Temptation to Doubt
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 20th March 2010
Passage: Matthew 4:1-11
00:00:00 --> 00:00:09 Well, good evening all. If you'd like to keep your Bibles open there at Matthew 4, I'm going to pray that my voice holds out.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:23 Father, as we look at your word, I pray that you would just pour your spirit out upon us, Father, that we might see Christ and trust in who he is and what he's achieved for us on the cross.
00:00:23 --> 00:00:39 Lord, as we struggle to be your disciples, as we doubt on those matters that your word is trustworthy and true, moment by moment I pray, Father, that you would hold us, that we might stand firm, that we might know that Christ is there.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:44 And so, Lord, also pray that my voice would hold out to the end of this sermon. Amen.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:51 Some years ago, Nat and I were shopping at Macquarie Centre.
00:00:51 --> 00:00:56 We picked up a couple of items. Why is that cheery? I've heard that cheery a couple of times.
00:00:57 --> 00:01:00 Oh, you live there? What, in the shops?
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 We're shopping at Macquarie Centre. We picked up a few items.
00:01:10 --> 00:01:11 I took them to the counter to purchase them.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:17 And, you know, as you do, you have a ballpark figure in your head as to, you know, roughly what this is going to cost.
00:01:17 --> 00:01:24 And so I went there and went to the counter, got the credit card slip, out it came, started to sign away.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:30 And I noticed that it was probably $20 or $30 less than what I'd anticipated.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:38 And I finished paying for the stuff, got my bag, got my docket, and I'm walking to the door.
00:01:38 --> 00:01:42 And I'm looking at the docket, looking at the bag, looking at the docket, looking at the bag.
00:01:42 --> 00:01:46 And then I realised that they hadn't charged me for one item.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:51 They had taken the security tag thing off it, but they hadn't charged me for it.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:54 And so, what do you do?
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 You know, I'm almost at the door.
00:01:59 --> 00:02:04 The door's opened, and I think to myself, it's their mistake.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 Myers has got a lot more money than I've got.
00:02:09 --> 00:02:10 They've got a lot more things than I've got.
00:02:10 --> 00:02:11 Look at their shop.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 And they wouldn't miss it.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:20 I mean, it's hardly dishonest, is it, when, you know, it was their mistake.
00:02:20 --> 00:02:25 It's not like I picked it off the shelf and put on an extra pair of undies and walked out with it or something like that.
00:02:26 --> 00:02:34 And so, the question was in my mind, rolling over there, do I walk out with this or do I not?
00:02:36 --> 00:02:44 As I approached the door with this free item in my hand, it was at that point that my conscience kicked in,
00:02:44 --> 00:02:47 who, for clarity, will be known as Natalie from here on in.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:57 And she spoke very loudly with the suggestion that it would be equivalent to shoplifting if I was to walk out with it.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:04 And isn't shoplifting stealing and isn't stealing a sin?
00:03:05 --> 00:03:07 So, the first lesson is don't go shopping with your conscience.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:13 But that was it in that moment.
00:03:14 --> 00:03:15 What do I do?
00:03:15 --> 00:03:18 We went back to the counter and I paid for it.
00:03:19 --> 00:03:22 The young lady at the counter was amazed at such honesty.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:24 She was just taken aback.
00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 She said, I want to walk out with it.
00:03:25 --> 00:03:30 I said, yeah, but I'm a Christian and I don't do that sort of thing, so let me tell you about Jesus.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:35 And I felt so guilty now, I felt hypocritical.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:45 In a moment like that, it seems like God is so far away.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:51 It seems like he wouldn't know what it is to be me there.
00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 It's so hard to be a Christian.
00:03:53 --> 00:03:57 It's so hard to obey God's word in that moment.
00:03:57 --> 00:04:05 Sometimes it feels like God is so remote right here, right now, in that moment.
00:04:06 --> 00:04:07 God is up there.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:08 I'm down here.
00:04:09 --> 00:04:11 And all I have to go on is a promise.
00:04:12 --> 00:04:15 All I have to go on is the word of God.
00:04:16 --> 00:04:18 What would God know about temptation?
00:04:19 --> 00:04:23 What would he know what it is to live with just a word?
00:04:23 --> 00:04:26 Well, of course, he does know.
00:04:27 --> 00:04:27 We know that.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:32 The word of promise to Jesus was, you are my son.
00:04:33 --> 00:04:35 At his baptism, you are my son.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:44 And so as we come into Matthew chapter 4, the question would be, will Jesus resist every temptation
00:04:44 --> 00:04:50 to doubt that promise, that word from his father?
00:04:50 --> 00:04:59 The background of these verses is a larger section of Deuteronomy, but specifically we can hone in on Deuteronomy 8.
