The Holy Spirit Promise (Part 10)

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The Holy Spirit Promise

(Part 10)

Good morning and Welcome to Jesus Church – Here and Online

• We are in the middle of a series on the Holy Spirit
  • We believe that the Spirit live and active in our lives
  • Is crucial to be effective as Christians in this life
• Last week we talked about Holiness (Kadash)
  • Means to be Set Apart/Unique/Good
  • To be Holy means to become more like Godly
  • But it also means to become more like God made you to be
    • In other words we become more like God – Yes
    • But we also become more Human – Our true self
• So as we become more Holy… closer to God
  • We find out more of who we are
  • Which will bring contentment and fulfillment like never before
  • And will equip you to be more effective for God in our world

This week we are going to look at DELIVERANCE

• We believe that there is a Spiritual world all around us
  • And in that world there are Spirits which are for God (rule/reign)
  • And there are Spirits which are against God
• You and I are made in the image of God
  • So those spirits against God… naturally are against us as well
  • Anything made in the image of God must be destroyed
• Looking at 10 commandments (2 parts – relational/communal)
  • Very first command of communal section is do not murder
  • Why is it first: because its very important
  • Why important: Huge offense 2 God when his image is destroyed

So what we know about the demonic… Plan is total destruction

• But that starts with bondage or being a slave to sin

Jn 8:32-33

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves to anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”

• Of course we know Jesus has set us free from sin and death
  • But Romans tells us that the devil’s plan is to make us live
  • As if we are still under the control of sin in our lives
• Paul says (talking of his old sinful nature)
  • Sometimes he falls back to believing he is still a slave to sin
  • Even though he has been set free

Gal. 5:1

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

• So we know what the Devil wants to do to keep us from God’s plan
  • And knowing your enemies plan gives you the upper hand
  • And my prayer is that some of us can be freed today
  • By realizing what the Devil does… and that he has no authority
    • Outside of the authority that you give him to operate

Is. 61:1-3 (before we start… read this scripture over us)

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me (now this is talking how Jesus ministers to us.. then through us) to bring good news to the poor (some of you need good news today); he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted (some of you are here today), to proclaim liberty to the captives (some of you are here today), and the opening of the prison to those who were bound. To proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God (vengeance against sin). To comfort all who mourn, to grand to those who mourn in Zion (talking to believers) – to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit. That they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified… PRAY

Turn to Matt. 4 – Again Satans goal starts with bondage

He tries this with Jesus: Want to look at what Jesus does to fight back

• Context: Jesus was just been baptized & Holy Spirit comes upon him
  • So Full of Spirit… first thing he does is face intense temptation
  • Now you might ask – Can Jesus be tempted to sin
  • Well according to the Bible the answer is yes

Matt 4:1

Then Jesus was lead up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

• Some translations will say this was a testing and not a tempting
  • James tells us that God will not tempt us
  • But God does test us (think of Abraham’s faith being tested)
  • The Devil is the one who tempts

So Jesus is led by the Spirit… tempted by the Devil

And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. (detail given to remind us that Jesus was in fact human with human weakness) And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

• Now its really important to look at what Jesus does when tempted

But he answered, “It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes. From the mouth of God.”

• What is first thing Jesus does when tempted… he quotes scripture
  • And does he do this to himself quietly or to devil out loud
  • And this is a pattern we will see
• Devil doesn’t give up… he quotes scripture back at Jesus – What?!
  • Can the Devil do that… yes but Satan always manipulates truth
  • And will makes it mean something it was never meant to say
    • How many have you been attacked by the devil in that way
    • Condemned by the scriptures meant to bring you life

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “On their hands they will bear you up , lest you strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”

• So again – Jesus quotes scripture – Out loud
  • To the Devil… probably to himself a little as well
  • And then comes the 3^rd test… Devil doesn’t give up easily

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give to you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan!”

