Mourning, a Blessing?

                                                        MOURNING, A BLESSING?

(Words From the Mountain)

 We started a series called Words from the Mountain, based on the Sermon on the Mount. After witnessing the powerful demonstration of God's Kingdom, crowds followed Jesus. When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up a mountainside. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them these powerful, counter-cultural, and life-transforming teachings of God's Kingdom. His teaching included eight pronouncements of blessings, known as the BEATITUDES.

The Beatitudes and the rest of the teachings show how Christ followers are supposed to live in this World according to God's Kingdom principles. This past week, we examined the first Beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Being blessed in this verse doesn't refer to material wealth or success. The Greek word for "Blessed" means to be fully satisfied through the indwelling presence of Christ.

We will now examine the second Beatitude in Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Like the first, this sets the believer apart from the rest of the World. In fact, the World would see this statement as completely foolish—"Blessed are those who mourn!" The World generally tries to avoid mourning. The overall focus of the World is on being happy and carefree, seeking maximum pleasure through any means.

People fear death, struggle with sorrow and grief, and often do not know how to mourn when someone passes away. Instead of mourning properly, we tend to focus on celebrating the person's life. What did Jesus mean by saying, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted"? Our Lord didn't say, "Blessed are those who mourn over someone's natural death, will be comforted." Instead, He referred to spiritual mourning, as we learn from the first Beatitude, that the poor in spirit are not financially poor but spiritually impoverished.

Similarly, this Beatitude isn't about our physical life and death in this World, but rather focuses mainly on our spiritual condition. Many biblical passages discuss mourning over loved ones' physical death and how the God of all comfort consoles us during our grief. In this context, God cares more about our souls. This Beatitude emphasizes mourning over the state of human souls. Is there a blessing in spiritual mourning, and what does it look like? Matthew 5:1-4

I. Mourning, a Blessing?

Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Let's take a closer look at this. In the first Beatitude, the blessedness depends on recognizing one's spiritual poverty or helplessness. In the second, the blessedness comes to those who mourn their own sins and the sins of others. First, let's examine how this personal mourning works.

In the OT, the Israelites quoted a proverb that said, "The parents eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?" Ezekiel 18:2. The sour grapes here refer to the sins of the fathers and their negative effects on future generations (Numbers 14:18). The Israelites, quoting this proverb, instead of taking personal responsibility, blamed their ancestors for their sins.

As if God were tired of hearing it, He wanted to eliminate such a flimsy excuse through the prophet Ezekiel. Ezekiel 18:3-4, "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel. For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die."

Let's not underestimate the devastating consequences of parents' irresponsible behaviors on their children. For instance, the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes, "unfortunately, abusing drugs while pregnant can have several effects, such as fetal development, birth defects, risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and other physical and behavioral problems, such as difficulties with concentration, attention span, and general conduct."[1] Though children may face consequences because of their parents' sins, ultimately, God holds each person accountable for their own sins, and they must face eternal consequences. Therefore, we need to stop playing the blame game, as Adam and Eve did, and start taking responsibility for our own sins and repenting. In doing so, we will experience God's blessings.   

In the Bible, there are several examples of people who took responsibility for their sins and were comforted, as well as those who didn't repent and faced consequences. Consider these notable Old Testament figures: King Saul and King David. Saul was a typical example of someone from a humble background who rose to the throne of Israel and became a King.

Although he achieved significant victories for the Israelites, he was unable to conquer his inner enemies, such as anger, jealousy, fear, and revenge, nor did he repent for his own sins. Ultimately, he was rejected as king and took his own life amid a war against the Philistines. (I Sam 9-31). On the other hand, David also started humbly and, through God's providence, rose to become king of Israel at age 30, succeeding Saul. He ruled over Israel and Judah for 33 years. (II Sam 5:4-5). Still, he also struggled with his own sins, especially with Bathsheba.

