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The Failed Temptation and the Fall Reversed · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Now, for those of you who perhaps weren't with us on Friday or last night, let me just
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! explain very briefly that we're going through a theme that's called In the Garden. On Friday
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! night, I introduced that theme by reading Genesis chapter 2 and by exploring some of
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the areas of interest that arise out of the creation of humanity, i.e. Adam and Eve.
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And we looked at some of the features of that chapter, which are the features of our identity
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as human beings. Last night, we spoke about how the perfect equilibrium that existed between
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God and Adam and Eve was ruined by the fall. We looked at the process in which Eve and Adam
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fell by disobeying God, by rejecting the command, the prohibition that he had given to them,
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and we saw some of the consequences of that. We didn't have time to look at how God evicted
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them from the garden and how he set the cherubim with a flaming sword to guard the way to the tree
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of life. But we looked at how God had promised that in difficulty there would be the work that
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man would try to do. There would be the difficulty in childbearing. There would be the loss of that
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perfect balance in the relationship between husband and wife. And of course, that applies to
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all different relationships in the world in which the balance that would have been there
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was upset by the fall. And then we looked, of course, lastly, at how God promised the serpent
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that he would one day be destroyed. And that is what I want to follow up on today. Because here in this
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chapter, there is a confrontation between the Son of God, who was made man, who came into the world in
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our nature as one of us, and who confronted the same serpent at the very beginning of his ministry.
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This was only the very beginning of several confrontations that there were with the evil
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one, the serpent, as he made his way and as he prepared for the cross. And it's in that context
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that I think we ought to understand Matthew chapter 4, the temptation. I'm sure you've often heard sermons
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on it. I've preached on it a number of times. And I've often taken the line that you'll hear from many
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preachers. I'm not saying it's a bad line. I'm not saying it's a bad interpretation. But you've often
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heard people saying, well, here is the way that the devil tempted Jesus. And here is how Jesus resisted
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that temptation. This is how we are to resist temptation. You've heard that before. I've preached
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it before. What I want to suggest to you this morning is that although that's true, it's not the point
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of the passage. The primary point of the passage is to recognize Jesus re-enacting the Garden of Eden.
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And there are certain continuities about this re-enactment as well as certain discontinuities
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in it. And that's what I want to explore with you this morning. But particularly in relation to Jesus'
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preparation for the cross. Because we always remember that the ministry of Jesus and the death of Jesus
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are inextricably related. The ministry of Jesus, or rather the life of Jesus, we don't know much about
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his young days, but we do know a lot about his ministry, his parables, his miracles, his conversations,
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his teaching. All of that was in preparation for the cross. So was the temptation. And I believe it is
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impossible to understand the temptation fully without seeing it in relation to the cross. Which of course
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relates to the reason why we're here today to remember Jesus' death on the cross. So I hope you'll
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see this passage as it is connected with Jesus. And I hope that comes out as we look at it together.
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Here is the second Adam. He is placed into this world. He's at the beginning of his ministry, the baptism of
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Jesus marked the beginning of his public ministry. And the first thing that happens is that he's led out
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into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Now it would be someone who is pretty inastute, who would
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not recognize how that matches the very first events in Genesis chapter 2 and chapter 3. Except this time,
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instead of a garden where there are trees and an abundance of fruit and provision for him, there is
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nothing. And that nothingness is the consequence of the fall. Here is what Adam has done. Here's what
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humanity has done. They've changed the world from being a garden in which there is plenty and perfection
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into a world in which there is misery and aloneness and isolation and hunger. And of course, all the
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sin and the misery. Remember what the catechism said. The catechism says this,
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the fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery. That kind of just sums it up, doesn't it? It
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brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery. And we all recognize that. So did Jesus. That's what
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he was confronted with. And now he is going to be, at the very beginning of his ministry, he's going to be
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confronted with the same serpent that confronted Eve in the garden. I'm not sure how much the serpent knew
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either about what it meant for Jesus to be the son. I know he uses the language of, if you are the son of God.
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I'm not sure how much he knew. I'm not sure how much he knew. Again, I'll leave that with you. The devil
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doesn't know everything. He's not omniscient. He doesn't know everything. So it's just a question
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that intrigues me. Neither am I sure of whether he knew exactly the way that God was going to secure
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our... His purpose was to destroy Jesus. But little did he know that in trying to destroy Jesus,
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he was actually carrying out the plan of God for our salvation. When Jesus died on the cross,
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it appeared that Satan had the complete victory. That was his design. And yet we read, Paul tells us
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in 1 Corinthians, we impart a secret wisdom from God, which God decreed before the ages of our glory.
