St. Paul’s Sermon 2005

The First Sunday in Lent - February 13, 2005

Lessons: Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

“Out of the Depths of Temptation”

I) Depth of Temptation - Theme

Jesus- 40 days- hungry- good things!

-Bread

-Miracles

-Political power

-All twisted with lies-

-If you are the Son of God- do things to show your power; you must prove yourself to the devil- twist Scripture- nothing wrong with bread itself!

-If... twist Scripture- prove yourself- fly!- put God to the test- nothing wrong with miracles- not God’s will.

-If... I’ll give you all this- (It wasn’t his!) - nothing wrong with power- not God’s will.

II) Temptations -

A) They Feel Right

Can’t watch TV, movie, magazine or listen to the radio for five minutes without temptation.

Used to give Confirmation classes assignment- cut up magazine to find ads that flaunt a commandment- too easy now! Harder to find one that doesn’t!

Temptations are rarely to do bad- (go drink spoiled milk- go eat Drano-) tempted by goods that replace a best.

Temptations rarely look bad- often look like the best thing that’s ever happened to you- how can it possibly be bad? gotcha.

Temptations might look like injustice- Obviously, you’re right. Especially when you’re angry. Paul must have chuckled when he wrote “Be angry...but sin not.” (Eph 4:26) Ever been tempted to sin when angry? It seems so right...even righteous.

B) God’ Word protects - strangely- Law

-Commandments- Law- quickest litmus test

-Promises you’ve made- structure- law

-Law of the state

III) Temptations = Trials=Testing= Proving

A) One Greek word equals all those- peiradzo = (like Pyrex) “to pass through the fire”

Greek word for fire: pur like English word, “pure”

Mat 18:7 "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the man by whom the temptation comes!

James 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one.

1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Use the “Ginger man” defense- “Run away!” Call a friend; get yourself out of the circumstance; dive into Word; confession & absolution; make yourself accountable.

Mat 6: 13 13 And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.

We pray, trust, rejoice; sometimes we fail; confess, start over;

1 John 4:4 Little children, you are of God, and have overcome them; for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world

Gospel sets you free; God’s Word protects you; God in his great joy will lead you to the freedom of obedience. Invitation; amen

First Sunday in Lent - February 13, 2005

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. [16] And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; [17] but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"

[2] The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, [3] but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.' "

[4] "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. [5] "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

[6] When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. [7] Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

Romans 5:12-19

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- [13] for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. [14] Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

[15] But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! [16] Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. [17] For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

[18] Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. [19] For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. [2] After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. [3] The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

[4] Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

[5] Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. [6] "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:

" 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

[7] Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

[8] Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. [9] "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

[10] Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

[11] Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.