Deuteronomy 6:13-16; Matthew 4:4-11
Introduction:
Weapons of warfare come in many shapes and forms. Weapons are designed to fend off attacks from an adversary and to give one the means to protect them-selves. The Bible tells us, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds,” (2 Cor. 10:4).
The fact-of-the-matter is the enemy will try to build “strong holds” in the lives of people. As in the case of our lesson today, he even tried to advance his cause against our Lord Jesus Christ. But, our Lord knew how to deal with his evil intent. He, being “the Word” (John 1:1, 14) annihilated his advances by the Word.
Today’s lesson really emphasizes the need for the Word of God to be active, alive and working in the lives of every born-again believer. Through this text we can be encouraged to fight like the Master fought and to gain “Victory Over Temptation.”
Deuteronomy 6:13-16 “Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.”
Poised and in position, the children of Israel are finally ready to enter into their long-awaited land of promise. The last time this group of people came to these borders some of them were not even thought of yet Some who were here before are no longer now for they perished in the 40 years of wilderness wanderings. “They could not enter in because of unbelief,” (Heb. 3:19, also read vss. 16-18).
Now, Moses stands before them to reiterate God’s laws and God’s ways for this people who are about to enter their land of promise. Moses reminds them of their history, their failure and His promise. But, Deuteronomy 1:32 says, “Yet in this thing ye did not believe the LORD your God.” There was a denial of His Word and a lack of faith in believing in what He said He would do.
Now therefore prepare to go into the land the Lord gave your fathers, listen and obey….Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you,” (Deut. 4:1-2). With that he continues to teach the people in the law of God, even to the point of reviewing the Ten Commandments with them again (Deut. 5:1-22).
In (Deut. 6:10-11), Moses issues a great, big “BEWARE!” The reason being, with all these blessings they are warned “lest you forget the LORD, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt,” (Deut. 6:12), something that people are prone to do when they are blessed.
Lest they be tempted, they needed to remember what His Word; His commandments already say on the subject.And, they say, “Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God.” This “fear” that Moses speaks of is not only a shaking- in-your- boots kind of fear but it also speaks of being in reverential awe of Him for who He is. It’s centering one’s worship on Him. It is a requirement for His people! Deuteronomy 10:12 states, “What doth the LORD require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” Ecclesiastes goes on to include it along with following of commandments as the “whole duty of man,” (12:13). It is required! It is your duty!
“And serve him.” Because of whom He is and all that He has done for us, we are commanded to lend of ourselves to being wholly committed to “serve” Him. We give of ourselves to His cause. Paul puts it like this, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service,” (Rom. 12:1). It is something that Psalms says we should do with “gladness,” (Ps. 100:2). “And shalt swear by his name.” God is not giving people permission to use His holy, wonderful name in a wrong way. Umm, no! His name is to be above all others. As a matter of fact, Exodus 23:13 commands His people to “make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.” God is the one and only true God. Those that worship God respect His name and trust in Him alone,
All others are false. They are an abomination. They are made of man-made materials and ideas. “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king . . .,” (Jer. 10:10), and as such, He demands total devotion.
“(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.” There are serious consequences that result in going against God to seek another. He will not tolerate it! Period. End of discussion. God will not share His worship or spotlight with any! 1 Corinthians 10:21 says, “Ye cannot drink of the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.” Then, the apostle Paul goes on to ask, “Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?” (1 Cor. 10:22). Perhaps, it’s a question we all should ask ourselves daily.
“Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.” In Exodus 17 the people rose up against Moses. Moses’ response was “Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?” (Ex. 17:2). Verse 7 tells us, “He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?” They tested God’s faithfulness to them. Despite the miracles, the plagues and the great deliverance they saw by His hand and might, they tested God. Moses reminded the people that God is not pleased by this type of an attitude. He wants people to believe in His faithfulness; to believe in what He says He will do; to believe in His Word.
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” “Bread,” or anything that this world can offer is only temporary. As soon as it is digested, it’s gone. Done. Over. Our Lord showed us not to seek the temporary solutions in life. They don’t last no matter how appealing it may appear or no matter how desperate one’s situation may be. How many times has one fallen for the temporary just to regret it later? There is something greater and more enduring. Eternal substance is found in “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God,” (see also Deut. 8:3).
“Every word.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” God’s Word can satisfy more than a temporary hungering. It is “profitable” for “all good works.” Job 23:12 says, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”
“Get thee hence, Satan.” Ephesians 4:27 teaches us, “Neither give place to the devil.” Jesus showed how there can be no tolerance for the things that go against the will of God. Some versions call it a “foothold” (NIV). Jesus showed us how we must live this life God’s way without compromise.
Matthew 4:11 “Then the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”
In James 4:7 we are taught to, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Jesus modeled that here. He thwarted every attack of the enemy through the Word of God. He resisted every attempt that was brought to Him. “Then the devil leaveth him.” This shows how true God’s Word is and how effective it can be in our everyday battles and struggles in this life if we would just employ it. Jesus showed us how to hold on to the Word when everything seems to be caving in around you and how to apply it to the situation you are dealing with.
“Angels came and ministered unto him.” Jesus, just like in the Garden of Gethsemane during His arrest, could have called on angels to come at His beck and call. Instead, He patiently endured His times of trial and held onto the Word of God and resisted the temptation to step out of God’s will. As a result, now they “ministered unto him.” Now, the help He was receiving was perfectly in line with God’s will for His life.
Conclusion:
Staying in God’s Word and trusting in it through the hardest times of life will give you “Victory Over Temptation.”
Matt 15:1-11, 18-20
Introduction:
Much to the chagrin of man, the world does not revolve around him. Nor is it built on his ideologies or word. The world and all that are in it were created by the original Word of God. God spoke and things began to be and to exist. He called forth and authored the beginning of all.
What God says and does takes precedence over everything else. No other can compare in His power, might or authority. What He says goes. What He says is final. What He says is law. Man has, since the beginning of time, tried to overstep what God has already said, leading him in a downward spiral of degradation. God’s law; His word will always stand as the final truth to all and will never, despite his best efforts, be usurped by man.