When Prophet Nathan confronted David about his adultery with Bathsheba and the killing of Uriah, David repented of his sin. Instead of passing the blame, he took responsibility for his own actions, saying, "I have sinned against the Lord." (II Samuel 11-12). He lamented over his sin as he wrote a Psalm, begging for God's mercy and forgiveness. Psalm 51:1-12

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely, I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

David's mourning and repentant heart earned him the reputation of being a man after God's own heart. Acts 13:22. What sins are you hiding? David knew fully well that he could not hide, so he said, "You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you." Psalm 69:5

Psalm 32:3-5, "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night, your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Pro 28:13, "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy." Could you hide your sins from God? He knows and sees them fully well. Therefore, before you face consequences, you mourn, repent, and plead for God's mercy. "Godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation, leaving no regret." II Corinthians 7:10

 We struggle greatly when we live with unconfessed and unrepentant sins, but through mourning and repentance, we will be blessed. The blessedness we experience is the salvation of our souls, the joy, healing, and health that come with that. This Beatitude doesn't stop at seeking our personal salvation; it also includes mourning for others through intense intercession.

II. Mourning and Interceding for the Salvation of Others.

            The scriptures have many examples of people who mourned and interceded for the salvation of others. From the beginning, God has been greatly concerned about humanity's sins. The Lord was grieved in his heart when he saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth. Gen 6:6-9. He decided to wipe out all of them, but he found one righteous man, Noah, and through him, He not only saved the creation but also the human race.

            Abraham pleaded before God for the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. Gen 18:16-19. Jesus, in his high priestly prayer, prayed not only for himself and his own disciples, but also for the unsaved people in the World. John 17. He left us this mission to intercede for others' salvation.

            I Timothy 2:1-4, I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

The scriptures tell us we are to have the attitude of Christ. As the first two beatitudes call us, let's empty ourselves to be filled up by God. Let's mourn not only our own sins but also the sins of others, so that we will be comforted and the world will be a better place.

 

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[1] https://www.addictionresource.net/substance-abuse-in-families/parental-drug-use/ 5-8-2026

Spiritual Zeros Enter God's Kingdom

                                                       "Spiritual Zeros" Enter God's Kingdom

Words From The Mountain

In 1972, a young Egyptian businessman named Farahat lost an $11,000 watch. He was shocked when a garbage man dressed in dirty rags found it and returned it to him. Farahat asked him why he didn't just keep the watch. The garbage man said, "My Christ told me to be honest until death." Farahat later told a reporter, "I didn't know Christ at the time, but I told [the garbage man] that I saw Christ in him. I told [him], 'Because of what you have done and your great example, I will worship the Christ you are worshiping.'"

Farahat studied the Bible and deepened his faith. Two years later, he visited the village outside Cairo where the garbage man lived, home to between 15,000 and 30,000 people living in poverty and filth. There was no electricity or running water. Farahat found himself reflecting on the words of Jesus: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Soon afterward, Farahat and his wife began ministering to people's spiritual and material needs. They preached the gospel throughout Egypt, and thousands of people turned to Christ.

In 1978, Farahat was ordained by the Coptic Orthodox Church and became known as Father Sama'an. Today, about 10,000 believers gather in a large cave outside the garbage village. It is the largest Church of believers in the Middle East. In May 2005, a day of prayer was held for Muslims to turn to Christ. Over 20,000 Arab Christians attended. The event was also broadcast on a Christian satellite TV network, reaching millions."[1]

All of this happened because one humble garbage man chose to do the right thing: returning a watch that could have made him the richest man in town. That act led Farahat to Christ, who was later inspired by the Sermon on the Mount and guided many to follow Christ. We are starting a new sermon series called "Words from the Mountain." Let's explore how these powerful words of Jesus from the Mountain will transform our lives. Matthew 4:23-5:1-4

I. Introduction to the Words From The Mountain (Sermon On The Mount)

The words from the Mountain are the Words of Jesus Christ from His very first Sermon, which is popularly known as "The Sermon on the Mount, which is more than the Beatitudes.