00:04:59 --> 00:05:04 Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 8 in his first reply to Satan.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 But it says this in verses 1 to 5.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 He says,
00:05:08 --> 00:05:37 And so the context here is that God has taken, he has led Israel out into the wilderness for 40 years
00:05:37 --> 00:05:42 to test them to see whether or not in their heart that they would be obedient to God.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 And of course, what we know is that they failed comprehensively.
00:05:47 --> 00:05:50 They tempted God at Meribah and Massah.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:53 They were idolatrous in the golden calf.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:57 They grabbed at the manna when God said to them, don't store up any more than a day.
00:05:57 --> 00:06:01 They grabbed at it and stored it up and they ignored the word of God.
00:06:01 --> 00:06:11 And so the picture of us here is God leads Jesus out into the wilderness for testing.
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 The question is, will Jesus fail?
00:06:15 --> 00:06:19 Will he fail like Israel has done, like all the other people of God?
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 Will Jesus fail?
00:06:21 --> 00:06:27 Now, Jesus has been declared the new person of God.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:32 That's what happens when the Holy Spirit descended upon him as the form of a dove.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 The dove was a symbol of the people of God in the Old Testament.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:39 And Jesus declared by God to be the true Israelite.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 And now he is out in the desert.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 And will he fail?
00:06:46 --> 00:06:58 And so what we have here is in Matthew 4, we have a fight between the two arch enemies, if you like.
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 Two big arch enemies.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:05 And what is at stake here is not sort of prize money in a big fancy world title belt,
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 but the eternal destination of all people.
00:07:08 --> 00:07:12 The scene is Satan and Jesus are pitted against one another.
00:07:12 --> 00:07:17 They are there in the ring and we are in the stadium watching it all happen.
00:07:18 --> 00:07:20 We're there to cheer Jesus.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:23 And that is what ultimately this passage is about.
00:07:24 --> 00:07:29 It is more than just providing an example for us as to how to deal with temptation.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:36 Because these temptations are uniquely directed towards Jesus as the Son of God.
00:07:36 --> 00:07:40 And so the fight begins round one.
00:07:40 --> 00:07:41 The bell goes.
00:07:41 --> 00:07:46 They jump off of their corners, off their little stools.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:49 Satan comes bounding across and goes whack!
00:07:50 --> 00:07:52 And hits Jesus right where he is weak.
00:07:52 --> 00:07:53 Verse 3.
00:07:53 --> 00:07:55 The tempter came to him and said,
00:07:56 --> 00:07:59 If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.
00:08:00 --> 00:08:04 You see, that was a blow that was aimed at knocking Jesus out.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:06 You see, it says there,
00:08:06 --> 00:08:12 After 40 days and 40 nights without food,
00:08:12 --> 00:08:13 Jesus is hungry.
00:08:14 --> 00:08:16 And you kind of get that, don't you?
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 I mean, you understand that bit?
00:08:18 --> 00:08:19 He's hungry.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:24 What we probably don't understand is that after 40 days and 40 nights,
00:08:25 --> 00:08:29 you actually go through a hunger stage in the early stages.
00:08:29 --> 00:08:35 And then you go through a point in your fasting where you don't feel anything.
00:08:36 --> 00:08:41 And then right at the end, just before, while your life is hanging on the balance,
00:08:41 --> 00:08:42 you get hungry again.
00:08:43 --> 00:08:46 In other words, Jesus has to eat now.
00:08:48 --> 00:08:51 And Satan comes to him described as the tempter.
00:08:51 --> 00:08:51 What does he do?
00:08:52 --> 00:08:55 He tempts him right at the point of his need.
00:08:55 --> 00:08:57 Satan is saying,
00:08:58 --> 00:09:01 Use your power, Jesus, to satisfy your hunger.
00:09:02 --> 00:09:04 And that temptation would be so strong.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:05 I mean, he could do it, couldn't he?
00:09:06 --> 00:09:08 Just turn some rocks into bread.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:11 And what would be the problem with that in the end?
00:09:12 --> 00:09:16 I mean, what would it matter if Jesus turned a few bits of rock into some bread,
00:09:16 --> 00:09:18 or just one big rock into a lump of bread?
00:09:18 --> 00:09:18 What would it matter?
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 After all, if you've ever seen photos of Palestine or ever been there,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:23 there's a whole lot of rocks around.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:25 It's not like they'd miss a few.
00:09:26 --> 00:09:32 And it's not going to, you know, sort of disturb the balance of the ecology or something like that.
00:09:32 --> 00:09:33 So what's going on here?
00:09:34 --> 00:09:36 What is the nature of this temptation?
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 Verse 3, have a look at it.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:41 If you are the Son of God.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 What is Satan playing at here?