• Is that a suggestion… no it’s a command
  • But by what authority is Jesus able to command the devil to flee
  • Its by the authority of the Father who said “This is my son”
• Now who else is a son or a daughter of God
  • You and I are
  • So that same authority is given to us as well
• Then he gives more Bible to the Devil… do you catch the pattern?
  • And the devil doesn’t stay gone
  • But the devil leaves because of the authority of the command

For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.” Then the devil left and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

• That word minister means to serve
  • Same thing Heb. 1:14 says ministering spirits do for us
  • It means to set forth food (Jesus was hungry)
  • Or for us Spiritual nourishment
• This comes out also when David wrote Ps. 23
  • You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies
  • Meaning engage in Spiritual nourishment
    • Read your Bible… Pray… Worship
    • Serve others… Call a fellow believer
• So what do we do (that Jesus did) when the Devil attacks us…
  • Quote scripture out loud
  • Command the Devil to leave (in authority of the Father)
  • Engage in spiritual nourishment
    • So that’s it… those three things… not complicated

Want to look at how Jesus was

able to walk this out

1: Jesus resisted the Devil – Temptation of the Devil

Many don’t really believe the demonic plays a role in temptation

• Greatest trick Devil played was convincing world he doesn’t exist
  • We know there is spiritual warfare and attacks on believers
  • The Bible tells us that evil and the Devil are real and present
  • And the first thing we have to do is RESIST THE DEVIL

James 4:7

Submit yourselves then to God, resist the Devil and he will flee from you.

• Submit to who’s authority… God’s authority – Not your authority

1 Pt 5:8

Be alert & of sober mind, the enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith b/c you know the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of suffering. (Faith comes by hearing > by the word)

• Don’t misunderstand… the Devil didn’t cause you to stub your toe
  • Just like Devil didn’t cause Jesus to be hungry (humanness did)
  • But the Devil absolutely used that to lead into temptation
  • Have to recognize what is/isn’t the devil… and what he uses

Ex. When does Satan come after Jesus… when he was hungry (vulnerable)

• The Saying: Be careful when you are hungry/angry/lonely/tired
  • When you are at your lowest in your humanity
  • That’s usually when we are most prone to temptation
• Just think back to something you gave in to
  • Good chance it was when you were tired… lonely… already angry
    • You were angry so you were tempted to say or do something
    • You were tired so you looked at something you should have
    • You were lonely and let thoughts run to dangerous places
• And Jesus resisted by Speaking scripture out loud
  • And this is Jesus as a human – with all weakness we face
  • And he defeats… he doesn’t give in

Tag: So first resist the Devil

2: Jesus reminded himself of God’s promises/goodness

When the devil tried to get Jesus to question God’s protection

• Jesus quotes scripture specifically to remind himself of who God is

Deut. 8:2-3 (Moses big speech b4 going into promised land – reminder)

You shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

• Now why does Jesus use this story in Deuteronomy
  • This was a story of Israel tested… Jesus put to the test (tempted)
  • This was Israel’s wilderness… Jesus is in the wilderness
  • Israel was there 40 years… Jesus was there 40 days
  • There is this element of hunger and feeding
  • And Israel is called God’s son… Jesus was just called God’s son
• So Jesus takes a story of God’s faithfulness in the past
  • Uses it as a tool (reminder) that God will be faithful now

How powerful is the testimony of Gods past faithfulness in our lives

• Because the Devil will try and twist the story – God doesn’t care
  • He isn’t even aware of what is going on in your life
  • So just give in to whatever your temptation is
  • It won’t make a difference anyways
• But think back to how God has walked you through the past
  • And remind yourself of when God has been your goodness
  • Or the stories of God’s faithfulness to others or in the Scripture
• Jesus reminded himself of the Father’s consistency of faithfulness
  • And God’s faithfulness will always be your true north
  • You might get turned around by the storms of life
  • But remember that God is good… and God never changes