"Sermon on the Mount, along with the Ten Commandments, Psalm 23, the Lord's Prayer, and a few other Biblical passages, are acknowledged by almost everyone to be among the highest expressions of religious insight and moral inspiration."[2] Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation of India, was inspired by it. For he said: "Sermon on the Mount went straight to my heart. It left a deep impression on my mind when I read it." What really impressed Gandhi in the Sermon was Jesus' teaching: 'Resist not evil.' So he often quoted from Matt 5:39."[3]

Unfortunately, some Christians argue about these very teachings of Christ, saying that they were only meant for the twelve disciples and not for everyone. Some say they are outdated, ridiculous, and no longer relevant, and yet others say they are too difficult to follow. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who wrote an entire book on the Sermon on the Mount, has this to say:

"Clearly our Lord was preaching to these men (the twelve disciples), and telling them what they were to do in this world, not only while He was here, but after He had gone. It was preached to people who were meant to practice it at that time and ever afterward." There is nothing, therefore, so dangerous as to say that the Sermon on the Mount has nothing to do with modern Christians. Indeed, I will put it like this: It is meant for all Christian people. It is a perfect picture of the life of the Kingdom of God."[4]

This was what Lloyd Jones further envisioned: "If only every Christian in the Church today were living the Sermon on the Mount, the great revival for which we are praying and longing would already have started. Amazing and astounding things would happen; the world would be shocked, and men and women would be drawn and attracted to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."[5] Keeping that in the background, let's explore the Eight Beautitudes that instruct us on how to live our Christian faith in a highly secular and polarized world. Today, we will look  at the first Beatitude, "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

 

II. Spiritual Zeros Enter God's Kingdom.

After overcoming the temptations in the Galilean wilderness, Jesus began preaching about the Kingdom of God throughout the region. He demonstrated the Kingdom's power by healing people of all sicknesses and pain, and delivering them from demonic oppression.

Great crowds that were touched by God's power followed Him, along with His disciples.

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the mountain to bring his disciples and the people one step closer to following Him, so he delivered this life-changing, counter-cultural message. Vs. 3, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven." What does it mean to be poor in spirit, and why does being poor in spirit qualify us for the Kingdom of heaven?

Dallas Willard coined a contemporary term for the poor in spirit: "spiritual zeros," people with no spiritual qualifications or abilities at all. You would never call on them when "spiritual work" is to be done. There is nothing about them to suggest that the breath of God move through their lives. They have no charisma, no religious glitter or clout."[6]

Being blessed in this verse doesn't amount to material wealth or success. The word for "Blessed" in Greek means to be characterized by the quality of God. Someone is blessed when he is indwelt or filled by God and his nature. He is the one who has God's Kingdom within him.

With this very first Beatitude, Jesus set a standard for anyone to enter into God's Kingdom: upon this blessedness, follow the rest of the blessings. According to Lloyd Jones, being poor in spirit means emptying of one's "self, ego, and pride." It is a complete absence of pride, self-assurance, and self-reliance."[7]  

Our Lord showed us how this emmptying of oneself would look like in Ephesians 2: 5-7, "have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

When we empty ourselves, we become spiritual zeroes, receiving God's Kingdom and His dwelling in our hearts. It is like you can not fill a glass that is already full; it has to be emptied first to be filled again.

Similarly, God will not fill someone full of themselves with his presence. We cannot enter God's Kingdom through our good works. When we come to the end of ourselves and reach the point of emptiness in our self-efforts, we become prime candidates for God's assuring presence and will enter into God's eternal Kingdom. Poor in spirit are those who recognize that there is nothing in them that saves them from their sin except Christ alone and His grace alone.

