The Temptation of Christ

[0:00] Matthew chapter 4 this evening.

[0:14] And while you're turning there, it's going to be a very familiar passage to you, but some things we want to look at here.! You know, it's, of course, every generation is an interesting generation because you get different things that come along.

[0:29] Some good, some not so good. But in the generation that we're living in, so fast-paced, so digital, everything you see is digital and right there at your fingertips.

[0:45] And so it gives to us a lot of things that really take our focus, don't they? And so many things that can steal our focus away from the Lord and the things of God.

[1:03] So the question we have to face is, how do we handle that? You know, we can't just go hide in a closet and I dare you to try to take your cell phones away from your kids or grandkids and go sit in the closet for a while.

[1:18] You know, how do we handle being pressured by so many things? And as I said before, not everything's bad. You know, Hebrews, what, 12.1?

[1:30] Seeing where it comes about with so great a cloud of witness, let us lay aside the weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us. We know what sin is, but the weight, you know, I told you before, that in the Greek means swelling superfluous flesh.

[1:50] It's not good on a runner. You know, so it's just things that clutter our lives, that get in the way of us being able to focus on the things of God and His desire for our lives.

[2:04] So how are we going to deal with that? Well, Jesus gives us a good pattern here. A good pattern in Matthew chapter 4. A very familiar, again, as I said, a very familiar text, and we want to take a look at that for just a little bit this evening.

[2:21] I see. I did change watches, by the way, and the second hand is sweeping fine on this one, as well as that one. Now, I didn't realize, I didn't notice until this morning after the service, this is up here.

[2:35] I'm ashamed of Michael, Pastor Mike. I'm ashamed of him. I'm going to have to get him on to him about that. A church with too many clocks is not good. That's from a preacher's standpoint.

[2:48] Amen. All right. So stand together with me. Let's read just a portion of the Scripture here tonight, beginning in verse 1, and let's take a look. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

[3:05] And when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, he was afterward and hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

[3:18] But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

[3:52] Jesus saith unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them.

[4:08] And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou will fall down and worship me. Then said Jesus unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan, For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

[4:26] Then the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him. Pray with me. Father, again, thank you for your goodness today. It's a continued manifestation of your love and grace toward us, for which we are so grateful.

[4:42] And now again, thank you for the time you've given us together this evening, and ask that as we open the word and look into it, that you will speak to our hearts once again, and then enable us as well to respond to you in the midst of it.

[4:54] And we'll thank you for what you do now, in Jesus' name. Amen. Thank you, and be seated if you will. As we open up chapter 4, we back up to the end of chapter 3, and realize that the fact that Jesus now, according to Mark's gospel, is driven, not just led, but driven by the Spirit into the wilderness.

[5:20] This comes right after the time of his baptism at the River Jordan by John the Baptist. Again, at the last portion of that chapter, of chapter 3, in verse 16, it says, That is really kind of a reiteration of what he said to Israel over in Deuteronomy chapter 18.

[6:03] In that particular passage, in verse 15 of that passage, we see God saying to the nation that he will raise up, Moses' writing says, God will raise up a servant, a prophet rather, God will raise up a prophet like Moses, like me, Moses says, Him will you hear.

[6:27] And then we switch over, of course, looking at the Lord Jesus, there being that prophet. And so in Hebrews then, chapter 1, the writer of the Hebrews, relating to the idea of who Jesus is, and speaking of him throughout that book, says this in verses 1 and 2, God who at sundry times and in divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us, King James says, by his Son, literally, it is in Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom he also made the worlds.

[7:08] When the writer says, God now speaks to us in Son, it's the idea that's not only by what Jesus says, but it's by what he does as well that God speaks to us.

[7:22] So yes, it's important for us to read and see what it is that Jesus has to say to us through the scriptures, but also, as vitally important, to see what he does, how he responds to circumstances, the things that he performs, all of those things are ways that God the Father then speaks to us.

[7:47] You remember on the Mount of Transfiguration, as we mentioned this morning, with Peter, James, and John, a voice is heard by them from heaven that said, this is my Son, the Beloved One, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have pleasure, is the idea.

[8:05] Hear ye Him. So, it's apparent that God the Father has made Jesus the Son the focal point of everything He wants to do in revealing Himself, His purposes, and His plans to mankind.

[8:25] So we see Jesus now as the voice, if you will, of the Father revealing the Father to us. So, it's important for us to see then in chapter 4 what Jesus does and what He says.

