was in the desert forty days… And in this time of solitude Jesus realized his utter dependence upon God—because during these 40 days Jesus was …being tempted by Satan. The very one who enticed the first people in the Garden now approaches Jesus in this arid dry wasteland of the desert.
Mark tells us precious little, but the fact that Jesus was tempted and resisted the temptation was important to the early church. And in the early centuries of the church (in the 400s) historians tell us that 40 days were set aside for Christians to reflect on their own vulnerability and be strengthened to resist temptation. During these 40 days they also learned from Jesus how to live in this world—how to glorify the Father who is in heaven. These 40 days were the weeks before the annual celebration of the resurrection. But this period of time, these 40 days called Lent, were regularly interrupted with a weekly celebration of the resurrection each Sunday. Sundays are not counted as a part of the 40 days.
To set these Sundays in Lent apart and to consecrate our hearts and our minds to the Lord we will begin each sermon with a chorus: Open Our Eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus...

HEART
Sometimes we put Jesus on such a high pedestal as “Son of God” that we have difficulty imagining that he could be tempted to fall short of God’s expectations.
But we know that he was tempted. Heb 4:15 says the one who intercedes for us
(that is, Jesus) has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
Temptation is NOT SIN. We sin when we give in to temptation—when we settle for less than God’s best—when we fail to live up to God’s expectations—when we compromise God’s purposes. Reading from Hebrews 2:18 Because [Jesus] suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
That is a good scripture to memorize so that when we are tempted, we can boldly call upon the Lord, knowing he understands and is able to help. Scripture says that temptation is common to all people. Our hearts are fickle. Created as companions to the Creator, created in the very image of God, we ought to learn from the sins of previous generations so we don’t have to repeat the same sins. 1 Cor 10:11-13 preserves examples of unacceptable behavior from Israel’s history. These are warnings to us of the consequences of misguided devotion and poor choices. Then in v12 we are encouraged to take our human frailty seriously. ...if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
Don’t try to live in your own strength. Temptation comes. This world deceives our hearts and blinds our minds. We can easily be lured away from the purposes God intended for us. But rest assured v13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to [other human beings.] And God is faithful; [God] will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, [God] will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
God gives us opportunity to escape temptation but we must accept what God offers. This reminds me of the story of the man stranded on the roof of his house after a flood, with the flood waters still rising. A boat comes and attempts to rescue him but he turned them away saying, “No, the Lord will save me.” This happened two more times and each time the man on the roof repeats the same bold statement of faith. “No, thank you, the Lord will save me.” Eventually the man grows weary, looses his grasp, falls off the roof and drowns. In heaven he asked God, “I had such great faith. Why didn’t you save me?” God replied, “I sent three boats and you refused each one of them.”
The point is, God provides a way for us to resist temptation—to flee the Tempter—to overcome the Deceiver—to defy the Lie. BUT we must be discerning enough to know this is God’s provision. We must receive God’s help and climb off the roof and into the boat.
God offers us an opportunity to stop fantasizing about that Eye Candy. We
say, No thank you, I'll cling to this roof a little longer.
When we repeat the Lord's prayer our conscience reminds us to give up the bitterness and revenge we are harboring in our heart. And we say, No, thank you. I'll cling to this roof a little longer.
The Lord's prayer reminds us of God's daily provision, but we cling to that worry about tomorrow's provision as if our worry could make a difference.
Many of us are more self-conscious than we are God-conscious and the Lord says to us, 'I created you to be in relationship with me—not to worry about what others are thinking about you.' And we say, No thank you, Lord. I'll cling to this old image of myself—and remain paralyzed with my self-consciousness.'
God provides a way out of temptation but we must accept it and thank God for it. One step in overcoming temptation is to be spiritually discerning, KNOW who you are and know whose you are. Jesus had just heard the voice from heaven say: “You are my son, my Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus knew he belonged to the Father and that the Father loved him. To overcome temptation we must understand the spiritual authority we have in Christ. We must let the reality of our new spiritual position permeate our hearts and our minds—our emotions & our intellect—just like Jesus did in that desolate place.
Look at Colossians 3:1-3 1Since… you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above… Your affection and devotion belongs to another realm …where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
In our relationship with Christ we devote our hearts and our minds to spiritual matters. Of course we live in this world—in this world but not 'of this world.’ In Christ we have a new priority—we have set our minds on things above—and when we adjust our focus, we want to make God’s way our way. Our cravings, our desires, our emotions, thoughts of revenge, that streak of greed and stinginess, our worry about tomorrow—all these thoughts are less tempting. 3 For you died... You were buried with him in baptism! ...and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Life is redefined--and now all of life is lived from a different perspective.
KNOW who you are in Christ—and know what God thinks of you. You are a child of God—loved and empowered to live a righteous life. We know from Matthew and Luke that Jesus resisted temptation. He resisted the deception of the Evil One by quoting scripture, by knowing God’s heart better than the Deceiver did.
The psalmist knew the importance of LEARNing from the Lord. He wrote in Psalm 25:5 ... guide me in your truth and teach me... We are equipped to resist temptation when we have a heart yielded to the Lord and are open to learn from him.
In 1 John 2:27 it says the Holy Spirit teaches us today. As we go about life the Spirit will nudge us—bring a scripture to our mind—open our mind to a new understanding—point us in a different direction. With the Spirit teaching us, we can make the words of the psalmist our personal prayer—guide me... and teach me. But this prayer implys that we are willing to submit to the Lord and FOLLOW his leading.

CONCLUSION
Finally, regardless of the circumstances—we resist temptation when we remain true to what we KNOW about God and what we know about who we are in Christ.
We overcome temptation when we continue to LEARN from the Lord, when we continue to be
pliable in the Lord's hands, expecting the Spirit to teach us and guide us.
We turn our back on temptation when we FOLLOW the Lord's leading. We actually get off the roof and into the boat—and I suggest you take the first boat that comes along because it is only grace if more than one way of escape is offered!
But regardless of the circumstances Mark tells us that HELP is provided. Even when we feel deserted—alone—tempted—surrounded by danger—whatever the circumstance—spiritual help is provided. Jesus was in physical danger [wild animals surrounded him], but God's messengers, angels, attended to him. (Mark 1:13)
Are you tempted to settle for less than God's best? Of course you are.
Does God provide a way out? Of course God does. So get off the roof and accept God's provision that is in Christ Jesus.
If you have not accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, take care of that today.
Make a public confession and prepare for baptism. If you are a Christian, but don't have a church family, come join us.We need you and you need a church family. There is strength in fellowship. This is the time to renew your commitment to the Lord and to the church.
Stand and sing two verses of the hymn of invitation. This is a good day to make a new beginning.

HYMN: Yield Not to Temptation ~ two verses.