 When we confess our sins and accept Jesus as our Savior, God fully empties our sinful hearts, makes us a new creation, and treats us as if we had never sinned. At that very moment, if we had died, we would have gone straight into his presence and to live with Him in heaven forever. For most of us, that has not been the case; we have continued living, so God also continues this process of emptying our hearts until we are fully full of Him and look like Him.

Spiritual zeros are the primary recipients of God's Kingdom. We see many of them in the scriptures, church history, in today’s world, and even here at Hope Church. Jesus, during His earthly ministry, often overlooked so-called spiritual heroes and spent time with spiritual zeros. 

It was not often the scripturally learned Pharisees, Sadducees, the teachers of the law, who responded to his call to repent, but the tax collectors, the dejected, the prostitutes, the lepers etc repented and entered into God's Kingdom. Jesus was called the friend of sinners (spiritual zeros). Here is Jesus' verdict on those who hear the gospel, time and again, yet do not repent.

Matt 21:31-32, Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of you. ³² For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him." Are you a so-called proud spiritual hero or a humble spiritual zero? Whatever you are, there is Hope!

 

 

 

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[1] Joel C. Rosenberg, Epicenter, Tyndale House Publishers (2006), p. 206

[2] Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy,  Page 98.

[3] https://www.mkgandhi.org/articles/mahatma-gandhi-and-sermon-on-the-mount.php

[4] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon On The Mount, Pages: 10,11

[5] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon On The Mount, Page 23

[6] Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, Pages 100-101

[7] D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon On The Mount, Page 40

The Lust Of The Eyes & Pride Of Life

                                           THE LUST OF THE EYES & PRIDE OF LIFE

Dress Temptation

Struggling to make ends meet on a limited salary, a Christian husband was furious when he confronted his wife with the receipt for a $250 dress she had bought. "How could you do this?!" "I was outside the store looking at the dress in the window, and then I found myself trying it on," she explained. "It was like Satan was whispering in my ear, 'You look fabulous in that dress. Buy it!'" "Well," the husband replied, "You know how I deal with that kind of temptation. I say, 'Get behind me, Satan!'" "I did," replied his wife, "but then he said, 'It looks fabulous from back here, too!'" We all need to learn how to resist the subtle temptations that come our way.

We began exploring the three BIG temptations that Jesus overcame before He began His public ministry, as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. We learned how Satan tempts us through legitimate needs. Today, we will examine "The Lust of the Eyes and Pride of Life, as the apostle John called them in 1 John 2:15-17. What do Jesus' temptations mean? The three temptations by Satan were not the only ones. We see in Luke 4:2 that the Devil tempted Him for forty days.

I. Jesus Made Fully Human

Some Bible scholars suggest that the temptations Jesus faced fall into three main categories of human temptation. Not much is written about Him from the age of 12 until He began His ministry. As a young Jewish boy, he may have helped in Joseph's carpentry workshop.

He might have graduated from a local rabbinical college, earning him the title of a Rabbi.

Like many young people, He may have struggled with youthful temptations. Paul, writing to the Hebrews, highlights Jesus' humanity. Hebrews 2:17-18, "For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." Let's see how Jesus overcame the two most common temptations we face.

II. Pride of Life: Wanting to Appear Important (Matthew 4:5-7)

Matthew 4:5-7, "Then the Devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." Jesus answered him, "It is also written:

'Do not put the Lord your God to the test." The scene has changed from the wilderness to the holy City of Jerusalem. The Devil took him to the highest point of the Pinnacle of the temple and said, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down." Why did the Devil take Jesus to the Pinnacle of the temple and suggest that he throw himself down? I suggest a couple of reasons.

Firstly, the temple's prime location. The Pinnacle of the temple was probably a roof with a portico at the southeast corner of the temple complex, where a massive retaining wall reached a level well above the temple mount deep into the Kidron valley. The Jewish historian Josephus notes it was a drop of 450 feet. Satan quoted Psalm 91:11-12, tempting Jesus, "For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." This was God's promise of angelic protection against the evil one. It is not about testing God's faithfulness.