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Here's what it says. None of the rulers of this age understood it. Rulers of this age? Satan, the serpent.
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If they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. So that's my proof for saying,
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I'm not quite sure how much the devil understood what God was actually doing in the death of Jesus.
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Jesus. Otherwise, he would have had a different plan. That's what Paul says. Not my words, but Paul.
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And that's, of course, because our redemption necessitated death. Without death, without the shedding of blood,
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God says there is no forgiveness. It's his ultimate purpose in securing our forgiveness was the death of his son,
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that ultimate sacrifice for our salvation. So with these things in mind, let's just explore
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the three temptations that we read about in Matthew chapter 4. And let's try and understand what the devil
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is doing, not just in what he says, but in what lies behind what he says. Remember what we saw that,
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how subtle he was in the conversation with Eve. Remember how I said to you yesterday that at no time does
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Satan ever say to Eve, I want you to eat that fruit. But what he does is he creates the conditions,
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opens up the possibility of another alternative. And while in this case, he is most definitely telling
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Jesus what to do. He's also behind the scenes, he's opening up other possibilities for Jesus. And I want
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us to see that how as we go along. The first of these temptations, as you know, was the temptation to
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command these stones to turn into bread. And I think we can understand the tactic here, where he comes and
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he says, if you're the son of God, how is this possible? You are the son of God, whatever that means.
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You're the son of God. And yet you've been 40 days without eating. You're starving. You're in the
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wilderness. You're alone. You're the creator of the universe. You've come from heaven. How is this
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possible for someone in your position to not be able to eat? It's incongruous. It doesn't make sense.
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It just defies all logic. You can see his point, can't you? And there's something in us that says,
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well, why didn't Jesus just command the stones to become bread? It's something maybe he should have
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thought of beforehand himself. I mean, why did he have to allow himself to descend into such a level
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of poverty and starvation, where he didn't eat for 40 days? But there was a reason for Jesus fasting.
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I'm not quite sure if I understand fasting. You find it all the way through the Bible. You find it in our
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history books. Fasting was a feature of even this island at one point in time, particularly roundabout
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communion times. An interesting subject, isn't it? I'm not quite sure how it connects. But one thing I do
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know is that it's connected with prayer. It's very, very clear in the Bible that fasting has no merit in
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itself. It's not some kind of way of earning God's favor. But it seems to be some way of clearing away
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every other distraction so that I can focus my mind entirely on God. And I believe that's the only way
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of making sense of it here in this passage. So this was at the very beginning of his ministry.
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Jesus was sent out into the wilderness, specifically to be tempted by the devil, and he needs
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the company of God the Father. Well, of course, he would have the company of God the Father anyway. But
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there are times, aren't there? There's a passage in, I think it's Mark chapter 2, where he gets up early
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in the morning, goes up a mountain to pray. There are specific times where he needs that communion
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with the Father that he perhaps doesn't have the same time for when he's doing other things.
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There are specific times of prayer in the life of Jesus, specific times when he's. And Jesus,
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this is one of those times at the very beginning of his ministry, where for him, fasting was absolutely
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essential in the fulfillment of the ministry that Jesus gave him to do, which of course would culminate
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in his death. We're not told what transpired between Jesus and the Father and how this period
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fitted into his overall mission. But it did fit. It had to happen. And he needed this intense communion
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with the Father in order to confront the devil. That's maybe a lesson for us as well, that perhaps
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the reason we are so easily tempted is because we need to work on our communion with the Father. Maybe
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it's because we don't have enough time for prayer. I'm talking to myself, by the way. Maybe it's
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because we don't have enough time for prayer that we're so easily tempted. And Jesus' example is
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opposite here in terms of our temptation. But there's another thing I want us to think about this
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morning, and that is this was one of those moments when the horror of his death was becoming more and
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more clear to him. There's a verse in Hebrews. I want to spend a few moments on it. Verse in Hebrews,
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chapter 5, verse 7. And here's what it says. In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and
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supplications with loud cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death.
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And he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he
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suffered. Now, I remember reading that recently, and I need to look up the commentaries to find out
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what people say about this verse, because it's a peculiar one, isn't it? What do the commentaries say?
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So I looked up some of the good commentaries on it, and they all say the same thing. They all say,
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well, we're not quite 100% sure about any one episode or one instance where this can be a description of it,
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but we believe that it refers to the Garden of Gethsemane.