00:09:44 --> 00:09:45 Of course he's the Son of God.
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 We know him to be the Son of God, don't we?
00:09:47 --> 00:09:55 I mean, in Jesus' baptism, it says there in Matthew 3, verse 17,
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 this is my Son.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:00 God had declared it.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:02 This is my Son, whom I love.
00:10:02 --> 00:10:03 With him I am well pleased.
00:10:03 --> 00:10:08 And so Satan is tempting Jesus.
00:10:09 --> 00:10:13 You know, if you really are the Son of God, why are you hungry?
00:10:14 --> 00:10:17 How can you be a child of God when you've got these issues?
00:10:18 --> 00:10:23 How can you trust the Word of God, who says that He will supply your needs when you are hungry?
00:10:24 --> 00:10:25 How can you trust that?
00:10:25 --> 00:10:33 Let me say that whatever temptation it is that you face, and we all face temptations if we take God and His Word seriously,
00:10:35 --> 00:10:41 whatever your temptation is, the bottom line of the temptation, it all comes down to this.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:44 Do I trust God's Word?
00:10:45 --> 00:10:47 It's a temptation to doubt God's Word.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:56 It's a temptation to doubt that what He has said is right and proper and good is, in fact, right and proper and good.
00:10:57 --> 00:10:59 That's what happened in the Garden of Eden.
00:11:01 --> 00:11:04 It's a temptation to doubt God's Word there.
00:11:04 --> 00:11:07 Satan says, in chapter 3 of Genesis,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:13 did God really say that you shouldn't eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil?
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 You get the sense of it?
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 Did God really say that?
00:11:18 --> 00:11:22 And Eve, who wasn't there when God said it to Adam,
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 I don't know.
00:11:25 --> 00:11:25 Maybe.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:26 Maybe not.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:27 Maybe I got it wrong.
00:11:27 --> 00:11:28 Maybe Adam got it wrong.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:31 Go back to Adam.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:31 What did he say?
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 I don't know.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:33 I'm not really sure.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:34 Well, let's eat of the tree anyway.
00:11:36 --> 00:11:40 It's a temptation to doubt God's Word,
00:11:41 --> 00:11:44 to doubt whether or not He has my best interest at heart.
00:11:44 --> 00:11:48 And so what is happening here is a direct attack on Jesus' faith.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:52 It is an attempt to get him to lose his trust in God,
00:11:52 --> 00:11:56 to follow his own interests rather than that of God's Word.
00:11:56 --> 00:12:01 The sense of it is that if you feel like God has abandoned you,
00:12:01 --> 00:12:07 if you feel like that He's not looking out for you and not looking after you,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:08 then you should just do it yourself.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:10 Look after yourself.
00:12:11 --> 00:12:15 Provide yourself with food if it appears that God isn't going to do it.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:18 Satan is very cunning.
00:12:19 --> 00:12:21 And perhaps you've heard a similar kind of thing yourself.
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 If you're a Christian,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:28 how come your life has so many difficulties?
00:12:32 --> 00:12:33 I thought you were a Christian.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 Christians don't do that sort of thing, do they?
00:12:38 --> 00:12:39 Can't be a very good one.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:45 Surely a God who cares for you would give you something better than this.
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 Wouldn't he?
00:12:48 --> 00:12:53 Satan has used that sort of tactic to floor Christian after Christian after Christian.
00:12:53 --> 00:12:57 Because sometimes the negative voices of this world and the evil tempter
00:12:57 --> 00:13:01 are just a whole lot louder than the indwelling Spirit and the Word of God.
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 Satan was saying to Jesus,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 prove that you are the Son of God.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:07 Prove it.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:12 And sometimes just clinging to God's promise in His Word
00:13:12 --> 00:13:16 in the midst of my immediate temptation and trial and testing
00:13:16 --> 00:13:19 just doesn't seem so strong.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 It seems so flimsy.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:26 Satan tempts us to look for anything more
00:13:26 --> 00:13:28 than the assurance of the Word of God
00:13:28 --> 00:13:30 that we are indeed His.
00:13:30 --> 00:13:36 And so, how do you answer such temptation to doubt God's Word?
00:13:36 --> 00:13:38 Jesus does it brilliantly in verse 4,
00:13:38 --> 00:13:40 quoting from Deuteronomy,
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 it is written.
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 You see that again and again and again.
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 It is written.
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 It is written.
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 And He quotes Scripture,
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 man does not live on bread alone,
00:13:49 --> 00:13:52 but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
00:13:52 --> 00:13:55 He answers this temptation to doubt God's Word
00:13:55 --> 00:13:57 with the Word of God.