Secondly, to abort Jesus' Messianic Mission even before it began. One of the last Messianic prophecies was found in Malachi 3:1, “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the Lord Almighty.

Fast forward 400 years, and the Jewish people were awaiting God's messenger to suddenly appear in the temple. Imagine this scenario: Jesus jumped off the Pinnacle, which is 450 feet high.

As he fell rapidly, God's angels carried him on their wings, and the crowds watched in shock and might have said, "Here is the Messiah we had been waiting for." Wouldn't that have been a historic moment? If Jesus had given in to his human ego and jumped off the Pinnacle instead of becoming the Messiah, he would have been instantly killed.

Jesus fully understood who He was and how He would fulfill His mission. He didn't need to prove anything to anyone, especially to the Devil, so He resisted that temptation by quoting another OT scripture from Deut 6:16, "It is also written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test." What can we learn from Satan's subtle temptation that appeals to our ego and pride?

Let us humbly accept that, by nature, we are proud people. We want to appear prominent and live in the limelight of success and pompous circumstances. Seizing that inner desire, Satan tempts by appealing to our pride. An arrogant or self-important attitude often precedes a catastrophic mistake, failure, or loss of status. Many have fallen prey to the temptation of pride, ruining their lives. Regrettably, I know several Christians, including successful Christian leaders, who have given in to the temptation of pride and done foolish things; as a result, they have lost their marriages, families, ministries, and credibility. Remember, pride goes before a fall!

III. The Lust of the Eyes: (Wanting all things for yourself)

Matthew 4:8-9, "Again the Devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the World and their splendor. ⁹ "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." By now, the Devil has realized he couldn't tempt Jesus in the area of his identity, so he chose to tempt him in the area of his mission or work.

His mission was to save the World, and the Devil offered a shortcut by showing him all the kingdoms and their splendor in an instant. All Jesus needed to do was bow down and worship him. Gaining the World by just bowing his knee may have seemed appealing to Jesus.

Who wouldn't want an easy way to gain the World without hardship, in this case, avoiding the Cross? Jesus didn't fall for the trap. Once again, for the third time, Jesus drew the sword of the Spirit to resist the Devil, Matt 4:10, "Jesus said to him, 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.' Then the Devil left him, and the angels attended him." I like to imagine the angels might have brought Jesus some roasted beef and bread baked on hot stones!

The lust of the eyes is the sinful desire to possess what we see or to have those things that have visual appeal. The Devil tempts us using this avenue. He offers the World to us with a promise of happiness and fulfillment. Soon, we find ourselves running after material wealth at the cost of losing our faith. A media-saturated world advertises heavily to catch our eyes.

A child of God must realize that "All that glitters is not gold, and use discernment not to fall into the temptation of the lust of the eyes. Paul warns young Timothy to be careful of this enemy's trap in I Timothy 6:9-10, "Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

If we believe the lies of the enemy instead of worshipping and serving God only, we mindlessly do the Devil's bidding for what He offers us in the World. We need to choose whom we shall serve: God or the Devil? You can't serve both. In all three core temptations of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, Jesus successfully defeated the Devil's schemes as He employed God's Word as a weapon. By doing so, Jesus showed us how we, too, become overcomers. The Devil is a defeated enemy! In Christ, we are More than Conquers! By using His Word, the Sword of the Spirit, we can successfully overcome temptations. Amen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temptation # The Temptation of Legitimate Needs

 

Three BIG Temptations

Temptation# 1. The Temptation Of Legitimate Needs

 

How does temptation come? Sometimes, with lots of warning and time to think, we may succumb or resist after much deliberation. At other times, temptation presents itself in a few moments, and we react, making a quick decision to follow or flee from wrong desires.