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I'm okay with that. I think that it does refer to the Garden of Gethsemane. But
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it says in the days of his flesh. I'm not persuaded that it was only the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus
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offered up loud cries and tears to him who was able to save him from death. I believe, I tended to believe,
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that there were several occasions when this happened. And this is one of them. At the very beginning of his
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ministry, as he was becoming more and more aware, and as he was coming to terms increasingly with the
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horror of his death. Now, you might respond by saying, well, was he not always aware of his mission? No, he
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can't have been. Was he aware as a six-month-old baby? No, he wasn't. He was a human being as well as being God.
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And as a human being, as a six-month-old baby, he wasn't aware of the horror of what lay in front of
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him as a 33-year-old man. It had to be a growing awareness.
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And I believe at the very beginning of his ministry, remember that his ministry is not just some random
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series of events like conversations and miracles and all the rest of it. It was his preparation
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for what lay ahead. And here is not only a growing awareness, but a growing willingness.
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Now, be careful. I'm not saying he was ever unwilling. But this is what the verse says. He says,
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he learned obedience through what he suffered. It doesn't say that there was ever a time when he wasn't.
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But his suffering, including his time in the wilderness, was the means whereby his obedience was learned.
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Willingness and awareness were a growing process in the mind and in the consciousness of Jesus.
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Now, with that in mind, if I'm right, then for the devil to come and say to him,
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why don't you change these stones into bread?
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What he's trying to do is he's trying to derail
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the process by which Jesus is being made aware and willing to face what is coming to him.
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And if he derails it, then we've lost it.
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The plan is derailed.
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So I hope you can see that it's not just a question of, well, he's hungry.
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It's logical. He's got the power to do it.
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Why doesn't he do it?
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It's because if he does it,
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he takes his eyes off the work that the Father has given him to do.
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And the devil has won.
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We remember that the command of God to Adam was
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that he make use of the fruit, the provision that he gave to him.
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It's quite strange, isn't it?
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That here we have eating again.
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And Adam was invited to eat any of the fruit of the garden
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except the knowledge of good and evil.
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Here's Jesus obeying the command of the Father to go into the world
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and to give his life as a ransom for many.
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And here is the same serpent.
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And he's trying to derail him from obeying the command of the Father
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by presenting him with another alternative.
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So that's the first thing.
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And I hope we'll see all of the three of these temptations
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in relation to the cross.
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Next thing is that he takes him up to the very top of the temple.
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I don't know how this happens, by the way.
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It's not important how it happens.
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We're not told.
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But he takes him right up to the top of the temple
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where there's a great height.
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And he then preaches a sermon to him.
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The devil preaches a sermon to Jesus.
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And it looks as if he doesn't need a Bible.
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He's got it off by heart.
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He knows the words that he's want to quote to Jesus.
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And the text of his sermon is Psalm 91.
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That's why we sang it earlier on.
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And here's what it says.
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It says,
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Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place,
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the Most High who is my refuge,
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no evil shall be allowed to befall you.
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No plague shall come near your tent,
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for he will command his angels concerning you
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to guard you in all your ways.
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On their hands they will bear you up,
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lest you strike your foot against a stone.
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Now, not only does the devil know his Bible,
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but he knows his hermeneutic.
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He knows how to preach it.
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And he's actually bang on.
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He knows what this psalm is about.
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It's a prophecy about Jesus.
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There's a lot the devil does know,
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even though there's a lot he doesn't know.
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He's right.
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It's about the promised Messiah.
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So he says,
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Well, here's the thing, Jesus.
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Let's look at it this way.
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If this is God's word about you,
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then God's promise is that you will be protected.
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And so let's tell you what.
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Let's put this to the test right now.
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Let's see whether God will actually produce the goods.
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Let's see if he will come good on his word.
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I know you believe it.
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So it should be easy to prove
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if you're the son of God.
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Throw yourself down.
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We both know, by the way,
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you're not going to do it.
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You're not going to do it.
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I know that.
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But if you refuse,
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is that because you actually are trusting God,
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or is it because you're afraid you're going to fall to your death?
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How do you know
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that God is going to make good his promise in the future?
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What did I say last night
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about the serpent chipping away
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at the trustworthiness of the Father?
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Now here's where the temptation came in for Jesus.
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The entirety of Jesus' mission
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rested on the Father's trustworthiness.
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The Father's trustworthiness
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requires a test
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to make sure.
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And the test would ultimately come
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when Jesus laid down his life on the cross.
