saying this, testing

"How to Handle Temptation" {Matt4:1-11}
* Intro
- All since garden face a wilderness decision: who to listen to, Lord or liar?
- Liar's basic message: self more important than Lord
- Matt has two purposes for this passage: to demonstrate His moral authority as king; to demonstrate pattern to overcome temptation
* Preparation
- Temptation often follows (precedes) victory (this one followed His baptism)
- God never entices us to evil (though can use liar's trials for good to build character)
- Temptation (testing) is part of His plan
* Temptation
- Serving self (enjoy it now): same as test to Eve -- debate over His promises to man (Lord's response: obedience better than self-service)
- God not against enjoyment but living for enjoyment
- Testing God (prove it now): liar can quote Word
- Worshipping Satan (possess it now): liar says you can have it all if you go by his leading
* Application
- Recognize pattern of temptation
- Recognize enemy's tactics
- Recognize way of victory over temptation {ICor10:13, Ps119:11, Jam4:7}