Sudden temptation was what one man experienced when he walked into a suburban Chicago Walgreens in June of 2011. According to the Chicago Tribune, a security video shows him walking up to an ATM in the store, setting his drink down, and doing his banking. He then leaned over and picked up his drink and did a double-take at what he saw on the floor. There was a bag with a Chase Bank logo, filled with cash and checks. According to the Tribune, the security video shows that "he pauses for a moment, his eyes riveted to the floor. Then he takes a long look around, picks something up, and slips out the door."

The man got in his car with the money and drove away. The bag contained over $17,000. By the time he had driven to his home suburb, some 45 minutes away, he had time to weigh his decision further, and, realizing he had probably been captured on video, he decided to turn the money in to the bank, according to the Tribune. Unfortunately, he also decided to lie about where he found the money. He walked into a Chase bank in Rolling Meadows and said he had found the money at a mall in Rolling Meadows.

The story hit the newspapers. Writer Burt Constable says that the man was featured in newspapers around the world, gave interviews to radio and TV stations, was hailed as a hero on websites, received a gift basket and small gifts from strangers, was the object of romantic inquiries, was repeatedly asked about a reward, and even drew high praise from a nun for being so honest.

The Rolling Meadows police weren't so sure. It didn't take long to learn where the money had actually come from, and the FBI was brought in to aid in the investigation. A few weeks later, the police confronted the man with the truth, and he confessed to what had happened. He was fined $500 for filing a false police report. Far worse, no doubt, was the embarrassment he suffered as the real story also hit the newspapers.

After the truth came out, he admitted in an interview, "I did have that thought in my mind (upon finding the money): Yes, I could do a lot with that. I considered that to be the human reaction to seeing a large sum of money in front of me."[1]

Free money can be very tempting to anyone. If someone offers you one million dollars for an exchange of your integrity and good reputation, what would you choose? We are all given the power to make the right choices. How are we using it? We are continuing our study of the Gospel of Matthew. We will explore the three BIG Temptations that Jesus faced in the desert before beginning His ministry and how He overcame them. Matthew 4:1-11.

 

I. The difference between Testing & Temptation and their Origin.

Biblically, there is a fundamental difference between testing and temptation. Testing is a process used to prove someone's progress. In contrast, temptation is an enticement, an inner pull, an entanglement, or an invitation to sin and disobey God's will. God tests us to find out what is in our hearts, whereas Satan tempts us to sin against God, ourselves, and others.

 

Where do most temptations come from? There are two avenues by which we are tempted: One from Satan, who is also known as the tempter, and our sinful self. Paul calls Satan the god of this world. II Cor 4:4, "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."

Jesus described Satan's true nature and intentions. John 8:44, "You belong to your Father, the devil, and you want to carry out your Father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the Father of lies. If someone is a perpetual liar, you can easily tell who is influencing them. By nature, Satan is evil; so all evil originates from him.

There is another avenue we are tempted by: our own selfish desires. James 1:13-15, "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." We sin because of our selfish desires and lack of self-control.

Temptation in itself is not sin, but yielding to it is. The enemy may tempt you, but cannot force or make you sin. Heb 4:15, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin."  Let's see which weapon Jesus used to overcome the devil's temptations.

 

II. The Temptation of the Lust Of the Flesh (Matthew 4:1-4)

Matthew 4:1-4, "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

If you are a serious Bible student, you may wonder why Jesus needed to be led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Is this how God always orchestrates temptations, or was Jesus' situation exceptional? God allows His followers to be tested, as He did with Job in the OT, for a good purpose. Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted to demonstrate how we can resist the temptation to sin, and how we, too, can overcome

Many Bible scholars suggest that the specific temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness represent three main categories of all human temptation. The apostle John labeled these as "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16). The first temptation is the lust of the flesh; the devil tempted Jesus by appealing to His legitimate need for food. The tempter, another name of Satan, challenged Jesus's Sonship and suggested that he would turn the desert rocks into bread and satisfy his hunger. What is wrong with that challenge and suggestion?