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Because in so doing,
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he was going to give himself entirely
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into the hands of the Father.
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That's what he meant when he was on the cross
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and he said,
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Father, into your hands
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I commit my spirit.
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What he's doing is
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he's taking God at his word.
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Entirely and only at his word.
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For example, in Psalm 16,
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you will not abandon my soul to shale
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or let your Holy One see corruption.
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But in so doing,
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on the cross,
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Jesus himself
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isn't protected by the Father
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in his death
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because Psalm 91
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doesn't come to fulfillment
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because he has to suffer alone.
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There are no angels
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to bear him up
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lest he strike his foot against a stone.
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There is no rescue.
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He has to come
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to the point of death alone.
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He has to give himself.
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But in so doing,
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he believes and he trusts
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that the Father will raise him up
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on the third day.
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And here is the serpent
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coming and saying to him,
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are you sure?
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Are you absolutely sure
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that this is what God is saying?
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What did I say yesterday
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about the serpent and Eve?
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He said,
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did God really say that?
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Did God really say,
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tell me again,
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what did he say?
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Do you really believe that?
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He's doing the same thing to Jesus.
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He's saying,
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well,
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let's think about these words.
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Are you really sure
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that God is going to?
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He's testing
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the trustworthiness
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of God.
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And Jesus
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says,
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I 100% trust
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the word
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of my Father.
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But then,
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the third one
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is
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one we all know.
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The whole story
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is one we all know
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where the devil takes him
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to a certain point
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in the world.
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I don't know which point
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that was.
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A high mountain somewhere.
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There are no mountains
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where you can see
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the whole of the world.
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But that doesn't matter.
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He saw the whole world.
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And he says
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to him,
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he says,
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if you
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will worship me,
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then
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I will give you
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all the kingdoms
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of the world
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and their glory.
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Now,
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I'm sure we've read this often
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and we've thought
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on two counts
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this can't be.
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Number one,
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we've said,
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well,
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the world doesn't belong
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to the devil.
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And secondly,
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it's so outrageous
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the suggestion
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of Jesus,
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the Son of God,
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worshipping
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or serving Satan
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in any way
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is just so outrageous
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that we say,
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well,
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that must have been
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an easy one
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to resist.
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We're actually wrong
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on both counts.
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Whilst the world
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and the universe
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does belong to God,
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ultimately,
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the devil
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does not have
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sovereign control
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over all things.
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There is another sense
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in which he does.
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You remember
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what Ephesians chapter 2
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and verse 2 says,
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where Paul calls him
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the prince of the power
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of the air,
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the spirit that now
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works in the sons
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of disobedience.
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And there are many places
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in the Bible
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where we're told
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that Satan does
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have a hold.
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We only have to look
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around you
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to know that.
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The eyes of the blind,
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Paul tells us
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in Corinthians
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that he has blinded,
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the God of this world
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has blinded the eyes
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of unbelievers.
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It's a frightening prospect.
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There is a sense
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in which Satan
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does have
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a huge amount
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of control
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over the world
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in particular
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humanity.
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So, in what case,
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secondly,
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in what sense
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is this temptation
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a real temptation
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to Jesus?
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because it is
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another attempt
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at presenting him
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with an alternative
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to his mission
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which was to involve
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suffering and death.
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It's an attempt
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to present him
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with a plan B,
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another alternative.
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And there were
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several times
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in the ministry
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of Jesus
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when this happened.
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I want to suggest
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to you three
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in particular.
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number one
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was in Matthew 16.
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You remember
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when Jesus
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is having this
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conversation
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with the disciples
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and he's announcing
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to them
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that he's going
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to Jerusalem
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and there he's
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going to be
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handed over
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to the Gentiles
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and Peter says,
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far be it from you,
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this shall never be so.
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Remember what Jesus
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said to him
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as a response to that.
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He said,
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get behind me,
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Satan.
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You are a hindrance
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to me.
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Why did he say that?
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That was quite harsh,
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wasn't it?
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Poor Peter.
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He's always
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getting himself
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into trouble
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because of what he says.
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Peter's well-meaning.
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He just doesn't want
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Jesus to die.
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He doesn't want
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Jesus to be handed over.
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He wants him to be king.
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And Jesus says,
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get behind me,
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Satan.
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And the reason he said
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that was because
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he saw that behind
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Peter's words
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stood the devil.
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The devil was
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somehow tempting
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Jesus
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by suggesting
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that there was
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another alternative
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to be ruler
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in this world.