[8:40] for us to get that pattern that He sets forth for us as how we are to respond then to the things that try to steal our focus away from the things of God.

[8:56] Now, having enshrined Himself in humanity, taking on the body of flesh, He is now driven into the wilderness by the Spirit of God, according to Mark.

[9:07] and there He's to suffer hunger and suffer temptation, if you will. It's not only, it's only fitting then, really, according to Scripture, that the Lord Jesus would begin His earthly ministry in that way.

[9:23] Hebrews chapter 10, excuse me, Hebrews chapter 2, rather, notice the passage with me in verses 9 and 10. Hebrews chapter 2, verses 9 and 10.

[9:35] This is what we read. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man.

[9:50] Verse 10, For it became Him for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons into glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering.

[10:06] How is it possible that it's necessary for the very Son of God, though in humanity, to be brought to completion or perfection through the idea of suffering?

[10:20] Well, realize with me, again, as we mentioned this morning, that He does everything in His earthly ministry in His humanity, directed by and empowered by and energized by the Spirit of God.

[10:33] Now look over in chapter 5 of Hebrews. Well, we'll begin in verse number 5, Hebrews chapter 5. Take note. So also Christ glorified not Himself to be made a high priest, but He that said unto Him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten Thee.

[10:55] As He hath said in another place, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, who in the days of His flesh, that's Jesus, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong cryings and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death and was heard in that He feared, though He were a Son.

[11:16] That's the idea of being a Son by nature. That's the idea then pointing toward His deity. Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience through the things that He suffered.

[11:31] Again, learning obedience through the things that He suffered. Verse 9, And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him, called of God and high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

[11:48] Now the idea is this. Jesus is going to hold the office of the great high priest. in order to really be able to satisfy, if you will, the requirements of being that great high priest, He had to learn obedience.

[12:07] And He had to learn obedience by the means of suffering so that He could hold that office of great high priest. Again, He goes on in His book here, the author does, and talks about since He suffered then, He is able to come to the aid of those that cry for help to Him.

[12:29] So it was necessary for that. Realize, again, Jesus in His humanity, He has never, He has never been disobedient to the Father, never has, never will.

[12:42] But in His humanity, He's got to go through suffering to learn this thing of obedience. obedience. So this is, you know, this is something you and I need to look at closely.

[12:55] Because before obedience can come, there's got to be a surrender of the will. A surrender and submission of the will before we can ever be obedient to the Lord.

[13:08] And that's what we picture in the life of the Lord Jesus in His humanity. He was completely, forever, and always submissive to the will of the Father, whatever that might be.

[13:23] And He surrendered Himself to that. So we likewise must do the same. And we see Jesus as our pattern for that. But this is more than simply a test of obedience.

[13:35] It was an example for all believers to not only look at and see, but to emulate as well. Now, notice the attempt here that's made in the passage we read to create an allure of earthly material things to Jesus.

[13:54] And it's the same things, of course, that you and I are confronted with to a certain degree. So, we've got to learn how to battle that same conflict that Jesus did in His temptation experience here.

[14:11] How do we respond to those allurements? Do we recognize them for what they are? Whether they're good or whether they're bad things. Do we realize that these are things that are attempting to change our focus away from the things of God?

[14:32] So, how did Jesus respond? Well, notice with me that His motivation for it all is at the root of everything. and that motivation is seen in John's Gospel chapter 4.

[14:45] If you want to turn there, you may. John's Gospel chapter 4. Here's the passage where Jesus says, I must need go through Samaria, which the Jews did not do.

[14:59] At every attempt to travel, they would always go around, be sure to go around that area. But Jesus says, there's a necessity here now for me to go to and through Samaria.

[15:13] And that's where He confronts the woman there at the well. And she discovers then that He is Christ the Messiah. In that process, the apostles, being men, realize it's getting lunchtime and it's time for us to eat but we don't have any food.

[15:35] So they go into town and buy food. And while they're gone, He speaks with the woman of Samaria. They then come back and recognize what's going on.

[15:49] And they bid Jesus, you know, it's time here to eat. Here's some food we brought from McDonald's and it's time for you to eat your Big Mac. Alright? What did Jesus say?

[16:01] Look in verse 31 if you will. In the meantime, while His disciples prayed Him saying, Master, eat. But He said unto them, I have meat to eat that you know not of.

[16:15] Literally, I have meat to eat that you don't know its virtue. You don't know what it is. My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish His work.

