Matthew 4:10…….Ready

Matthew 4:10…….Ready

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, (Beat it, get-packing, Hit the road) Satan! For it is written: (Expresses an appeal to final authority, puts a final end to it.) ‘Worship (follow, obey, praise) the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Expresses Jesus’ complete obedience in serving God by going the way of the cross.) (Deut. 6:13)

 Continued From Book

“Jesus will not take Satan’s shortcut, but will stay serving God by going the way of the cross”. ⇔ Will you follow Jesus’ example and choose the difficult rout in obeying God even if its the hard way. Will you serve God no matter the hardships, sacrifices, or costs. Will you love and worship God, doing those things which please Him, even though it might result in unpleasurable consequences. Jesus knew what was at stake, yet He kept serving God, will you do the same”.

“Calls for finding our joy and fulfillment in God and not in things of this world.” ⇒ Don’t make chasing money, possessions, and power the main thing in life. Will you find your joy and security in God and not in your job, not in your money, and not in the things you own. Not in how many Instagram or Twitter followers you have. Not about how many”likes” you get on Tinder, or how many facebook friends you have.

“Calls for doing things God’s way even if it feels like we’re missing out, and getting the short end of the stick” ⇒ Will you stay true to God even if it feels like your losing out? Fear of missing out (FOMO) can keep us from fully serving God. Ever fear your missing out on experiences, opportunities, or joy. This feeling is exacerbated by a social media culture where people constantly post images of their “perfect” lives for the world to see. When we see all the cool things our friends are doing on Facebook and Instagram, like going to concerts or vacations and we think “Why am I not having that much fun?” Temptations for money, success, and material things have always been a part of life, but we can coach our souls to draw our value and security from God. A Christian can take comfort in knowing that choosing not to participate in sin is always the right choice. Gratitude and contentment in God will go a long way toward preventing a fear of missing out.

“Teaches how worshipping and serving God will keep us from serving other things”. ⇒ Our Lord understood exactly what was at stake. That worship would have made Him a servant of Satan, a subordinate of Satan, and a tool of Satan. If were not worshipping and serving God we can start to be people pleasers instead of God pleasers. If were not worshipping and serving God we can get sucked into the orbit of the devil’s minions of sin and addiction. If we don’t worship and serve God we are in danger of being lost and enslaved to thousands of other things.

“Calls for a loving devotion to God that would rather suffer to the greatest degree than to sin in the smallest degree.” ⇒ Jesus chose the Cross to the bitter end. That if the Fathers will was to be the way of suffering so be it! How much more are we to choose the way of our own crosses in all that God asks of us. Will you serve God, even in the mist of trials, testing, and temptations. Will you serve God even if it means sacrificing. Will you serve God even if it means division and conflict. Jesus knew that God‘s ways are not always easy to follow, forty days of fasting, temptation in the wilderness, taking the form of a servant, to be falsely accused, to die the death of a criminal. Yet He remained faithful to God the Father to the very end.

“Teaches when it comes to temptation there’s no debating or bargaining with the devil”. (Will you give zero tolerance to the devils garbage, zero wiggle room for his lies.) ⇒ Jesus doesn’t say “No Satan here’s why your wrong”, or “No Satan here’s why it wont work”. Jesus cuts it off at the knees, by proclaiming “It is written” and puts an end to it. Even for us arguing with the devil is going to be a losing battle, the moment we go on the defensive we give Satan a foothold in our lives. Arguing with Satan makes the tempted person even more vulnerable, because by arguing were saying in some way Satan may be right. Are you allowing Satan space to where hypocrisy becomes comfortable, compromise becomes common practice, and integrity is for sale to the highest bidder. Will you refuse Satan’s insistence to relax in the passenger seat of life? (cf. Matt. 11:12) There was a huge difference between Eve’s response to Satan and Jesus’ response to Satan. Eve dialogued with Satan through rationalizations and excuses, and she allowed him to weave his tangled web of lies and justifications.-(Gen. 3:1-5) Jesus, on the other hand, quoted Deuteronomy and He immediately shuts Satan down with the truth of God’s Word. Often times when were presented with a temptation we will roll it around in our mind. We will create a pros & cons list. We will pile up scriptures that argue for it and other scriptures that argue against it. Back and forth it go’s, when we should be saying, “If God’s Word says its a sin than it’s a sin and that’s final”! We don’t need to continue to investigate it any further, end of story. (Temptation that is entertained, lingers and intensifies.) [Note: As a general rule when temptation comes we need to cut it off at the knees. If you determined that its wrong, than it’s wrong no matter how many arguments you throw at it. As an example maybe your thinking about dating an unbeliever. You know the bible says don’t be yoked with unbelievers.-(2-Corn. 6:14) Yet your still thinking in your mind God will Save them one day. Or I’m a strong Christian, it wont take away from my walk with the Lord. If your still going through all these rationalizations, it means your probably trying to justify something you know is wrong.

