A comprehensive sermon script to be preached to a new Christian On the Temptation of Jesus.

 Alright, here is a comprehensive sermon script drafted for a new Christian, designed to be delivered at approximately 220 words per minute for a duration of 32 minutes, drawing on the provided sources.

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(0:00 - 4:00) Welcome, dear friend, to the beginning of your journey in Christ. It is a profound joy to witness you stepping into this new life, a life defined by faith, hope, and the boundless grace of God. As you embark on this incredible adventure, it’s essential to understand that becoming a Christian doesn't instantly remove all challenges from your path. In fact, you may find yourself facing new kinds of challenges, particularly in the realm of what the Bible calls "temptation".

You see, temptation is a universal experience, something that influences you to disobey God. It's not unique to the Christian life, but our perspective on it changes once we belong to Christ. Temptation itself is not the same as sin. Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, yet He remained without sin. This is a crucial distinction. Feeling tempted isn't a failure on your part; it's how you respond that matters. Yielding to temptation, choosing to act on the impulse to disobey God – that is where sin enters the picture.

Temptation can manifest in many ways. It can target our physical needs and desires, influencing us to seek immediate gratification outside of God's will. It can introduce doubt and pressure, leading us to question God's goodness, love, or plan. It can appeal to our desire for power, control, or recognition, tempting us to achieve things through means contrary to God's ways. Temptation is often deceptive and subtle, promising what it cannot give and giving what it never promised. It aims for our destruction, seeking to pull us away from God's plan.

Understanding that temptation is a real part of the human experience, even for those walking with God, prepares us for the battles we will face. The good news is that you are not a passive victim in this. You have a choice in your heart. And most importantly, you have an example to follow and power available to you that is far greater than any temptation.

(4:00 - 17:00) The Bible introduces us to the source behind much of this temptation: an adversary often referred to as Satan or the devil. The sources describe Satan as a real entity, traditionally viewed as a fallen angel. He is presented as the tempter, a deceiver, the father of lies, and a profound adversary of both God and humanity. His core mission has always been to oppose God's purposes and hinder His people. He seeks to deceive, divide, and destroy.

The New Testament reveals a much sharper contrast between good and evil, clearly defining Satan in this role. He is active in the world, using tactics like deception, division, and distraction. However, the overwhelming message is clear: his reign is temporary, and his defeat is certain. He is a defeated foe through the work of Jesus Christ.

To understand how to face temptation, let's look at the example Jesus set for us. Immediately after His baptism, full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. There, He fasted for forty days and nights. This period of fasting traditionally presaged a great spiritual struggle. It mirrored the experiences of figures like Moses and Elijah, who also fasted for forty days. At the end of this intense period, when Jesus was hungry, the tempter came to Him.

The Gospel accounts in Matthew and Luke detail three specific temptations Jesus faced. Though the order differs slightly in Matthew and Luke, the temptations themselves are the same.

First, the devil approached Jesus concerning His hunger. He said, "If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread". This was a temptation targeting a very real physical need. Satan was enticing Jesus to use His divine power for immediate personal relief, potentially acting outside of His Father's will or prescribed timing. This was a temptation to prioritize the material over the spiritual.

Jesus responded by quoting Scripture, specifically from Deuteronomy 8:3. He said, "It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’". Jesus resisted by affirming that true life and sustenance come from spiritual dependence on God's Word, not merely from physical nourishment. He countered the immediate pull of physical desire with eternal truth.

The second temptation involved presumption and spectacle. According to Matthew, the devil took Jesus to the holy city, Jerusalem, and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. Luke places this temptation third. The devil then said, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written," and he proceeded to quote from Psalm 91, saying, "'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'". Satan, the father of lies, even misused Scripture in his attempt to deceive Jesus. He challenged Jesus to perform a dramatic miracle, demanding a flashy sign to prove His identity or relying on God's protection in a presumptuous way. This was a temptation to test God, to seek sensational experiences rather than humble faith.

Jesus responded once again by quoting Scripture, from Deuteronomy 6:16. He said, "It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’". Jesus refused to put God to an unnecessary test or demand a public spectacle to validate His divine nature. He demonstrated that faith means trusting God, not manipulating Him or demanding proof.

The third temptation, presented second in Luke's account and third in Matthew's, involved the kingdoms of the world. The devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. He then made a breathtaking offer: "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me". This was a temptation to gain power and control, to achieve the world's kingdoms through a shortcut that bypassed God's planned path of suffering and sacrifice. It was a direct challenge to worship the creature rather than the Creator, appealing to the desire for riches, power, and pleasure. This temptation represented the lure of worldly systems and the desire to take control of one's own life rather than submitting to God.