[16:32] I love that passage. My meat, the thing that satisfies me, the thing that gives me nutrition, if you will, spiritually speaking, is to satisfy the will of the Father.

[16:51] To satisfy the will of God. That's what His delight, that's what His desire is. And that's what His motivation was throughout His earthly ministry.

[17:01] To completely satisfy the will of the Father. That was His compulsion, that was His purpose, and that was His determined focus. He was not going to let anything else stand in the way of that being accomplished.

[17:18] So here's one of the keys to all of this that takes place. Jesus possessed such a depth of desire in pleasing the Father that even His humanity took a back seat.

[17:33] As you all well can notice, you know, I do my best not to skip a meal. Amen? In fact, my wife, Calvita, she just, you know, can't understand that, guys.

[17:49] She can't. You know, we'll be doing something. We might be getting busy during the day and forget lunch. How can that happen? I don't know. But then, you know, come, come, we'll eat dinner at 530 or 6 or whatever, and then later at the night I'll have to have something to snack on because I didn't have lunch.

[18:09] Amen? Dinner was lunch as far as my body was concerned, so it needs something else later on in the evening. Amen? Gentlemen? Thank you.

[18:20] All right. In fact, in fact, it was yesterday, wasn't it? Yeah, yesterday. I've been in the process for about a month now, building a short little retaining wall inside of our yard, and I was working hard yesterday afternoon to get that puppy done, and I got it done.

[18:42] I finally got it finished, finished, and lo and behold, I did not realize, walked in that door, what time was it, 4, 4.30, something like that, and all of a sudden, Ted, I realized I had not stopped to eat lunch.

[19:00] lunch. She said, well, she said, I thought about going out there and asking you if you want a break for lunch, but I did, I knew you wanted to get it finished, so, you know, so I went without lunch, but boy, did I pack it in for dinner.

[19:20] Yeah, all right. Now, the whole purpose then in this temptation, and by the way, it is the temptation, the solicitation to sin, is what is the word temptation there.

[19:35] The whole purpose of that again, as I said, is to steal his focus and purpose from that of the heavenly father, and he did so by appealing to his humanity, and of course he does the same for us.

[19:48] So, we set the stage for his humanity. He's led up, driven by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted to solicit, can't get that word out, to solicit to sin, to alter his obedience and submission to the father, same as he does for us.

[20:10] But, he faced that temptation in order to show that his holiness was such that he could not be swayed or seduced away from his allegiance to God.

[20:23] The first Adam was subjected to the temptation of the devil, he fell into sin, and he then, of course, involved the entire human race in sin and in ruin.

[20:35] God was was necessary then that the second Adam, the redeemer of the race, face temptation as well, should be subjected to the same tempter in order that he might be seen that there's no power at all that could alienate him from God, that the kind and degree of holiness that he possessed was such that no scheme or power could remove his allegiance from the father or his purpose.

[21:03] nothing could and nothing did and nothing would. Now notice, when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, this was not a superficial ceremonial fasting here, folks.

[21:18] It's not what this was. I genuinely believe that the fasting here came as a result of his focus in his communion with the father in that 40 day and 40 night period.

[21:35] I think he was so caught up with dealing with the father and his will, whatever he was requesting of the father, possibly asking for strength in his humanity to do what he's going to do here, whatever it may have been, we have no record.

[21:53] But he was so focused on that, that his humanity didn't even play a part in that, not even hunger. Same thing happened with Moses, you recall, the second time God called him up to Mount Sinai to write another table, more tables of stones to replace the ones that were broken.

[22:14] He was there 40 days and 40 nights and he fasted that 40 days and 40 nights as well. And so, being so focused on the things of God and the person of God himself in communion with him makes everything else dissipate in our, out of our focus, if you will.

[22:36] Now, for us, having come to saving faith in Christ, entering a new life in Christ, he's lifted us to a higher ground to a higher plane, as the song says, and that changes our focus and our heart.

[22:53] Remember what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians chapter 5. You can turn there if you want. Another familiar passage to you. 2 Corinthians chapter 5. Verse 14 says, For the love of Christ constraineth us.

[23:09] In other words, it shuts us up to one line and purpose. Now, because we thus judge that if one died for all, referring to Jesus, then we're all dead, and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again.

[23:31] Wherefore, henceforth, know we no man after the flesh. Yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation or new creature.