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rather than
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go to the cross.
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Here's another one.
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And you may not
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agree with me
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in my interpretation
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but this is something
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for your discussion
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later on.
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Matthew chapter 14,
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I believe,
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when Jesus
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somehow withdrew
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away from the region
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of Judea
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to the district
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of Tyre and Sidon.
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And there he comes
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across this
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Syrophoenician woman.
27:30
Remember that story?
27:31
She comes to him,
27:32
finds out where she is
27:33
and she's got a daughter
27:34
who's possessed
27:35
by a demon.
27:36
So she comes to him
27:37
and she begs him,
27:38
Lord, please help my daughter.
27:40
And he doesn't say
27:41
anything to her.
27:44
He responds
27:45
in silence.
27:49
And you read the story
27:50
and you feel more awkward
27:52
all the time.
27:53
You say,
27:53
this is not like Jesus.
27:54
This is harsh.
27:55
It looks as if he doesn't
27:56
want to be kind
27:57
to this woman.
27:58
He's been kind
27:59
to everyone else
28:00
and yet this woman
28:01
comes to him
28:01
and he's treating her.
28:02
This is not like him at all.
28:03
And what's more,
28:05
when his disciples
28:06
tell him to send her away,
28:08
he says this,
28:10
it's not right
28:10
to take the children's bread
28:12
and cast it to the dogs.
28:15
You think,
28:16
whoa,
28:17
what's come over him?
28:20
Well,
28:21
here's what I believe
28:22
was happening.
28:26
This is one of these moments
28:27
where Jesus is outside
28:28
of his own people,
28:29
is outside of Judea
28:32
and he is receiving
28:35
humility
28:36
and reverence
28:38
and respect
28:39
and worship
28:40
from someone
28:41
who is not Jewish.
28:46
And he is suddenly struck
28:47
by the prospect
28:49
that
28:49
there are people
28:51
in this world
28:52
who would make me king
28:53
and who would honor me
28:56
and who would respect me.
28:57
My own people
28:58
want to kill me
28:59
because they hate me.
29:01
There are people
29:02
in this world,
29:04
perhaps loads of them,
29:06
who would honor me
29:07
as I deserve.
29:11
I think that's probably
29:12
the best explanation
29:13
I've ever heard
29:14
why Jesus was silent.
29:16
Of course,
29:16
you know the end
29:17
of the story,
29:17
he did eventually
29:18
cleanse the daughter
29:20
and all was well.
29:21
but
29:23
nonetheless,
29:25
you have this
29:25
dramatic moment.
29:27
It seems to be
29:28
a crisis moment
29:29
in the heart of Jesus
29:30
where I believe
29:31
this was a temptation
29:32
to him
29:33
that there may be
29:35
another route.
29:36
And of course,
29:37
the best known
29:38
is Gethsemane itself.
29:40
That 11th hour
29:41
just before he's arrested
29:42
where he goes
29:44
on his own
29:45
and he
29:46
confronts the father
29:47
and he says,
29:48
Father,
29:48
if it be possible,
29:49
take this cup
29:52
from me.
29:52
Now,
29:52
here's the temptation
29:53
in Matthew chapter 4.
29:58
The serpent
29:59
is presenting him
30:00
with the option.
30:02
There is
30:03
a possible
30:04
other way
30:05
that does not
30:05
involve
30:06
your suffering.
30:07
And remember,
30:08
he's becoming
30:09
more aware
30:10
of the horror
30:11
of the cross
30:12
in his own
30:12
consciousness.
30:15
And at the same time,
30:17
Satan
30:18
is saying to him,
30:20
it doesn't have
30:20
to be like this.
30:23
Let's make a deal.
30:25
Let's come to
30:26
an arrangement
30:27
where we can
30:27
work together.
30:29
I'm not an
30:29
unreasonable person.
30:32
Let's work together
30:33
in order for you
30:34
to receive
30:35
the honour
30:36
that you deserve.
30:38
And Jesus'
30:39
answer is
30:40
absolutely
30:41
no.
30:42
Do you know
30:42
why?
30:44
Two reasons.
30:44
one,
30:47
because
30:48
he is
30:49
resolute
30:50
in his
30:51
determination
30:52
to obey
30:54
God
30:54
in every
30:55
detail.
30:58
To do
30:59
your will,
31:01
I take
31:02
delight.
31:03
That's
31:04
his aim.
31:06
That's
31:07
his purpose.