“Even today, will you find joy and fulfillment in God. That there’s not enough that Satan or the world can offer us to turn us away from God. Will you say; “No thank you Satan, I don’t need your little trinkets, I have all I need in God.” ⇒ Will you reject the immediate for what’s important? Will you put investing in eternity above the fleeting things of this world. We often make decisions based on the easiest and most comfortable path. We shy away from making the best choices, which maintain our relationship and obedience to God, because these choices involve an element of suffering or hardship. We end up choosing to settle for what is easy, comfortable, and pleasant. Which ultimately harms our relationship with God, simply because they are pain free or convenient. When we should be making worship and our walk with God our priority, even if in doing so we have to take a path less familiar, less comfortable, and less desirable. When we choose an easier path and sacrifice obedience to God we are in danger of becoming idolaters – because we are worshipping someone else more than God – self. Do you typically seek the easy way, the pleasurably way, the way that seems more attractive? If you do, its because you love yourself more than God. Loving God sincerely results in worshipping Him and doing those things which please Him, even though it might result in unpleasurable consequences.

Additional Notes & Applications

Teaches how worshiping God is the duty of every human being. If the very Son of God, counts it His duty to serve and worship God, how much more must we count it our duty as well.

Teaches how Jesus chooses to obey God and wait for all things to be given in their due time. In the same way, Christians should resist the lies of “prosperity preachers” and earthly sins; God has promised us reward and happiness far beyond that in heaven.

Teaches just as Jesus was willing to set aside His right to reign, will you set aside your right to maintain ownership and control over your life? (2-Tim. 2:11, 1-Pet. 2:21, 4:12-13)

-Worship-Meaning: For many worship is what you do on Sunday morning in singing praise songs, listening to a sermon, participating in Communion, etc. Others equate worship with either a place (usually a building) or a feeling. And we evaluate the effectiveness of worship by how it makes us feel. But worship is so much more than a loving feeling. In the Bible there are two major kinds of words for worship. The first means to bow down, to kneel, to put one’s face down as an act of respect and submission. The other kind of biblical word for Worship means to serve. It carries the idea of doing something for God — making a sacrifice or carrying out His commands. Worship is first and foremost a verb, an action. Therefore, the underlying concept of worship in Scripture is that of service to the One revered. This understanding greatly expands the application of worship far beyond the walls of a building. It includes any activity done in service to the one worshipped. Worship involves our entire relationship with God: our words, our attitudes, our actions, our behaviors. To put it another way, Worship is not just what we do, but who we are and what we’re about. You could say; Worship is a lifestyle. Everything we do, can and should be an act of worship, whether or not we’re working, kneeling, or playing. Worship goes beyond church services and religious settings. But continues into the home, the work place, the bedroom, the classroom, the kitchen, the highway, the ball field, etc. (Note: This does not mean that fellowshipping as a congregation in a formal setting is no longer necessary, but it enlarges the idea and practice of worship beyond and besides the formal church setting.) We worship & serve God in our marriages by seeking our spouses good. We worship & serve God by taking the lowest place. We worship & serve God by doing good to others regardless of the costs. We worship & serve God by giving up our rights. We worship and serve God by accepting not just the good from God’s hand, but also the bad. We worship & serve God by seeking reconciliation, peace, and forgiveness at any costs. We worship & serve God by obeying His commands and doing what He has called us to do.   