Tag: So resist the devil… then remind yourself of God’s faithfulness

3: Jesus remained in his identity

So right before the wilderness happens – God identifies Jesus as his son

• Nothing more powerful than this statement – Over you/over Jesus
  • That you are his son/daughter and he is pleased with you
  • But notice that Jesus identity comes from Heaven
  • It’s not by what parents… friends… social media… even himself
• God saw it necessary to declare to everyone including Jesus
  • This is my son in whom I am well pleased
  • If its necessary for Jesus to hear how God felt about him
  • How much more do we need to hear what God feels about us

But what I see more than anything else in this temptation

• Its an attack on the identity of who Jesus is
  • Which makes sense… he did it in the garden as well
  • Eve – You can be like God
  • Not his creation… not his children… you can be like him
• How do we see this in our world today
  • You can do whatever you want to do…
  • No one tells you what’s right for you…
    • This is the world we live in
• Maybe the most ramped temptation in the world today
  • Is an autonomy from absolute truth
  • That says I make up right and wrong for myself
  • I am not a child of God… I am God

So Jesus goes into the wilderness… Satan goes straight for identity

• Just look how Satan addresses him: “If you are…”
  • Satan is trying to derail Jesus off his identity… and off his calling
  • By making Jesus doubt his identity and do things not as a son
  • But do them as the father himself… just look at these words
• 1: Make stones into bread
  • Should Jesus take care of this need to feed himself
    • Or should Jesus wait on the Father to take care of him
    • Who should Jesus rely on… trust… have faith in
  • And this is a theme throughout scripture & humanity
    • Do I take things into my own hands – Make it happen
    • We all have times we need and it hasn’t been provided
    • Temptation is to just say “fine I’ll get it myself”
• 2: Test protection by jumping off the temple
  • Again this is identity between the Son and Father
  • Satan saying – Just make sure the Father will protect you
  • But Jesus doesn’t need to test his Father… He knows he’s good
• 3: Take a shortcut to inheriting the kingdoms of the world
  • And this is a point of desperation on Satan’s part
  • But Jesus knew that there was a plan
  • He needed to trust in the plan God set out

In all the temptations… its not just about an act of sin

• Much bigger – Wants to undermine trust between Father and Son
  • Make him doubt his God given identity and calling on the earth
  • Its not about the bread… but taking down entire Kingdom project
• Satan was trying to attack Jesus’ God given identity
  • And that’s exactly what Satan still does today
  • He will try and make you doubt who you are
• Listen… if someone wants to control you in your life
  • All they have to do is get you to doubt who you are
  • Abusive spouse: Make the husband/wife doubt who they are
  • Controlling friend: Force them to believe what u say about them
    • B/C its all about Identity… easiest path to control (bondage)
    • Take away their identity and make it what u want it to be
• And if that’s you this morning… this is a call to come back
  • Remember who God says you are – Called you to be
  • And resolve in your heart to walk that path
  • Satan is the king of deception… get you off your identity

If you struggling with sin… maybe don’t even know who you are anymore

• Get back to the basics of who God has created you to be
  • Get in your room – close the door – and pray
  • And let God remind you of who he called you to be
• And when you do that… stay focused on what God called you to
  • All the other things become way less important
  • Because they aren’t who you are
• You will find amazing success b/c behavior always follows identity
  • Whoever you believe you are… dictate how you act

Jesus resolves to the idea… I am the Son of God – The Messiah

• Goes into the wilderness and acts like it… because he knew identity
  • Satan says “If you are the son…”
  • Jesus says I don’t need that to tell me what I already know
  • And because of that – This is how I act
• Study done for these 3^rd graders and teachers in California
  • PhD comes in with this “Test” and gives it to all the kids
    • Tell teachers which kids are about to become genius
    • Put them in a special class
  • Over the year the studied the kids/teachers
    • The teachers give them more attention
    • The teachers are more patient with them
    • Kids believed – All the kids in the group… Learning skyrockets
  • Because who we think we are determines how we act
• Question tonight – Who do you believe yourself to be
  • How you answer that will determine so much
    • It will determine your victory of temptation
    • It will determine your identity in Christ (son/daughter)
    • It will determine which kingdom you are living for