 

III. Jesus' Sonship was being Challenged!

The premise of Satan saying, "If you are the Son of God was faulty. Satan knows that Jesus indeed is the Son of God. By challenging his identity, Satan was trying to make Jesus doubt who he really is. But Jesus was secure in his identity. God the Father affirmed him at the baptism, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Mat 3:17. What a powerful affirmation of love and acceptance from God the Father to Jesus, which came before Jesus did any ministry, facing the devil face-to-face or the crucifixion.

 

 

Similarly, the devil could make us doubt whether God truly loves us and that we are His sons and daughters. The truth of the matter is that God loves us regardless of whether we have done anything for Him. He gives us the right to become his sons and daughters because we believe in His Son. If the devil tells us anything different, it is a lie, and we must reject it.

 

IV. The devil can tempt us through our legitimate needs.

Have you ever fasted a full day without food? How hungry would you be by the end of the day? Now imagine Jesus fasting for forty days and nights, how ravenously hungry He must have been? Jesus was legitimately hungry, and the devil suggested an illegitimate way to satisfy that need by turning the stones into bread. How often have we turned stones into bread to satisfy hunger? That doesn't work that way, right? Jesus knew who He must listen to and follow!

So, He rejected Satan's appeal by speaking the truth from the Scriptures. Jesus answered the devil, saying, "It is written Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Satan pursued Jesus to listen to him, but Jesus was determined to do His Father's will alone. The truth of this scripture is that the survival of humanity depends on physical bread and also God's Word. No doubt that God would have us work hard for our bread and butter, but we must never forget God, who is the true source of our strength and wisdom.

 Whoever you are, we all have legitimate needs for food, sleep, sex, clothing, and shelter. God would have us meet those needs in the right way. They can be hard, but in the end, they are good for us. On the other hand, the devil could offer many illegitimate ways to meet those needs, such as stealing, corruption, gambling, selling drugs, human trafficking, cheating, etc.

They may be easy and appealing ways to make money, but in the end, they affect relationships, rob us of joy and health, and damage our reputation. So, who and what is our defense against the devil's evil schemes? It is God and the Sword of the Spirit, His Word!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] "Video Doesn't Lie," Chicago Tribune (7-1-11); Burt Constable, "Arlington Hts. man hailed for honesty charged with lying to cops," Daily Herald (6-30-11) 

On The Road Of True Hope

                                                            On The Road Of True Hope

                                                                        Luke 24:13-27 

Humans seek Hope like moths seek light. It's intrinsic to who we are. Neuroscientist Tali Sharot argues that Hope is so essential to our survival that it is hardwired into our brains, and that it can be the difference between living a healthier life and one trapped by despair. Studies show hopeful college kids get higher GPA's and are more likely to graduate.

Hopeful athletes perform better on the field, cope better with injuries, and have greater mental adjustment when situations change. In one study of the elderly, those who said they felt hopeless were more than twice as likely to die during the study follow-up period than those who were more hopeful. It's pretty clear: Hope is powerfully catalytic, which is why Dr. Shane Lopez, the psychologist regarded as the world's leading researcher on Hope, claimed that Hope isn't just an emotion but an essential life tool."[1]

Andy Crouch notes in his book, "Human beings can live for forty days without food, four days without water, and four minutes without air. But we cannot live for four seconds without Hope."[2]That very Hope seems to be fading in our world these days, amid raging wars, economic hardships, and uncertainty. More and more people are becoming hopeless, living in despair, and committing suicide. In these tragic and frightening circumstances, where can one find true Hope?

Who can turn our mourning into dancing? On this Easter Sunday morning, we will meet two travelers, metaphorically speaking, traveling on a Road of False Hope. It seemed like all their dreams and hopes had been dashed. The one they looked up to was killed. On their Journey, they were met by a third traveler who encouraged them, opened their eyes to reality, raised their hopes, and gave them tools and helped them travel On The Road of True Hope. Luke 24:13-27

I. On A Road Of False Hope (Luke 24:13-24)

            On the same day as Jesus' resurrection, two of his disciples were traveling back to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem. They may have visited Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. They were talking among themselves about everything that had happened there in the last several days. As they journeyed, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; at that point, the disciples were unable to recognize him. Jesus asked them, what are you talking about?