31:09
Second
31:09
reason,
31:10
because of
31:11
the
31:11
extraordinary
31:12
intensity
31:13
of his
31:15
love
31:16
for you.
31:28
I don't
31:29
know about
31:29
you,
31:29
but
31:29
I find
31:32
that
31:32
one of
31:33
the most
31:33
difficult
31:33
things to
31:34
accept.
31:39
Adam
31:40
deserved
31:40
the gift
31:43
of God.
31:43
He was
31:43
perfect.
31:46
I didn't.
31:50
I can
31:51
understand
31:51
why God
31:52
would want
31:53
to give
31:53
Adam
31:53
eternal
31:54
life.
31:57
But here
31:58
is the
31:59
second Adam
31:59
and he's
32:00
now going
32:01
to pay
32:02
the ultimate
32:03
price in
32:04
order for
32:04
me to
32:05
have that
32:06
same gift
32:06
of everlasting
32:07
life.
32:07
and I've
32:10
got it
32:10
because God
32:11
has given
32:12
it to
32:12
me in
32:14
the Lord
32:14
Jesus Christ
32:15
because the
32:16
last Adam
32:16
has undid
32:19
undone
32:20
what the
32:22
first Adam
32:23
did.
32:24
Where he
32:26
disobeyed
32:29
God
32:29
and died,
32:32
the last
32:33
Adam
32:33
obeyed
32:34
God
32:35
and tasted
32:37
death
32:37
for all
32:39
of us
32:39
so that
32:41
we
32:43
could be
32:44
made the
32:45
righteousness
32:45
of God
32:47
in him.
32:50
So I
32:50
hope you
32:51
appreciate
32:52
how all
32:54
of this
32:55
ties in
32:56
with
32:56
the
32:58
forthcoming
32:58
death of
32:59
Jesus,
32:59
the death
33:00
that wasn't
33:00
going to be
33:01
experienced
33:01
for the next
33:02
three years
33:02
and yet
33:03
it's on
33:04
the horizon.
33:04
it's in
33:06
his mind
33:07
with growing
33:08
awareness
33:08
and he
33:10
is going
33:10
to head
33:11
towards it
33:11
every day
33:13
that he
33:13
lives is
33:14
going to
33:14
be a
33:14
reminder
33:15
of what
33:15
lies in
33:16
front of
33:17
him.
33:17
Every day
33:18
is a
33:19
day of
33:20
resolute
33:20
determination
33:21
to complete
33:22
the work
33:23
and not
33:24
until that
33:24
final moment
33:25
when it
33:26
was finished
33:27
did he
33:29
stop
33:29
because
33:31
God so
33:33
loved
33:33
his people
33:34
that he
33:36
gave himself
33:36
for us.
33:38
Let's
33:39
pray together.
33:45
Our
33:45
Father in
33:46
heaven we
33:46
ask that
33:47
you will
33:47
remind us
33:48
afresh of
33:48
Jesus'
33:50
determination.
33:52
We have
33:52
thanks Lord
33:53
that at
33:53
every turn
33:54
no matter
33:54
what
33:55
was
33:56
offered to
33:58
him by
33:59
way of
33:59
an
33:59
alternative
34:00
that he
34:01
chose the
34:02
way of
34:02
suffering
34:03
because of
34:03
how
34:04
necessary
34:05
it was
34:06
for our
34:07
salvation.
34:09
If he
34:09
had taken
34:09
another
34:10
path none
34:11
of us
34:11
would be
34:11
here.
34:12
The world
34:12
would be
34:12
destroyed.
34:13
We would
34:13
be in a
34:14
lost
34:14
eternity
34:15
and yet
34:16
because he
34:17
chose the
34:18
path of
34:19
obedience
34:19
we are
34:21
set free
34:22
from sin
34:23
and we
34:24
get to
34:25
enjoy
34:25
the
34:27
insurpassable
34:30
benefit
34:30
of being
34:32
in Christ.
34:33
So
34:34
Father in
34:34
heaven we
34:35
pray that
34:35
you will
34:36
remind us
34:36
again of
34:36
the privilege
34:37
which is
34:37
ours this
34:38
day.
34:40
And Lord
34:40
enable us
34:41
we pray
34:41
in the
34:42
elements
34:42
as we
34:43
take
34:43
as we
34:43
feel
34:44
as we
34:44
taste
34:45
the
34:46
symbols
34:46
that
34:46
represent
34:47
the
34:47
broken
34:47
body
34:48
and the
34:48
shed
34:48
blood
34:48
of
34:49
Jesus.
