Day 10: When the Good News Gets Even Better

So true: How many times have you floated away on a spiritual high from a retreat or time with friends or family, only to be cut off at the knees by an avalanche of issues or temptations? Jesus was not exempt from such an experience. On a high mountain, He is tempted by Satan in the same three fundamental areas in which we are all tempted.

From 1 John 2:16, those three areas are the lust of the ______________, the lust of _____________, and the _________________.

flesh, eyes, and the pride of life

1. "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

This temptation appeals to the lust of the ___________. flesh

2. "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down" (for angels will catch you).

Satan appeals to Jesus' _______________ to fully reveal Himself. pride

3. Satan offers to deliver to Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for His worship.

Satan appeals to the lust of the ___________. eyes

In the first two temptations, Satan questions Jesus' identity ("If you are the Son of God"). If Satan can confuse us concerning who we are in Christ, then collapsing in the face of temptation is pretty much a done deal...game over!

Read John 14:10. Notice the last few words. Paraphrase what Jesus says.

Jesus says that if we should believe that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. The Father lives in Him, and does all the work!

Sidebar: The issue that tends to elude most of us as believers is that God's desire is not to take a weak person and make him strong so that he can operate in strength. God's idea is for us to realize that we are weak and yield ourselves to Jesus within us to be our strength and therefore overcome our weakness. Its all about Him...not about us being gallant and courageous on His behalf.

Something to think about: The secret of Jesus' life was that He didn't live it! How does that grab you? The truth is that every miracle He performed and every word He uttered was done by God the Father through Jesus the Son...You see the total dependence on His Father with every breath He took....The (1st) temptation rested in Satan's hope and desire to get Jesus to do a harmless deed through His own strength and energy rather than in total dependence on God the Father...give some thought to the implications of living by the life of another in terms of living your own life by the life of Jesus within you. Discuss what this would mean.

It reminds me, somewhat, of being an expectant mother...except that Jesus is the one calling the shots!

What do the following passages say about Satan's current position in the world?

Satan is ___________________ (2 Cor. 4:4). blind

Satan is ___________________ (Eph. 2:2).disobedient

Satan is _________________ (John 12:31; 16:11). cast out

On Day 1, we saw that "the Word [Jesus] became flesh and lived among us. "Word" here is logos, meaning "person". Read Romans 10:17 and write it below. Then try to put it to memory.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

"Word" is also used in John 1 but with a different meaning. The word used here is rama, which means "revelation". Now rewrite the verse using the word revelation.

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the revelation of Christ.