            You could see disappointment on their faces, and they looked confused. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem? Did you not know that the things that happened there these days?" Jesus asked, " What things? As though Jesus didn't know anything. About Jesus of Nazareth, they replied, then they narrated everything about his powerful teachings, miracles, the triumphal entry, and the events leading up to His Crucifixion.

            Listen to their sense of despair in their voice, "But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place." Lk 24:21. In addition to that, our women said, they didn't find the body in the tomb, and He was alive. Our companions also confirmed that the tomb was empty and they didn't see Jesus.

            What caused their disappointment? Was it the Person they looked up to and relied on? Or that they had wrong expectations and false hopes? They misunderstood who Jesus truly was and what He came to accomplish. From a worldly point of view, they saw Him as an earthly king who would fight for them, redeem them from the bondage of the Roman Empire, and establish a kingdom of peace and prosperity. They were traveling one-way on a road of false hope.

How about you? Which road are you traveling on? What dreams are you pursuing? Who are you looking to realize your hopes? These days, there is so much emphasis placed on dreaming BIG. A couple of quotes that inspire us to think, dream, and achieve great things.

"All successful people, men and women, are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal or purpose." —Brian Tracy.

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."—Walt Disney.

 

These two quotes sound great to quote, but in reality, they can be misleading. They are missing something; where is God in them? You may work very, very hard and have all the courage, yet they may never be realized, because their premise and focus are wrong. If our self-centered interests are the main driving force behind our dreams, we end up disappointed.

In my opinion, all dreams and hopes, including the American dream, that are void of God leave us disappointed. I like the title of Russell Moore's Easter message: "This Easter Let's Lose Our Hope." The essence of his message is that we let go of our false and illusive hope of worldly success, peace, security, and prosperity, and remind ourselves that our Lord already has shown us the way out of the false hope and the way into the True Hope."[3]

II. On The Road Of True Hope (Luke 24:25-27)

            Returning to the discussion of Jesus with his disciples on the road to Emmaus, upon hearing their confusing narrative, Jesus rebuked them. "How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory? Then He explained, "beginning with Moses, and all the prophets to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself."Luke 24:25-27.

As we journey in this world, just like those disciples, we can be influenced by our culture and the circumstances around us. Though we may be sincerely following Jesus and reading His word, we can still be foolish and slow to believe and act accordingly. Some Christians build their lives on false teachings of health and wellness, which can lead them to disappointment. Then who could set us free from false hope and sustain us On The Road Of True Hope?

III. Jesus is our unseen traveler on the road of True Hope. (Luke 24:28-35)

            As the story continued, "they approached the village, and Jesus continued as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them." Lk 24:28-29. At that point, they still could not recognize who their fellow traveler was; however, they wanted him to be their guest.

            That very guest became their host. Luke 24: 30-32, "When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight." They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?   

             What a powerful reminder comes to us this Easter Sunday morning. On whose foundations are we building our lives? If our hopes and dreams are only about this world, you are bound to be disappointed. The leaders of this world may give us hope for this life, but they can never offer true hope for eternal life. Our true hope in Jesus Christ guarantees us eternal life.

            I Peter 1:3-4, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you." Who will be our traveling companion? It will be our forerunner, Jesus.

Jesus is walking with us by His Holy Spirit. Romans 5:1-5," We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

           

 

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[1] Drake Baer, “What Good Is Hope?,” The Cut (12-27-16)

[2] Andy Crouch, "The Gospel of Steve Jobs," Christianity Today (1-21-11)

[3] Russell Moore, This Easter Let’s Lose Our Hope, Page 30, Christianity Today March/April 2026