34:50
We
34:50
pray
34:50
that we
34:51
will
34:51
not only
34:52
remember
34:52
but that
34:52
we
34:53
would
34:53
be
34:53
nourished
34:54
by the
34:56
gospel
34:57
by what
34:57
he has
34:57
done
34:58
for us
34:58
by him
34:59
as he
35:00
meets
35:00
with us
35:01
this is
35:01
the
35:01
Lord's
35:02
table
35:02
we thank
35:02
you that
35:03
you're
35:03
not
35:03
far off
35:03
you're
35:04
here
35:04
right in
35:05
this
35:05
place
35:05
feeding
35:06
us
35:06
feeding
35:07
us
35:08
with
35:08
your
35:09
word
35:09
take
35:10
away
35:10
our
35:11
sin
35:11
we
35:11
pray
35:11
in
35:11
Jesus
35:12
name
35:12
amen
35:13
we're
35:18
going to
35:18
sing
35:21
now
35:21
and
35:22
we're
35:22
going to
35:23
sing
35:23
in
35:23
Psalm
35:24
40
35:24
it's
35:24
the
35:24
traditional
35:25
version
35:25
we're
35:26
going to
35:26
sing
35:27
from
35:27
verse
35:27
5
35:28
to
35:28
verse
35:29
8
35:30
Psalm
35:32
number
35:32
40
35:32
on page
35:33
259
35:33
Psalm
35:35
40
35:36
from
35:39
verse
35:40
5
35:40
O
35:43
Lord
35:43
my
35:43
God
35:44
full
35:44
many
35:44
are
35:45
the
35:45
wonders
35:46
thou
35:46
hast
35:46
done
35:47
thy
35:47
gracious
35:47
thoughts
35:48
to us
35:48
were
35:48
far
35:49
above
35:49
all
35:49
thoughts
35:50
are
35:51
gone
35:51
and so
35:51
on
35:52
to
35:52
verse
35:52
8
35:52
where
35:53
we
35:53
read
35:53
these
35:53
words
35:53
that
35:54
we
35:54
believe
35:54
are
35:55
the
35:55
words
35:56
of
35:56
Jesus
35:56
to
35:56
do
35:57
thy
35:57
will
35:57
I
35:59
take
35:59
delight
35:59
O
36:00
thou
36:00
my
36:00
God
36:01
that
36:02
art
36:02
yea
36:02
that
36:03
most
36:03
holy
36:03
law
36:04
of
36:04
thine
36:04
I
36:04
have
36:05
within
36:06
my
36:07
heart
36:07
Psalm
36:08
40
36:08
and
36:09
verse
36:09
5
36:10
to
36:11
verse
36:11
8
36:11
and
36:12
we'll
36:12
stand
36:12
to
36:13
sing
36:13
together
36:13
!
36:15
us
36:19
!
36:21
O
36:22
Maria
36:23
the
36:26
wonders
36:29
of
36:29
us
36:31
love
36:33
thy
36:34
miracle
36:35
Jesus told to us for love, above all those are all.
36:50
In order not, not bread on them, to lead them to bread.
37:08
I seek for them, my new day, Lord, are now in number of love.
37:26
God, if I saw all the day, this time was all beside.
37:41
My ears, my Lord, sin all in love, I've learned his fault in fire.
37:59
To the Lord, he swear my words, I come, the hope of sea.
38:17
Within the home, you know the blue and red spirits on me.
38:35
To thine will I take delight, O thou, my God, the light.
38:52
Yea, at most holy of thine, I am within my heart.
39:10
Let me just say a brief word, as we often do at a time like this,
39:22
that explains the qualifications or the right that God's people have
39:27
to sit at his table and to remember his death.
39:31
And the passage I want to take is Romans chapter 8,
39:34
where Paul makes a distinction between two groups of people.
39:42
Those who, first of all, live according to the flesh
39:46
and those who live according to the spirit.
39:49
Let me just read what he says.
39:51
I think these words are self-explanatory.
39:54
Those who live according to the flesh
39:55
have no reason to sit at the Lord's table.
40:01
They're not guided by God.
40:04
God has not opened their hearts, their eyes, their minds,
40:09
and they simply live from day to day in their own way.
40:15
Those who live according to the spirit, on the other hand,
40:18
are those whose hearts have been opened by the spirit
40:20
and in whom God dwells.
40:25
Now, just let me read it.
40:27
For those who live according to the flesh
40:30
set their minds on the things of the flesh.
