1	Temptations in the Wilderness Vinod Shah, CCIH Annual Conference, May 28, 2005
2	Scripture Reference “As soon as Jesus was baptised …….was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted –Matthew 3:16 to ….….the devil left him and angels came and attended him.” Matthew 4: 1-11
3	Matt 3:16,17 - Identity bestowed I And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; 17 and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
4	Identity The reason why Jesus was able to overcome are in these verses Matthew:16 and 17 He had an identity “Beloved Son” Accepted before He accomplished anything
5	Suicide note of a Houston teenager 1985
6	Socrates Socrates lived during 470 B.C. to 399 B.C “Know thyself” to young people Sentenced to death for corrupting young people
7	Identity not to be found in the Family Tree Occupation Race Amount of wealth
8	John Eldridge “Sacred Romance” Says our identity is to be found in the phrase: “Pursued by my beloved” I am my beloved and His desire is for me – (Song of Solomon 7:10)
9	"Menelaus," Menelaus, King of Greece Paris- Prince of Troy Pursuit – 1000 ships
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11	Hound of Heaven- Francis Thomson
12	"I fled Him down the..." I fled Him down the nights and down the days I fled Him down the arches of the years I fled Him down the labyrinthine ways Of my own mind, and in the mist of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter. Up vistaed hopes I sped; and shot precipitated Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears, From those strong Feet that followed, followed after. But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbèd pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, They beat—and a Voice beat More instant than the Feet— 'All things betray thee, who betrayest Me'.
13	Hound of Heaven-Contd. Rise, clasp My hand, and come !" Halts by me that footfall : Is my gloom, after all, Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly "Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest, I am He Whom thou seekest
14	Reflection Does our identity come only from our “occupation”? Can you be the “pursued one”?
15	1^st Temptation - What does it really mean
16	1^st Temptation Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered. 3 And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God :
17	"Temptation to misuse God given..." Temptation to misuse God given gifts Authority given in “stewardship” cannot be misused
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19	Most gifted painter of the 20^th century Changed mistresses like people changed clothes Work of his last years was filled with couples kissing, copulating and suffocating each other. Utterly disconnected with reality; died angry and resentful
20	St. John Chrysostom (Bishop of Constantinople) Constantly challenged the wealthy to give. He said: “you have to give things away because they belong to the poor.’ Banished to die walking in the wintry wilderness.
21	What have you got that you have not received? 1 chronicles 29: 11 to 14 “For everything in heaven and earth is yours”… Challenge for us to consider about our God given gifts
22	Stones to Bread……. Another way to understand this: As a diversion devised by the Devil Like a distraction
23	Blaise Pascal 1623-1662 Brilliant physicist, mathematician & Theologian Pascal’s laws, Hydraulic principle & calculating machine
24	"What people want is not..." What people want is not just a easy peaceful life but rather a “diversion” People prefer to keep hunting rather than capturing the hare They want to be distracted from taking life’s most important decisions
25	"John Bunyan’s – Pilgrim Progress" John Bunyan’s – Pilgrim Progress Beelzebub set up a “vanity fair” to divert pilgrims from going to the celestial city
26	2^nd Temptation Next, the devil took Jesus to the holy city and had him stand on the highest part of the temple. The devil said, “If you are God’s Son, jump off. The Scriptures say: God will give his angel orders about you. They will catch you in their arms, and you won’t hurt your feet on the stones.” Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Don’t try to test the Lord your God!” *
27	2^nd Temptation – “Just jump off”
28	Compel God to act God will have to rescue you thro’ his angels Temptation to manipulate & control Compelling God to act in a predetermined way
29	"Lord of the Rings" Lord of the Rings Ring had to be destroyed because it was a very controlling thing (city of doom) Only Frodo and Sam Gamgee could do it
30	Howard Hughes- the American billionaire
31	"He liked to hire actresses..." He liked to hire actresses – pay them, their hotel bills and make sure they were always at his beck and call He never gave them work to do He just enjoyed the control he had over them
32	Reflection Are our relationships free from Control or manipulation- Spouse Children Colleagues, committees If you love then set him/her free…
33	Temptation 2 – contd. Also can be interpreted as a temptation to be “popular” Jump in front of the temple where worshippers will applaud
34	Magic versus Miracles Magic is done to attract attention to oneself; to impress that you have credentials Miracles are done – only to help others. Jesus was not a magician Jesus’s weapon in winning people was not power but love
35	Reflection What drives our behavior? How conscious are we about making an impression on others?
36	3^rd Temptation Finally, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms on earth and their power. The devil said to him, “I will give all this to you, if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ *
37	3^rd Temptation- “All these things I will give you”
38	Faust - Johann Goethe. (1749 – 1832)
39	Extract ….. Mephistopheles- Wealth shall be yours, beyond all fear or favour. Be pleased to take your pleasures on the wing, voluptuous beauty taste in everything. And may you flourish on the joys … Faust – And soothe my soul to self sufficiency and make me one of pleasure’s devotees. And then take my soul… that’s a wager.
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41	Pact with death – for sex Pact as follows: To exchange life in its entirety for sex itself, for the truth and sovereignty of sex- sex is worth dying for. “Risk is its own reward” A model for all the young homosexuals in San Francisco Died of AIDS in 1984
42	Jesus did not make this pact Devil must have shown him all the kingdoms- past and present He had a vision of a better kingdom Revelation 21- A new Heaven and a new earth
43	No deals with God.. Deals are made where there is mistrust God asks for full unconditional surrender in full trust
44	Angels ministering to Him No one can say that they have been tempted more than they are able..