00:13:58 --> 00:13:59 Now, we've got to be careful here
00:13:59 --> 00:14:03 not to be too quick to spiritualize this verse.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:10 Our souls are not fed by tip-top,
00:14:10 --> 00:14:11 but by the Word of God.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:13 That's how we can do it.
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 So, you know,
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 the toast I had for breakfast,
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 that doesn't feed my soul,
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 but the Word of God feeds my soul.
00:14:20 --> 00:14:22 The bread feeds my body.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:22 Kind of stuff.
00:14:22 --> 00:14:24 So, we just spiritualize this verse.
00:14:25 --> 00:14:27 Jesus is here quoting Deuteronomy 8,
00:14:27 --> 00:14:29 and that is not the sense of it in Deuteronomy 8.
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 You see, when there was no bread,
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 when God led the Israelites out in the wilderness
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 and there was no bread,
00:14:35 --> 00:14:38 God exceptionally provided for the Israelites
00:14:38 --> 00:14:40 by giving them this thing called manna,
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 which basically means,
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 what is it?
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 What is this stuff?
00:14:44 --> 00:14:46 And it's kind of like bread.
00:14:47 --> 00:14:48 And so, the point was,
00:14:48 --> 00:14:51 from every generation from that point on,
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 was to know the truth
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 that their very life
00:14:55 --> 00:14:58 is not confined by the eating of toast,
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 but depends upon the commands
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 and the pleasures of God.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:06 God's authority reaches over all of creation,
00:15:06 --> 00:15:08 and though we feed on bread
00:15:08 --> 00:15:10 in the morning time,
00:15:11 --> 00:15:12 it would be wrong for us
00:15:12 --> 00:15:15 to attribute the life and the nourishment
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 that I currently have
00:15:16 --> 00:15:20 from that slice of tip-top toast.
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 But,
00:15:23 --> 00:15:26 my life and my nourishment
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 comes from the hidden blessing
00:15:27 --> 00:15:29 of the God
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 who breathes life
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 into that bread
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 so that by it,
00:15:32 --> 00:15:34 I might be nourished
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 and live.
00:15:37 --> 00:15:38 God's behind it.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 That's why we pray,
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 give us today our daily bread.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:45 God's behind it.
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 Not just in the providing of it,
00:15:49 --> 00:15:51 but in the life that comes with it.
00:15:53 --> 00:15:56 Jesus is being tempted to doubt God's word,
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 and he replies with,
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 God's word is constant,
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 and God's word is life.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 And it is to be trusted,
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 and it is to be relied upon.
00:16:09 --> 00:16:11 Anyone who does not rely upon
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 the word of God
00:16:11 --> 00:16:13 for life and for nourishment
00:16:13 --> 00:16:15 can expect to be floored by Satan
00:16:15 --> 00:16:17 in the first round.
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 And so,
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 we, the spectators,
00:16:20 --> 00:16:20 are there
00:16:20 --> 00:16:22 watching the bout going on.
00:16:22 --> 00:16:24 First round is over.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:26 Our salvation is at stake
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 on this,
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 on Jesus winning,
00:16:27 --> 00:16:29 and Jesus goes to his corner,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 as does Satan,
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 having won the first round,
00:16:32 --> 00:16:34 and so we, the crowd,
00:16:34 --> 00:16:34 go hip, hip.
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 Excellent.
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 Round two.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 Satan comes bounding out again
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 from his little stool in the corner,
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 and he goes whack,
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 and he hits Jesus
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 right where he is strong this time.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 Verse five.
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 Then the devil took him
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 to the holy city
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 and had him stand
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 on the highest point of the temple.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:54 If you are the son of God,
00:16:54 --> 00:16:54 he said,
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 throw down,
00:16:56 --> 00:16:56 throw yourself down,
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 for it is written,
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 you will command his,
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 he will command his angels
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 concerning you,
00:17:02 --> 00:17:03 and they will lift you up
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 with their hands
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 so that you will not
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 strike your foot
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 against a stone.
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 You see,
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 previously Jesus had used
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 God's word
00:17:11 --> 00:17:12 to knock Satan down,
00:17:12 --> 00:17:13 and now Satan
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 does this really cunning
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 little tact
00:17:15 --> 00:17:15 and wheels around
00:17:15 --> 00:17:17 and uses the word of God
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 in order to try
00:17:18 --> 00:17:19 and floor Jesus this time.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 He is so cunning.
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 I think that Satan
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 does some of his best work
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 when he uses the word of God
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 against Christians.
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 That's some of his best work.
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 He hates the word of God.
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 Make no mistake about it.