[23:48] Old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new. Now, remember what he's saying here. Paul is saying, before I came to know Christ, before I entered into this new spiritual life with Christ, I saw things through human eyes, through fleshly eyes, earthy eyes, if you will.

[24:08] But he said, when I got saved, when Christ came into my life and changed my life, I began to see things differently. I began to think differently.

[24:21] I had a different perspective, and that was the perspective of God, because he is now indwelling within my life and heart. So he said, I then see things differently.

[24:34] I view people differently. Instead of through human earthy eyes, I see them through spiritual eyes, if you will. that's again, energized by the person of the Holy Spirit.

[24:50] So, he's lifted us to higher ground. In Colossians chapter 3, Colossians chapter 3, in verse 1, the Apostle Paul says, if or since ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

[25:12] That's the idea of being constantly seeking the things of God. Constantly seeking those things that are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.

[25:25] Set your affections on things above, and not on things of the earth. Set your affections there. Direct your mind toward the things above, not on things of the earth.

[25:39] And the reason being, for you are dead. You're dead, if you will, to this earthiness and sin, but you're alive unto God.

[25:52] Your life is hid with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

[26:05] That's what he has made you and me. Now, that's why we can look at this COVID thing and everything else from a different perspective than earthy people can.

[26:19] We can see it from God's perspective and realize what's going on here. So, we've got to face our humanity the same way Jesus did.

[26:30] To recognize it for what it is, it's being flesh, and then put it into proper perspective. Romans chapter 6 is the perspective that we're to have.

[26:43] I tell you what, if we could master Romans chapter 6, our life would be so completely different. Amen? It really would.

[26:55] Because in Romans chapter 6, Paul talks about the idea that we have been crucified with Christ. Of course, he starts that passage by saying what shall we say then, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

[27:11] God forbid! How can we that are dead to sin live any longer therein? Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

[27:26] Therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life.

[27:37] For if we've been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Now, look at verse 6. Knowing this, that's a key phrase there, knowing this, coming to that deep seated and settled conviction of the reality of this, all right, in your own knowledge, knowing this, that our old man, everything we were in the old Adam, is crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, or really the word is annulled, that we henceforth should not serve sin, for he that is dead is freed from sin.

[28:29] So, if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him, knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more, death hath no more dominion over him, for in that he died, he died unto sin once, but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

[28:47] So, verse 11, likewise, reckon yourself indeed dead unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ.

[28:59] reckon yourself, hold it to your account, that you are dead to sin, but alive unto God through the Lord Jesus.

[29:12] Tremendous, tremendous truth that he gives to us there. So, Jesus then, knowing who he is, faces the temptation to sin in the weakness of his humanity.

[29:26] humanity. Boy, when the body's weak, the thoughts are difficult to gather, are they not? How many can think well when you're really hungry? If you're a man, you think about something good cooking, amen?

[29:41] Now, having just been declared by the Father to be the Son, the beloved one, Satan then appeals to his deity, if thou art the Son of God, if that's who you really are, then do such and such.

[29:57] But yet, his ministry was to be conducted in his humanity, empowered and directed by the Spirit of God, as we said before.

[30:08] So, Satan confronts Jesus with each of the categories of sin that John in his first epistle writes about. In 1 John chapter 2, notice what and remember what John says to us here.

[30:23] 1 John chapter 2, verse 15, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of this world.

[30:44] The world passes away in the lust thereof, but he that do it the will of God abideth forever. Each of the three categories here is what Satan tempts the Lord Jesus with.

[30:56] If you are the Son of God, order these stones to become bread. I mean, after all, you fasted 40 days and 40 nights, and you really, really, I can just picture this here, you really, really got to be hungry, Jesus.

[31:13] so command these stones to be made bread, if you are indeed the Son of God. Now, the lust of the flesh, that which appeals to the natural man.

[31:30] Then, the lust or the passion to desire, that's what the word lust means, you realize, passionate desire of the eyes. It's that which is designed merely to gratify the sight.

[31:44] It satisfies itself with the idea of contemplation here. Contemplating something. You all have done that, I've done that, you know, you know. If only this could take place, here's what could happen.

[32:01] That's the idea of contemplation here. And that is, if you will, the lust of the eyes. It's satisfied with contemplating, it represents a higher desire than that of the lust of the flesh because it seeks mental pleasure where the other is simply physical gratification.

[32:21] Satan then showed him all the kingdoms of the world and all their glory and said unto him, all this will I give you if you bow down and worship me. I could hear him say, just contemplate that a minute.

