• Matthew 4:1-4
• As humans, we have to bear the lot of humanity. We cannot just make it go away.
• Lessons
  • We all face temptation. It is an unavoidable part of the human experience.
  • God is with us in our hour of weakness and helps us to defeat temptation.
  • Behind our temptation is the devil who seeks our destruction, but he can be defeated.
  • Where Israel failed, Christ was able to succeed and show us the way. Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:1-3.
• Matthew 4:4
  • “Man” - The devil wants to convince us that we are just animals, that if we have a desire, we should just fulfill it.
  • “shall not live” - There is a part of us that needs more than just physical nourishment to live. There is a spiritual side of man. There is a part of us that suffers without spiritual nourishment. Why do celebrities and pro athletes live such messed up lives? Because they try to live by bread alone!
  • “on bread alone” - Society tries to teach us that bread alone is enough.
  • “on every word” - Even the universe exists because of the word of God.
  • “that proceeds out of the mouth of God” - Our soul and spirit thrives on the word of God.
• Conclusion
  • By His temptation Jesus took on our burden and carried it.
  • He shows us that there is much more to life than our physical existence.
  • He shows us that to truly live we must come to fully trust in God.
  • That life comes through every word of God.

[Sorry, no audio available is available for this lesson. We are attempting to recover it from another source and will update this post if it becomes available.]

• John 4:4-29
• The text is about:
  • A testimony of faith.
    • John 4:41-42
    • We also have to come to faith by reading testimonies of Jesus.
  • The quality of worship
    • John 4:21-22
    • John 4:23-24 – Worship must be in spirit and truth.
      • Can you worship in spirit an truth if you do not listen to God (lack of truth) or if your heart is not right (lack of spirit)?
  • Your true identity
    • Our identity doesn’t matter to God – we must be true worshipers of God. A true worshiper should be our identity. In God’s eyes, our physical identity does not matter.
  • Temporary vs. eternal solutions
• Conclusion:
  • Do you believe the testimony?
  • What is the quality of your worship?
  • What is your true identity?
  • Do you have sin to answer for?
  • Are you seeking eternal solutions?

• II Chronicles 32:1-23
• A story told three times in the Bible:
  • II Chronicles 32:1-23
  • II Kings 18:13-19:37
  • Isaiah 36-37
• II Chronicles 32:7 – This is our faith – that God is with us and is greater than whoever might come against us.
• II Chronicles 32:20 – See II Kings 19:14-19 for Hezekiah’s prayer.
• II Chronicles 32:21 – God answers Hezekiah’s prayer and destroys Sennacherib’s army.
• A great story
  • A story about the arrogance and unbelief of powerful men.
  • A story about the faith and perseverance of God’s people in the face of overwhelming odds.
  • A story about God’s deliverance.
• A true story
  • Hezekiah really was King of Judah.
  • He really did do the things described.
  • There really was a King Sennacherib.
  • He really did invade Judah.
  • He really did surround Jerusalem.
  • Sennacherib really was defeated.
  • Sennacherib really was murdered.
• The Biblical and Assyrian records agree.

• When do you have local church action? (continued)
  • When there are Christians living and taking action in a particular area?
    • Is geography the deciding factor? Are Christians automatically part of the church which assembles the closest to their residence?
    • Acts 9:26-28
  • When all local church members act together in spiritual work?
    • I Timothy 5:16
    • Acts 4:32-5:4. Note the difference between one’s own money, and that which has been given into a common fund. (See also John 12:3-6 – can you pilfer your own money?)
      • Acts 4:37 - “laid it at the apostles’ feet” implies that the money was under the control of the apostles. It does not mean that the money now belonged to the apostles.
    • Matthew 18:15-17
      • Collective: more than a plurality – it’s acting as one.
        • Singular:
          • One link of a chain
          • Christian
          • Matthew 18:15-17 – You
        • Plural
          • Multiple links of a chain
          • Christians
          • Matthew 18:15-17 – 2 or 3 witnesses
        • Collective
          • The entire chain
          • Local church
          • Matthew 18:15-17 – church
    • Philippians 2:25,30; 4:14-18. Note that Epaphroditus delivered the money, but the work was that of the Philippian church.
    • I Corinthians 11:17
    • Philippians 1:27

• Introduction
  • Matthew 7:13-14
  • Selfishness is the root of many if not all sins.
• Out of self
  • Luke 9:23
  • Ephesians 4:22 – Put aside the old self.
  • II Corinthians 5:17
  • Jeremiah 10:23; Psalms 37:23; Proverbs 3:5-6 – Let the Lord direct your paths.
  • Matthew 6:33 – Seeking God must become first.
  • John 13:4-15 – Jesus washed the disciples’ feet.
• Into Christ
  • Romans 6:7 – Baptism is the way into Christ
  • Matthew 28:18; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 10:17 – One must be taught.
  • John 8:24 – One must believe.
  • Acts 17:30 – repentance required
  • Romans 10:10 – confession required
  • II Corinthians 10:4-5
• Into glory
  • Romans 9:27; I Corinthians 15:51
  • II Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 14:13 – One must die having lived righteously before God.
  • Hebrews 4:11
  • Psalms 126
  • Luke 17:10
  • John 5:28-29