00:17:32 --> 00:17:34 Satan knows the Bible
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 better than anyone
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 in this room,
00:17:35 --> 00:17:37 but he doesn't love it,
00:17:37 --> 00:17:37 he doesn't believe it,
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 and he certainly won't obey it.
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 He hates it,
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 and he will use it
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 for our ruin.
00:17:46 --> 00:17:47 It is so important
00:17:47 --> 00:17:48 for us to know the Bible.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 Satan calls on Jesus
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 to show the reliability
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 of God's word.
00:17:54 --> 00:17:55 Hey, Jesus,
00:17:56 --> 00:17:58 if you are the son of God,
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 the Bible says
00:17:58 --> 00:18:00 that you can jump off here,
00:18:00 --> 00:18:02 and if the Bible's true
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 and reliable,
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 you won't be hurt.
00:18:06 --> 00:18:08 The word of God is true.
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 If he can be trusted,
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 you ain't going to be damaged.
00:18:10 --> 00:18:12 Do the big bungee jump
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 without the cord.
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 You'll be fine.
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 Then we will know
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 whether this God
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 can be taken at his word.
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 You see,
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 what's going on here
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 is a testing of God.
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 And Jesus wheels around
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 in verse 7.
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 It is also written,
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 do not put the Lord
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 your God to the test.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 You see, it's right.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 Satan was right.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 It was true.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 He quoted from Psalm 91.
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 Absolutely.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:38 But Jesus also knows
00:18:38 --> 00:18:40 that to put God to the test,
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 to say to God,
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 prove that you are worthy
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 and true,
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 shows distrust for God
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 and his word.
00:18:48 --> 00:18:49 So there's a difference
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 between faith and testing.
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 Faith comes from the perspective
00:18:53 --> 00:18:55 of me actually believing in God
00:18:55 --> 00:18:57 that he is reliable.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 Testing is saying,
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 you prove yourself to me.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 Two different things.
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 Faith is where God
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 has promised something
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 and even though
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 that I'm not sure it's right,
00:19:07 --> 00:19:07 even though I'm not sure
00:19:07 --> 00:19:09 it's going to be good for me,
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 he's promised it
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 and his character says
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 he's right and it's good
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 and I should pursue it.
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 Testing has said,
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 I will pursue that
00:19:18 --> 00:19:20 when you prove
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 it's going to work out
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 all right for me.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:25 you prove yourself first.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 So when I try
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 and force God's hand
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 to prove himself
00:19:29 --> 00:19:32 and Jesus
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 floors Satan again,
00:19:34 --> 00:19:36 end of round two,
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 we the crowd are there
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 watching this happen.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 We're excited
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 because our salvation
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 is at stake
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 and we say hip hip.
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 Hooray!
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 Fantastic.
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 I'm not sure everyone's
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 saying hooray there
00:19:46 --> 00:19:50 but I know your intention.
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 Round three.
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 Bell goes,
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 Satan comes out,
00:19:54 --> 00:19:54 bit of blood coming
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 from his nose this time.
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 But he bounds across
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 and whacks Jesus
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 right where he loves.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:00 Verse eight,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:00 have a look at this.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 Again,
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 the devil took him
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 to a very high mountain
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 and showed him
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 all the kingdoms
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 of the world
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 and their splendor.
00:20:07 --> 00:20:10 All this I will give you,
00:20:10 --> 00:20:10 he said,
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 if you will bow down
00:20:12 --> 00:20:14 and worship me.
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 Notice he doesn't come out
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 and say this time,
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 if you are the son of God.
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 He knows who he's
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 dealing with here.
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 This is some temptation
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 that Jesus is facing
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 in this last one.
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 Other parts of the Bible
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 tells us that God
00:20:30 --> 00:20:31 so loved the world
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 that he gave his only son
00:20:32 --> 00:20:34 and now this only son
00:20:34 --> 00:20:36 who loves the world
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 is being offered
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 the world.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:40 You see,
00:20:40 --> 00:20:42 now Satan is tempting Jesus
00:20:42 --> 00:20:44 with what he actually loves,
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 with what the Father
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 has promised him
00:20:46 --> 00:20:49 and with what he has come
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 to achieve
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 and to get together
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 for the Father.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 And all Jesus has to do
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 at this moment
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 is bow down to Satan
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 and he will get it.
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 It'll be yours.
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 He's offering Jesus
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 the easy option,
00:21:03 --> 00:21:05 the no suffering version.
00:21:07 --> 00:21:10 And Jesus tells him
00:21:10 --> 00:21:12 to clear off.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:16 And we see in verse 11
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 that he does.
00:21:20 --> 00:21:22 And he doesn't reappear again
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 in Matthew's gospel
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 until chapter 16.
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 Chapter 16,
00:21:28 --> 00:21:30 Jesus says,
00:21:30 --> 00:21:30 who do you say I am?