[32:34] Just think about the possibilities here. If I give you all these kingdoms of the world, if you worship me. And then the pride of life. Whatever there is that tends to promote pride, that is an insolent and empty assurance that trusts in its own power and resources and shamefully despises and violates divine laws and human rights.

[32:59] It's an impious and empty presumption that trusts in the stability of earthy things. the devil taketh him up into the holy city, setteth him on the pinnacle of the temple, saith unto him, if thou be the son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against the stone.

[33:28] But notice what John says about these. They're not of the father. They don't originate with God. They do not lead toward God. They're of the world. Here's where they begin, flourish, and end.

[33:42] And also they'll corrupt the mind, divert it from the pursuit of God, render it utterly incapable of experiencing spiritual understanding and enjoyment.

[33:55] These held no allure for Jesus. I mean after all, he was the creator of it all. Amen? He possessed it all already, so no allure there.

[34:07] He knew who he was and he lived in that reality. So likewise, they have no need to hold an allure for you or for me.

[34:22] Now, I want you to notice something else here. Resting in the allure with the word of God. notice how Jesus responds here.

[34:35] Every instance that's recorded for us in scripture of the temptation of Satan, he would say, it is written.

[34:46] I think it interesting as well that Satan did the same thing. It's written and then he would say what's written. But Jesus would combat that by saying it is written.

[34:58] Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. I think it interesting that that is the first thing that he is confronted with.

[35:13] You know, Satan knew because he's hungry he might do that but Jesus knew. Here's at the outset where I can combat all of this.

[35:24] Man shall not live by bread alone. But he'll live by every single word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

[35:37] And then the other temptations as well. The same thing. It is written. Here's what God says about all of this. This is not simply the idea of quoting scripture out loud.

[35:54] God. It's not what this is. You see the word of God held such a place in the life of the Lord Jesus that he was living what the word of God says.

[36:09] That's what he did. It's like a doctor. Let's see if we can use this for an example. It's like a doctor. You go to the doctor with an ailment and you go in there and sit down with him and say doctor I've got an ailment.

[36:26] I've always thought it crazy. You walk into a doctor's office you're there because you're not feeling well and the first thing he says is how you doing? Amen. You tell him what your ailment is and then he does some checking about some things examination and all of that and then he'll sit down with you and say here's what you've together show me is your difficulty is your problem you see it's natural for him to do that I'm kind of surprised that in their street clothes they're not still wearing a stethoscope but it's natural for them see with Jesus it was the natural thing for him just to tell Satan what God said and in doing so intimating the fact that this is what I'm going to do this is how

[37:27] I'm living by what God says shows to us right off the bat the importance of the word of God and how it's placed within our lives go back to the book of Colossians chapter 3 Colossians chapter 3 verse 16 let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord that the words of Christ dwell in you richly the word dweller I think I've mentioned it to you before the word dwell there is a word that simply means to be made to feel at home amen yeah to be made to feel at home if you were to invite us to your house and you were just really friendly amen and you loved us so much you just couldn't stand not having us over and feeding us a great dinner and then after that great dinner you would say let's go into the living room where we can relax ah okay and so we go sit down and to my wife's chagrin

[38:56] I would kick off my shoes and put them up on the coffee table that's feeling at home amen how many of you men can do that with your wife's gracious permission Wes is the only one that raised his hand all right well fellas you're going to have to get on the ball here but seriously that's the idea the word of God needs to have free access to our heart and our mind and that's the idea here unbridled access to our heart and mind so God can speak to our heart speak to our minds through the word and we can then not only see what he expects of us and what he wants to do in us but then we can see that as

[40:05] God's word and so that gives us impetus to let him do what he says to us in the word of God to free us to liberate us from those things that are a road block and clutter our lives and get in the way of satisfying the will of God yeah yeah so tomorrow when you're driving down the road and you got somebody in front of you that just won't get out of the way amen what are you going to do you're going to sit there and honk your horn and say to yourself get out of the way or are you going to remember what the scripture says and spontaneously say to yourself you're to love your neighbor as yourself amen yeah yeah and that's the idea here go through all of life's circumstances and letting the word of God speak to our heart and living the word of God to such a degree that we automatically respond in the way

[41:15] God thinks through the circumstances we find ourselves in that's why Paul again in Romans chapter 12 says stop being conformed to this world to be transformed how by the renewing of your mind so that you can prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God now let the word of God dwell in you richly that word richly is the idea of abundantly having a good knowledge of the scriptures you realize the spirit of God works in our heart and mind in accordance to the word of God the spirit of God will only work through the word of God in our lives to the degree that we know the word of