Jesus' response was immediate and definitive. He commanded, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’". This command, also a quote from Deuteronomy 6:13, asserted Jesus' absolute loyalty and worship belonged only to God. He refused to compromise His relationship with the Father for worldly gain.

What can we learn from Jesus' encounter? Jesus did not overcome temptation by His own inherent strength alone, but through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit had led Him into the wilderness, and it was through the Spirit's empowerment that He stood firm. Crucially, Jesus consistently countered Satan's lies and offers by quoting Scripture. He had treasured God's word in His heart, and it was His weapon against temptation. His focus remained steadfastly on doing His Father's will. By resisting each temptation, Jesus modelled for us how to stand strong.

(17:00 - 27:00) So, how do we, as new Christians, apply these lessons and strategies in our own lives? The good news is that through Christ, we are equipped and empowered to face temptation. You are no longer enslaved to sin, but having been freed, you can become a slave of righteousness.

The first step is always to be reconciled to God. This means turning to Him in repentance and faith, acknowledging that only Jesus can make you right before God. Turn away from sin and turn to God. Confess your faults to Him daily. Agree with God that sin is wicked and deserves His punishment. Rejoice in His promise that when you confess your sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive you.

Next, and fundamentally, meditate on God's Word. Sin is deceptive, but the truth of God's Word conquers that deceit. Fill your mind with the Bible to be transformed. Hide God's word in your heart so that you may not sin against Him. Remember how Jesus used Scripture to fight temptation. If you struggle with specific temptations, find and memorise scripture that directly confronts that sin. Let the word of Christ dwell richly within you, allowing the Holy Spirit to enable you to obey God's commands.

Third, rely on the Holy Spirit. The battle against temptation is not one you can fight in your own strength. Jesus relied on the Spirit, and so must you. Pray for God's protection and strength to endure the temptations you face daily. Walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Fourth, avoid tempting situations. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil". If you ask God to help you avoid temptation, you must also be vigilant yourself. Stay away from perilous paths and from those who try to influence you to do evil. Bad company corrupts good morals. If you find yourself in danger of sin, get out quickly!. Flee immorality, flee youthful lusts. Escape from tempting situations, locations, and people. You may even need to abandon friendships that tempt you towards evil.

Fifth, practice transparency with God and others. Recognize that your sin is fundamentally against God. Be honest with God about your sin and the temptations you face. Confess your sin to Him, trusting in His forgiveness and cleansing. While confession to God is paramount, confessing and forsaking sin can also bring compassion and help. Sometimes, if you have offended others, you might need to confess to them to be reconciled. Furthermore, you can benefit from the encouragement of other believers. Seek accountability with trusted partners who can help you in your spiritual growth. Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Finally, keep an eternal perspective. Remember that you are accountable to God. While you might hide sin from others, God's eyes are everywhere, watching both evil and good. Choose eternal rewards over temporal pleasure that is contrary to God's plan. Strive against sin and seek to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Avoid a short-sighted mentality; fear God and keep His commandments, remembering that God will bring every hidden act to judgment. Ask yourself: would you feel comfortable yielding to an ungodly desire if Christ were visibly present with you? He is present with you through His Spirit. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

(27:00 - 32:00) Dear friend, temptation is real, and the adversary is active. But hear this truth: Satan's efforts are real, but they are not final. Jesus' victory over Satan's temptations and ultimately His victory on the cross demonstrate that the enemy is already defeated. Christ came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has disarmed the powers and authorities, triumphing over them by the cross.

This means you are not fighting for victory; you are fighting from victory in Christ. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is now at work in you. When you feel the pressure, the confusion, the temptation, or the chaos that the enemy seeks to stir up, remember this profound truth.

To live in this victory daily, the Bible calls you to submit yourselves to God. When you submit your will, your desires, and your life to Him, you are positioned to resist the devil, and he will flee from you. This is God's promise! You are also called to put on the full armour of God. This spiritual wardrobe includes truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer. Don't try to navigate this world without it.

Furthermore, stay alert and prayerful. Your enemy prowls like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. But a roaring lion is not stealthy. If you stay aware, you can recognize his tactics and resist them. Rely on prayer to stay connected to God's strength.

Know this with absolute certainty: greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation. You have a high priest in Jesus who can sympathize with your weaknesses, having been tempted in all things, yet without sin. Therefore, you can draw near with confidence to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

You are equipped. You are empowered. And through Christ – you are victorious. Stay rooted in truth. Cling to the Word. Lean into prayer. Seek godly community. Trust in the finished work of Christ. His victory is yours.

Let us pray.

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