1st Reading – Luke 4 v.1 – 12

The Temptation of Jesus Christ

Stones to Bread –

- Instant Self-gratification

Throw yourself from the Temple –

- Self-glorification

V.5-7 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.

And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendour, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. “

all the kingdoms

all their authority and splendour

Power and control

- - - by oppression

So, if you worship me, it will all be yours.”

Jesus answered

v.8 “It is written: ‘Worship the lord your God and serve him only.’”

Phil.2 v.8 - He humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.

He humbled himself

2nd Reading – Matt.16 v.21 – 27

Matt.16 v.16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”v.21 From that time Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

Choice – “all their authority and splendour.”Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me: you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” He humbled himself

Heb.12 v.2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.v.24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

For the Son of man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and he will reward each person according to what he has done.

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or

What can a man give in exchange

for his soul?“all their authority and splendour.”

He humbled himself

John 3 v.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

v.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Luke 9 v.25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

This body isn’t going to heaven.

I.Q. - - - - - - nor is my brain

Creativity

E.Q.

Love the Lord thy God

Love thy neighbour

Love one another

1 Cor.13 v.1 – 3 If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

The opposite of love is not hate but indifference.

Remain in me

Live by the Spirit

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness

and self-control.

“all their authority and splendour.”

He humbled himself

Luke 9 v.25 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet

lose or forfeit his very self?