Not By Bread alone

TEXTMatt. 4:1-4

INTRODUCTION:

A.    JESUS LED INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED.

        1.     40 days and nights without eating.

        2.     The first temptation – EAT (vs. 3).

        3.     Jesus responded from the Scriptures (vs. 4;  Psa. 119:11).

B.    Deut. 8:1-3.  JESUS’ ANSWER:  “THOU SHALT NOT LIVE BY BREAD

        ALONE.”

C.    WE WANT TO LOOK AT JESUS ANSWER FOR ITS GREAT LESSON.

I.      ISRAEL IN THE WILDERNESS.

A.    OVER A MILLION LEFT EGYPT AND WENT INTO THE DESERT.

        1.     Food was needed, God gave them manna

               (Exodus 16;  vs. 3-4,  13-15, 31, 35).

        2.     manna `What is it?'  (Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon).

B.    MOSES EXHORTATION TO FAITHFULNESS (Deut. 8:1-3).

        1.     He reminds them of their hunger and his provision.

        2.     His purpose:  To teach their dependence on Him for Spiritual bread.

II.     JESUS IN THE WILDERNESS.

A.    JESUS USED THE TRUTH OF Deut. 8:3 TO ANSWER TEMPTATION

        (Matt. 4:2).

        1.     Why would it have been wrong for Jesus to turn stones to bread?

        2.     Contrary to God’s will somehow.  Who rules? (John 6:38;  Rom. 6:12).

B.    GOD MADE US TO BE SPIRITUAL BEINGS (Gen. 1:26).

        1.     We belong to God (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

        2.     Who will WE serve? (1 John 2:15).

III.    MAKING APPLICATION.

A.    JOY AND FULFILLMENT COMES FROM FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

        (1 John 1:1-4).

        1.     Not thru the fulfilling of physical “needs.”  (Matt. 4:41 John 2:17).

        2.     Not thru the comfort of fleeting earthly relationships (Heb. 13:8).

B.    FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD ONLY POSSIBLE ON THE BASIS OF HIS

        WORD.

        1.     God’s word is truth (John 17:17;  Rom. 3:4).

        2.     The importance of truth in our faith (John 8:31-32;  1 Tim. 2:4).

        3.     Can’t come to God without it (John 6:44-45).

C.    A CHOICE NEEDS TO BE MADE – BREAD or GOD? (Matt. 6:22-24).

                       THE SOUL or THE BODY? (John 6:26-27).

D.    THERE IS A CONSEQUENCE TO OUR CHOICE (Heb. 12:16-17).

E.    IF WE SUBMIT TO HIM, GOD WILL PROVIDE

        (Matt. 6:25, 33;  Psa. 37:25).

CONCLUSION:

A.    IT IS TRUE THAT MAN LIVES BY BREAD –

BUT NOT BREAD ALONE.

B.    WE MUST REMBER THE TRUE SOURCE OF OUR STRENGTH

        (Deut. 8:10-17).