00:21:31 --> 00:21:31 Peter says,
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 you're the Christ.
00:21:32 --> 00:21:35 And straight after
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 a declaration
00:21:35 --> 00:21:37 of who Jesus is,
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 Jesus says,
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 guys,
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 to his main men,
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 the disciples,
00:21:42 --> 00:21:42 guys,
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 we're heading up to Jerusalem
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 and I'm going to suffer
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 and I'm going to die.
00:21:46 --> 00:21:46 And Peter,
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 God bless him,
00:21:48 --> 00:21:50 does him footy mouth disease again.
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 He puts his arm around Jesus,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 pulls him to one side
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 and said,
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 no,
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 no,
00:21:54 --> 00:21:54 Jesus,
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 you're not going to die.
00:21:55 --> 00:21:58 You're not going to die.
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 And Peter,
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 sorry,
00:22:02 --> 00:22:04 Jesus turns to his best mate
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 and calls him
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 by the name
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 of his worst enemy.
00:22:08 --> 00:22:10 Get behind me,
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 Satan,
00:22:11 --> 00:22:13 for you do not have in mind
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 the things of God,
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 but the things of men.
00:22:16 --> 00:22:19 You will not deter me
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 from the mission
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 the Father has given me.
00:22:22 --> 00:22:25 He will not be deterred.
00:22:25 --> 00:22:27 He won't take the easy option.
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 Glory is on the other side
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 of the cross.
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 He doesn't take the easy option.
00:22:34 --> 00:22:36 He won't accept Satan's plan.
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 If he did,
00:22:37 --> 00:22:39 it would mean the loss
00:22:39 --> 00:22:41 of everyone,
00:22:42 --> 00:22:44 not just his own life,
00:22:44 --> 00:22:46 but for all people,
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 everyone who is gathered
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 in this stand
00:22:48 --> 00:22:50 for all of eternity,
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 all people from all time
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 and eternity,
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 who are standing there
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 watching the battle go on,
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 we would all be lost
00:22:56 --> 00:22:59 if Jesus took the easy plan
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 and finished the fight
00:23:00 --> 00:23:02 at the end of round three.
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 Jesus would have abandoned
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 his trust in his Father
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 who would one day give him
00:23:09 --> 00:23:11 all the nations of the earth
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 and the heavens.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:15 And so Jesus is there
00:23:15 --> 00:23:20 with this massive temptation
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 and he's there with a choice.
00:23:21 --> 00:23:23 Choose the way
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 of Satan.
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 Do what he asks.
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 Believe the lies
00:23:28 --> 00:23:30 that all the troubles
00:23:30 --> 00:23:30 will be over
00:23:30 --> 00:23:32 or no.
00:23:33 --> 00:23:34 Declare war.
00:23:34 --> 00:23:37 And at this point,
00:23:37 --> 00:23:40 we don't cry,
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 hip,
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 hip,
00:23:41 --> 00:23:41 hooray.
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 We're in the state
00:23:44 --> 00:23:44 as we go,
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 hit him again,
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 Jesus.
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 Hit him again,
00:23:48 --> 00:23:48 Jesus.
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 Knock him down,
00:23:49 --> 00:23:50 Jesus,
00:23:50 --> 00:23:51 because our future
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 depends on you
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 declaring war on him
00:23:53 --> 00:23:56 and winning this battle.
00:23:59 --> 00:24:01 And so Jesus,
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 hit him again in verse 10,
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 away from me,
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 Satan,
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 for it is written,
00:24:06 --> 00:24:08 worship the Lord your God
00:24:08 --> 00:24:10 and serve him only.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:13 War is what Jesus chooses.
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 And it's a war
00:24:15 --> 00:24:16 that will be fought
00:24:16 --> 00:24:18 round after round
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 after round
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 throughout his life
00:24:20 --> 00:24:24 until the final round,
00:24:25 --> 00:24:27 round 15,
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 Matthew 27.
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 Above his head,
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 they placed the written charge
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 against him.
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 This is Jesus,
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 the King of the Jews.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 Two robbers were crucified
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 with him,
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 one on the right
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 and one on his left.
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 And those who passed by
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 hurled insults at him
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 and shaking their heads,
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 saying,
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 you who are going
00:24:50 --> 00:24:51 to destroy the temple
00:24:51 --> 00:24:53 and build it in three days.
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 Save yourself.
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 And then we hear
00:24:58 --> 00:24:59 the familiar words,
00:25:00 --> 00:25:02 come down from the cross
00:25:02 --> 00:25:05 if you are
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 the Son of God.
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 What a temptation
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 to give up
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 right at that last moment.