[42:17] God you ever think about that yeah because whatever the amount of scripture we know that we have in the recesses of our mind he can pull out at any juncture and remind us what God is saying here about this circumstance that's why it's imperative for us to know what the word of God says and to be in the word of God we should be in the word of God more than anything else we ever read or see or listen to yeah so we'll know what God says we'll know how God thinks and be able to respond through the word of God just like Jesus did that's how he resisted the allure of

[43:17] Satan to the things of the world and then Philippians 4 8 says for the rest this they have the amplified version for the rest brethren whatsoever is true whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly whatever is just whatever is pure whatever is lovely and lovable whatever is kind and winsome and gracious if there be any virtue and excellence if there is anything worthy of praise think on and weigh and take account of these things fix your mind on them in other words let the word of God program your mind and best your heart!

[44:02] how many love computers how many despise them how many can get by with them okay yeah yeah but it's amazing to me you can you can have that computer and you can go to a certain app on your computer and it's already programmed to come up naturally all right if it's working right yeah and you treat it right yeah because you've already used it in that particular program and so you click on that and boom there it is again you've got a file that you've been using you go right to I do that when I when I when I type up sermon notes I use my laptop and and because that's where I've got my Bible software I'll use it and you know got the little zip drive stick it in there and come up with a file and there it is right where

[45:04] I left off that's the way the word of God needs to be and that's the way the things he talks about in the passage in Philippians there the things that are good and wholesome and right and pure thinking on those things will program our mind to begin to think that way so that our life then will be manifesting the grace and goodness of God because of the word of God that's transplanted or that has transformed our mind and our thinking resisting the allure of the things of the world and doing that through the things of God I gave this out on our Wednesday night study a good number of months back I forgot what I even studied it might have been the study in Malachi I don't remember it seems like maybe so but it's a prayer that A.W.

[46:07] Tozer prayed and wrote years ago and here's what it says he said father I want to know thee but my coward heart fears to give up its toys I cannot part with them without inward bleeding and I do not try to hide from thee the terror of their parting I come to thee trembling but I do come please root from my heart all those things which I have cherished so long and which have become a very part of my living self so that thou mayest enter and dwell there without a rifle then shalt thou make the place of thy feet glorious then shall my heart have no need of the sun to shine in it for thyself will be the light of it and there shall be no night there in Jesus name amen what a prayer that is amen

[47:12] I got saved when I was 21 years old still a young whippersnapper amen but I had had 21 years of living of life now you know mom and dad got saved a number of years earlier started going to church and so we were in church I was a church kid even thought at that time I'd been called to preach you know how that kind of goes but finally came to the realization one night one day one evening at a revival meeting in which I was leading music that I really had not been saved I've been fighting that for a long time so finally gave my heart to the Lord Jesus for 21 years my life was governed by the natural man within me thankfully the natural man within me had some upbringing and some teaching that had some good upstanding and moral teaching to it so as a result

[48:23] I was a good kid amen I was now you can debunk that all you want to and you could have asked my mom and dad but they're both gone to be with the Lord so you'll have to take my word for it amen but still in that 21 years my mind thought the way the natural man thought the older I get the older I got the more so so when I got saved just like you guys when I got saved the spirit of God then had to go to work within me to change how I thought and the only way he could do that was for me to focus on what God said and in what he said through his word showing me the things that I needed to relinquish for his glory that's why

[49:26] Tozer said you know I hate to give up my toys and it makes me bleed to think that I have to give them up but he knew he had to to fully satisfy the will of God likewise we do too that's what's called surrender amen surrender and submission to the will and purposes of God let's pray together father again thank you for your love and grace thank you for the goodness of the evening and time in your word again father your word is so rich to us so filled with goodness so filled with your purposes your plans your instructions to us lord we realize that we still have within us the natural man that wants to dethrone the spirit of God but father I pray that you will enable us to stay yielded and focused to you surrendered to the work of the spirit of God to do his work within us so that we more and more might begin to think like you in order to allow you then and enable you to work out your determined purpose through our lives and we'll thank you and praise you thank you for these precious folks lord I just thank you for the church you put together here and continue to build and I pray

[50:58] God that you will keep us a sweet fellowship that's focused on you and your word to be able to glorify you and we'll thank you for it all in Jesus name amen God bless you