Note: We often make decisions based on the easiest and most comfortable path. We shy away from making the best choices, which maintain our relationship and obedience to God, because these choices involve an element of suffering or hardship. We end up choosing to settle for what is easy, comfortable, and pleasant. Which ultimately harms our relationship with God, simply because they are pain free or convenient. When we should be making worship and our walk with God our priority, even if in doing so we have to take a path less familiar, less comfortable, and less desirable. When we choose an easier path and sacrifice obedience to God we are in danger of becoming idolaters – because we are worshipping someone else more than God – self. Do you typically seek the easy way, the pleasurably way, the way that seems more attractive? If you do, its because you love yourself more than God. Loving God sincerely results in worshipping Him and doing those things which please Him, even though it might result in unpleasurable consequences.

Note: In context the Deuteronomy quote has Moses reminding the people that when they enter the Promised Land, they must not forget God by worshiping the false Idols of the nations they are about to possess.-(Deut. 6:1-15)

WORSHIPING & SERVING GOD MEANS..

• You don’t try to act apart from God’s will – make the best decisions, based upon God’s Word, even though it may cost you for your obedience.

• Don’t opt for pleasure or convenience rather than obedience – in so doing you demonstrate a heart of idolatrous self-worship.

• You don’t tell God how or when He must act – learn to trust God, not tempt God.

WHY WE WORSHIP GOD ALONE

• We worship God alone for what He has done in Saving us from our sins

• We worship God alone because He is loving, just, and forgiving

• We worship God alone because He is worthy of all glory and praise

• We worship God alone because it is what we were created & designed for

• We worship God alone because it brings joy to the heart, satisfies the soulWe worship God alone because He demands it and desires iT

• We worship God alone because He expects it, requires it, we owe it

• We worship God alone because He is are refuge and source of strength

• We worship God alone because it keeps us from worshiping and serving other things

• We worship God alone because it keeps our focus in the right place

• We worship God alone because it grows our faith, brings us closer to God

• We worship God alone because we are grateful and thankful

• We worship God alone because it keeps us on the right path and away from sin

• We worships God alone because He knows what’s best for us

• We worship God alone because it keeps from falling into doubt, discouragement, and hopelessness

• We worship God because He is the only one who can take care of our needs

WAYS TO WORSHIP & SERVE GOD…..

• Serve God through your faith, serve God in all things good or bad

• Serve God through your conduct, words, deeds

• Serve God by serving others in your community, through volunteer work, donations, fundraisers, etc.

• Serve God through your witness and testimony

• Serve God by setting a good example

• Serve God by devoting yourself regularly to church, prayer, and bible study

• Serve God through tithes and offerings

• Serve God through ministry and missionary work

• Serve God through a life of submission, faithfulness, and obedience

• Serve God by staying humble, open, and teachable

• Serve God by loving and forgiving those who have wronged you

• Serve God by fulfilling your calling and work He has given you

• Serve God by His Spirit, not in your own strength

• Serve God by not murmuring or complaining

• Serve God by enduring adversity and hardships

• Serve God by becoming the person He created you to be

• Serve God by living simply and modestly

BENEFITS IN WORSHIPPING & SERVING GOD….

• Serving God allows us to experience God’s presence in new ways

• Serving God takes the focus off ourselves and keeps it on God and others

• Serving God helps us to grow in a relationship with Him and others

• Serving God brings divine support, protection, and blessings

• Serving God allows us to step into God’s purpose and calling

• Serving God satisfies the soul, brings joy, peace, and fulfilment

• Serving God advances His Kingdom

• Serving God gives you purpose, meaning, and direction

• Serving God helps to stay connected to church and other believers

• Serving God helps others grow in their walk with God

(For more Applications get the whole Book) 

(All material is copyrighted and may be used for preaching, teaching, and instructing. And not for publication in any form without the written permission of the author.)