40:34
But those who live according to the spirit
40:37
set their minds on the things of the spirit.
40:42
To set the mind on the flesh is death,
40:45
but to set the mind on the spirit
40:47
is life and peace.
40:51
For the mind that is set on the flesh
40:53
is hostile to God.
40:55
For it does not submit to God's law.
40:58
Indeed, it cannot.
40:59
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
41:05
So I guess that's the question that we ask ourselves.
41:09
Where is our mind?
41:11
On what does our mind say?
41:13
Now, I'm not asking if we're being distracted.
41:14
We're all distracted.
41:15
And, you know, even when we come to worship,
41:18
one of the biggest obstacles to worship is distraction.
41:20
I'm not asking that.
41:21
God knows the struggles that we have.
41:25
But ultimately, ultimately,
41:28
at the root of who you are,
41:29
where is your mind?
41:30
What's your mind?
41:31
Is your mind on the flesh?
41:34
Do you just want to please yourself?
41:37
Or do you want to please God?
41:39
I'm not asking if you please God perfectly.
41:41
None of us do.
41:42
But I'm asking, do you want to?
41:45
Do you love God because he first loved you?
41:47
And is your desire, is your longing to please him,
41:51
to become more like him,
41:53
to live in the light of his word and his commands?
41:56
Do you want to be led by him?
41:59
If Jesus, if you were living at the time of Jesus,
42:01
would you be one of these people like Mary?
42:03
And even Martha, Lazarus,
42:05
who just wanted to spend time with him,
42:07
listening to him, drinking in his word,
42:09
serving him?
42:11
Or like the disciples?
42:13
Is that where you would be?
42:14
If so, then that's where we are today,
42:19
at the Lord's table.
42:21
It doesn't really matter what century we're in.
42:23
It's the same Jesus.
42:24
He's alive.
42:25
He's with us.
42:26
He's present with us.
42:29
And just like the disciples wanted to be with him
42:31
at the Last Supper,
42:31
we want to be with him here today.
42:34
And that contrasts vastly
42:37
with the other category of people.
42:40
We can all remember when we belonged to that category,
42:43
when we had no interest in God,
42:45
at least most of us can,
42:47
until God changed that.
42:50
And until God gave us a real love
42:53
and a real longing and a desire
42:54
to obey him,
42:57
to listen to his word,
42:59
and to be forgiven from all our sins.
43:02
And so that's who should be.
43:04
You know, this part of the service
43:06
is traditionally called fencing.
43:09
I've never liked that term.
43:10
I have to say I've never liked it
43:11
because it gives the impression
43:12
that we're trying to keep people out.
43:14
We're not.
43:15
God's word is an invitation.
43:16
We'll see this tonight.
43:18
God's word is an invitation.
43:20
The gospel is an invitation to come.
43:23
And yet, if your mind is not set on God,
43:28
then you won't want to come.
43:30
Because coming to the table
43:31
is not going to save anybody by itself.
43:33
But if coming to the table
43:36
is a mark of your confession
43:40
that I love the Lord
43:43
because he heard my voice,
43:45
then this is the right place for us,
43:49
along with God's people.
43:52
Now, we're going to sing together,
43:53
and we're going to sing in Psalm number 118.
43:57
It's the Sing Psalms version,
43:58
and I think I may have given the presenter
44:00
the wrong verse.
44:02
And if I have, then my apologies.
44:05
But it's verse 19.
44:08
I think I've written down nine.
44:10
It's not nine.
44:11
It's 19.
44:13
And we'll sing three verses
44:14
because I don't want to take up too much time.
44:19
Sing Psalm 119.
44:21
Sing Psalm's version,
44:22
and it's on page 156,
44:23
and it's verse 19.
44:26
Throw wide the gates of righteousness.
44:29
I'll enter and give thanks to God.
44:32
This is the gate of God
44:33
through which the righteous came,
44:36
come before the Lord.
44:37
So we'll sing three verses
44:38
from 19 to 24
44:40
as we prepare to dispense the elements.
44:45
So Psalm 118 and verse 19
44:48
on page 156,
44:50
and we'll stand to sing.
44:53
Psalm 119.
45:23
Come before the Lord.
45:29
You answer me, I will give thanks.
45:38
Salvation comes from you alone.
45:46
The stone the builders have refuted
45:55
Has now become the cornerstone.
46:05
Lord himself has done all this.
46:13
It is upon the letter's light.
46:22
This is the day the Lord has made.
46:31
In it let us take great delight.