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 What a temptation
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 it would have been
00:25:18 --> 00:25:18 for Jesus
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 to prove
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 that he's the Son of God
00:25:20 --> 00:25:22 by saving himself
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 from the cross,
00:25:24 --> 00:25:24 getting down,
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 calling upon the legions
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 of angels
00:25:26 --> 00:25:28 and stepping on of it.
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 Especially when
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 just moments
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 before he cried
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 on the cross,
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 my God,
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 my God,
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 why have you
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 forsaken me?
00:25:40 --> 00:25:41 And Satan
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 takes the opportunity
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 to wheel around
00:25:43 --> 00:25:44 for the last temptation.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:45 Jesus,
00:25:45 --> 00:25:46 take the easy option.
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 He's abandoned you again.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 take the easy option.
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 Come down
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 from the cross
00:25:53 --> 00:25:55 and save yourself.
00:25:56 --> 00:25:56 Prove that you're
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 the Son of God
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 by saving yourself
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 from the horror
00:25:59 --> 00:26:00 of that cross.
00:26:04 --> 00:26:05 And we're in the grandstands
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 and we're saying,
00:26:06 --> 00:26:06 Jesus,
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 don't!
00:26:08 --> 00:26:08 Don't,
00:26:09 --> 00:26:09 Jesus!
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 Don't save yourself!
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 Put up with the taunts,
00:26:12 --> 00:26:12 Jesus!
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 Take the pain,
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 Jesus!
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 Stay there!
00:26:16 --> 00:26:18 You are the Son of God!
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 Don't believe the lies!
00:26:20 --> 00:26:22 Because if you come down,
00:26:22 --> 00:26:24 then we die!
00:26:28 --> 00:26:30 And Jesus breathed
00:26:30 --> 00:26:30 his last.
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 When the centurion
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 and those with him
00:26:34 --> 00:26:35 who were guarding Jesus
00:26:35 --> 00:26:36 saw the earthquake
00:26:36 --> 00:26:38 and all that had happened,
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 they were terrified
00:26:40 --> 00:26:41 and they exclaimed,
00:26:42 --> 00:26:44 surely he was
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 the Son of God.
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 The good news is,
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 three days later,
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 he rose again.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:57 The end of Matthew 28,
00:26:57 --> 00:26:59 Jesus is given
00:26:59 --> 00:27:01 what Satan had offered him
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 in chapter 4,
00:27:02 --> 00:27:03 but the easy option.
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 All authority
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 in heaven and earth
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 has been given
00:27:07 --> 00:27:08 to me.
00:27:08 --> 00:27:11 it's mine.
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 Therefore,
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 go and make disciples
00:27:17 --> 00:27:18 of all nations,
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 baptizing them
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 in the name of the Father
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 and of the Son
00:27:21 --> 00:27:23 and of the Holy Spirit
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 and teaching them
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 everything
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 that I have commanded
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 you.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 And surely
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 I am with you
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 always
00:27:29 --> 00:27:31 to the very end
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 of the age.
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 Everything
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 has been given
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 to Jesus.
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 He is supreme,
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 he has all
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 the authority
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 and he calls
00:27:39 --> 00:27:40 me to recognize
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 his authority,
00:27:41 --> 00:27:41 to submit
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 to his authority,
00:27:42 --> 00:27:44 to believe
00:27:44 --> 00:27:44 that he is
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 trustworthy
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 and true,
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 that the word
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 of God
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 is secure
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 and right
00:27:49 --> 00:27:49 and honorable
00:27:49 --> 00:27:52 and not to believe
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 the lies of Satan.
00:27:55 --> 00:27:57 All authority
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 has been given
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 to Jesus.
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 Matthew chapter 4,
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 Jesus' last
00:28:00 --> 00:28:02 call to Satan,
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 his last bow,
00:28:03 --> 00:28:03 he says
00:28:03 --> 00:28:05 in round 3,
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 worship the Lord
00:28:06 --> 00:28:07 your God
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 and serve
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 him only.
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 And in Matthew
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 28 verse 17,
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13 that is exactly
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 what happens
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 when the disciples
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 come face to face
00:28:16 --> 00:28:17 with the risen Jesus.
00:28:17 --> 00:28:18 It says,
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 when they saw him,
00:28:19 --> 00:28:21 they worshipped him.
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 But
00:28:24 --> 00:28:26 some doubted.
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 They worshipped him,
00:28:29 --> 00:28:30 but some
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 doubted.
