Sunday School Lesson: The Apostolic Way
Theme: Singe –
Minded Obedience
Matthew 4: 1- 11
Unifying Principle : Passing the Tests / Purpose through
total obedience
Landing
point: Jesus provides
us a practical path to triumph over sin/temptation ( repeat this
over and over during your lesson)
Context: The battle over
“who is the boss” has been raging since the beginning of time (Gen.3). After
failing to usurp authority over God, the deceiver has masterfully sought to
enlarge his border and influence (authority) over God’s creation in the earth.
His strategy has not changed since his defeat of Adam and Eve. Only, this time
he hoped to pull off the ultimate defeat to a God-man who was seemingly at a low
point – he was hungry and tired, having fasted for forty days, in a hot, dry
desert (Mat.4:1-2). When is the best time to gain one on your enemy? When they
are down/weak/exposed.
Three areas of
testing:
1.
Test #1 : Physical & Psychological
Satisfaction – Doubting God (Mat.4:1-4)
2.
Test #2:
Possessions and Power – Trusting God (Mat.4:5-7)
3.
Test #3:
Pride – Take the shortcut (Mat.4:8-10)
Jesus as the model – work through
the process! Tests and temptation will come
Test #1 – Flesh/Physical & Psychological Satisfaction
These series of tests were intense as this was the battle to
establish authority and dominion. Who is in control here? As the divine Son of
God, “He could not give in to the tests and sin, but He had to endure until the
tests were complete”[1]
Single-minded
obedience (We overcome with the Helper who resides within – Jn.14:16)
Strategy – Plants seeds of Doubt:
Strategy – Plants seeds of Doubt:
Notice the use of the word “If” (Mat.4:3). “If you are…” If
you are, then do…
Doubting leads to mistrust. Mistrust leads to compromise.
Make the point of how seeds of doubt cause believers to
mistrust God’s provision, love, care, power, conversion, ability, and laws.
If God really loved you, then, why are you (here) at this
point in your life? Students of all levels can identify with this. Use
practical examples.
·
If you are the King, then why did the Father
lead you into a dry desert, left you without food and shelter, and for so long?
Look at you… Don’t you deserve better? Don’t you deserve (this/that)…? Just
this one time, Treat yourself. You are obviously hungry!
Single-minded obedience:
Jesus responds with the Word: Matthew 4:4. He reminds the enemy of
God’s provision given to the Children of Israel in their desert experience
(Deut.8:3). His food is God’s Word, that is able to sustain Him. Not bread. “I
am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes
in Me will never thirst” (Jn.6:35). I will not satisfy myself. I will do the
will of the Father (Jn.6:38; Mat.6:33).
Test #2 Possessions
& Power - Do you really trust God?
Strategy - Put God to the Test
Strategy - Put God to the Test
Already familiar with the Holy Scriptures, the enemy twists
Psalm 91:11-12. Our students need to know the Scriptures for themselves (2 Tim.2:15).
He encouraged Jesus to do something to put God to the test.
He said He would….so make God prove Himself. This is the sin of presumption.
Jump from this pinnacle (Mat.4:5), the angels will catch you, and you will
prove to the who world that you are the Messiah (right now). You do not have to
wait for the Cross! (Mat.27:32-56).
·
Our students will be tempted to take the
shortcuts in life, and BYPASS God’s plan for them. The plan for Jesus –
the way of suffering (Isa.53). Christians are called to experience the same
“Therefore, since Christ has suffered
in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose” (1 Pet.4:1a).
·
The devil will encourage the believer: Go ahead…take
your chances. God will forgive…
·
How far can I go in this sinful, compromising
situation? Do not presume on God! (Rom.6:1-2; 23).
Single-minded obedience
Jesus responds with the Word: “Do not put God to the test” (Mat.4:7).
Test #3 Pride –
Take the shortcut
Strategy – To entice with power and materialism
Strategy – To entice with power and materialism
The enemy and deceiver shows Jesus the kingdoms of the world,
with the inherent glory (Mat.4:8), and tells Him “All of this can be yours…I
can give this to you…all you have to do is…” (Mat.4:9).
Sounds familiar…his strategy never changes. Believers are
given the same choice every day. Break this idea down for the different age
groups in your church.
·
You can have it all now! Social media is sending
the same message to us. Folks are taking the easy way after the discouragement
of seeing others with “stuff.”
·
Treat yourself, he says. You deserve this. I
will be your friend.
·
The ends justify the means.
Single-minded obedience
Jesus responds with the Word: “For it is written…” (Mat.4:10). All of the things the devil showed Jesus and told Him He could have was already His (Psa. 2:8)
Declare with our words and actions – We worship and serve
God only!
ΓΌ
We can be assured that God will meet the needs
of those who honor him through obedience
“Then the devil left Him (Jesus), and
behold, angels came and began to minister to Him” (Mat.4:11).
Apostolic Way Applications
·
Aspire -
to obey God as Jesus demonstrated
·
Develop – spiritual habits that can strengthen you
in times of temptations
·
Understand – Jesus is our High Priest and can
sympathize with our struggles (He endured the tests without sinning). “He stuck
to the purpose, remained submitted to the will of the Father.”[2]
[1] John
Walvoord, and Roy Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Colorado Springs,
CO: David C. Cook,1983), 26.
[2]
The Apostolic Way, (Chicago, Il: UMI/Pentecostal Assemblies of the World,
2019), 232.
John MacArthur, The Temptation of Christ. Retrieved from https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-84/the-temptation-of-christ.
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Christian Education in The Bahamas. Written by Kevin Hall
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