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 as we live
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 to worship
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 Jesus,
00:28:34 --> 00:28:36 we will struggle
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 with the temptation
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 to doubt
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 who he is,
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 what he's achieved
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 for us,
00:28:41 --> 00:28:41 the reliability
00:28:41 --> 00:28:42 and the effectiveness
00:28:42 --> 00:28:44 of his word,
00:28:44 --> 00:28:45 in our frailty,
00:28:45 --> 00:28:47 in our failure,
00:28:47 --> 00:28:48 in the face
00:28:48 --> 00:28:48 of temptation
00:28:48 --> 00:28:50 that we will be there
00:28:50 --> 00:28:52 moment by moment
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 when I'm standing
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 in my eyes
00:28:54 --> 00:28:55 and the door
00:28:55 --> 00:28:56 is there in front of me,
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 do I trust
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 the word of God
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 that says
00:28:59 --> 00:29:00 it is wrong
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 and I've got
00:29:01 --> 00:29:01 a better plan
00:29:01 --> 00:29:02 for you.
00:29:02 --> 00:29:02 You believe
00:29:02 --> 00:29:03 my word
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 that stealing
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 is wrong.
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 Give it back.
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 And where is
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 Jesus
00:29:13 --> 00:29:14 in that moment?
00:29:18 --> 00:29:19 Surely
00:29:19 --> 00:29:19 I'm with you
00:29:19 --> 00:29:20 always
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 to the very
00:29:21 --> 00:29:22 end of the age.
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 I think
00:29:26 --> 00:29:28 as his
00:29:28 --> 00:29:28 disciples,
00:29:29 --> 00:29:29 I think
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 we need
00:29:30 --> 00:29:30 to be like
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 the father
00:29:31 --> 00:29:31 of the demon
00:29:31 --> 00:29:32 possessed boy
00:29:32 --> 00:29:33 in Mark
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 chapter 9.
00:29:34 --> 00:29:35 Amazing words.
00:29:35 --> 00:29:35 Jesus says,
00:29:36 --> 00:29:36 do you believe,
00:29:37 --> 00:29:37 do you believe
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 that I can heal
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 this son?
00:29:39 --> 00:29:39 Do you believe it?
00:29:40 --> 00:29:40 And he says,
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 I do believe.
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 Help me overcome
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 my unbelief.
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 It's like
00:29:47 --> 00:29:50 I do worship,
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 God
00:29:51 --> 00:29:53 God
00:29:53 --> 00:29:59 isn't remote.
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 God
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 isn't
00:29:59 --> 00:29:59 remote.
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 He
00:30:00 --> 00:30:00 isn't
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 absent
00:30:01 --> 00:30:01 from my
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 struggles
00:30:02 --> 00:30:02 to obey
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 him,
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 to take
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 refuge in
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 him,
00:30:05 --> 00:30:05 that he
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 is the
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 son of
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 God
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 and what
00:30:06 --> 00:30:07 he's
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 promised
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 me
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 as
00:30:07 --> 00:30:08 his
00:30:08 --> 00:30:08 child
00:30:08 --> 00:30:09 is
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 right
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 and
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 true.
00:30:11 --> 00:30:11 He
00:30:11 --> 00:30:12 says,
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 surely
00:30:12 --> 00:30:12 I'm
00:30:12 --> 00:30:13 with you
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 always
00:30:13 --> 00:30:13 to the
00:30:13 --> 00:30:14 very
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 end
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 of the
00:30:14 --> 00:30:14 age.
00:30:14 --> 00:30:16 he's
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 very much
00:30:16 --> 00:30:17 present
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 as I
00:30:17 --> 00:30:17 struggle
00:30:17 --> 00:30:18 to be
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 his
00:30:18 --> 00:30:18 disciple.
00:30:19 --> 00:30:19 He
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 hasn't
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 abandoned
00:30:20 --> 00:30:20 me
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 to go
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 it
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 alone
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 and
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 through
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 the
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 fires
00:30:22 --> 00:30:23 and
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 the
00:30:23 --> 00:30:23 temptations
00:30:23 --> 00:30:24 and the
00:30:24 --> 00:30:24 testings
00:30:24 --> 00:30:25 as a
00:30:25 --> 00:30:25 disciple
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 of
00:30:26 --> 00:30:26 Jesus,
00:30:27 --> 00:30:27 even
00:30:27 --> 00:30:28 when I
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 feel like
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 I'm
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 in the
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 wilderness
00:30:30 --> 00:30:32 and
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 when
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 doubt
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 is at
00:30:33 --> 00:30:33 its
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 strongest,
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 Jesus'
00:30:36 --> 00:30:36 promise
00:30:36 --> 00:30:38 is
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 sure.
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 I
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 am
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 with you
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 always
00:30:42 --> 00:30:43 to the
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 very
00:30:43 --> 00:30:43 end
00:30:43 --> 00:30:44 of the
00:30:44 --> 00:30:44 age.
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 Amen.