Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 6 March 2022 | Lesson 10

Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 6 March 2022 | Lesson 10

Lesson 10 , DCLM Search the Scripture 6 March 2022 for Youth

TOPIC: TEMPTATION AND COMMENCEMENT OF CHRIST’S MINISTRY

TEXT: Matthew 4:1-25; Luke 4:1-44

MEMORY VERSE: “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” (Matthew 4:1).

Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 6 March 2022 | Lesson 10 || MESSAGE

In the previous chapter, God made a public approval of Christ at His baptism in Jordan (Matthew 3:17). In this lesson, we shall consider how Christ was tempted three times by the devil and how He overcame in the three temptations, as well as how He commenced His three-fold earthly ministry.

Question 1: What can believers learn from the way the devil tempted Christ shortly after His publicapproval by God?

Christian youths can learn from the experience of Christ that temptation can come at anytime,
“Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). It is
therefore, dangerous for a Christian not to be watchful and vigilant at all times, as the devil would strike when least expected.

An important consolation believers have in Christ’s temptations is that Christ overcame all and Satan could not hinder Him from commencing and finishing His God-ordained earthly ministry. So, believers who trust in Christ and are watchful and careful will overcome all temptation and will not be hindered from fulfilling their God-ordained ministry in life (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 6 March 2022 | Lesson 10

THE THREE-FOLD TEMPTATION OF CHRIST

(Matthew 4: 1-10; Luke 4: 1-13; Deuteronomy 8:3; 16:6; Psalm 91:11; Colossians 3:16; Romans 3:25)

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 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” (Matthew 4: 1-4).

After a prolonged fasting, Christ, became very hungry and Satan wanted to take advantage of His physical need to tempt Him. Christian youths should take note that Christ was tempted by the devil immediately after fasting and praying fornforty days and nights. There is still need to be watchful after embarking on fasting and prayer. Remember, Jesus was led by the Spirit to embark on the long fasting.

Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 6 March 2022 | Lesson 10

Question 2: (a) What is temptation? (b) Can believers accept any suggestion or counsel from the devil? Why?

After realising that Christ must have been hungry, Satan wanted to become a counselor and adviser to Him. Christ however, gave the devil the first disgraceful defeat by quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). It is important to know that temptation itself is not sin, but yielding to it is sin.

Temptation is just a suggestion or enticement from the devil to make believers sin against God. A Christian youth should not accept any suggestion or advice from Satan because he is an enemy of God and can never give any good suggestion or advice to a child of God.

“Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Matthew 4:5-7).

Satan tempted Jesus the second time by taking Him to them pinnacle of the temple and asked Him to cast Himself down (Matthew 4:6). Jesus resisted him by quoting from the word of God. This is how believers can overcome the devil. The word of God should fill us so richly that at appropriate occasion, we, like Jesus, could quote appropriately from the Bible to confound the tempter (Colossians 3: 16).

Satan had craftily promised Christ a worldwide rule, if only He could fall down and worship him (Matthew 4:8-10). Satan failed to know that Jesus as the Messiah had been promised a kingdom without his suggestion and without bowing to him. Jesus could only be given that by offering Himself as a propitiation for the sin of the world. A Christian youth therefore, should not bow to Satan because of anything in life: academic success, power, fame, healing, gift, protection, etc. Jesus overcame the devil by quoting again from the book of Deuteronomy 6:13.

Jesus did not want to continue to entertain further fruitless conversation with the devil, so He ordered him to “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him” (Matthew 4: 10, 11).

So, Christians should not go into controversy or dialogue with the devil or his agents for any reason whenever he comes with his temptations. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 6 March 2022 | Lesson 10

Question 3: How can a Christian youth resist temptations?

In the three-fold temptation of Christ, Christ He had victory by quoting from the Scriptures. Christian youths should always resist the devil in all temptations. This is because when we overcome any temptation, the Holy Spirit will come to strengthen us as He did to Jesus Christ.

THE THREE-FOLD MINISTRY OF CHRIST

(Matthew 4:12-17; Luke 4:14-32; Acts 3:19; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9; Luke 10:10-12)

“Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving
Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim” (Matthew 4: 12, 13).

As soon as Christ overcame the three-fold temptation brought by the devil, He began His three-fold ministry of teaching, preaching and healing. Jesus’ three-fold ministry was
an empowered ministry. It is the Holy Spirit that gives power and unction. “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4: 17). Jesus gave a three fold call to sinners. One, a call to repentance.

Two, a call to discipleship. Three, a call to service. Without repentance, there is no entrance into the Kingdom. God has promised to forgive any sinner that sincerely repents of his sins. No matter the enormity of our sins, once we have a wholehearted confession, God has promised to forgive (1 John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13).

Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 6 March 2022 | Lesson 10

Question 4: What should be the reaction of a Christian youth when his message is rejected in places he went to minister?

Christ was rejected in Nazareth and for that reason, departed from there to Capernaum. Christ would not stay too long anywhere He is not welcomed. The same thing He told His disciples when He sent them two by two on a missionary work (Luke 10: IO- 12).

He would not force Himself on anyone. Anybody who rejects Christ, rejects light and life. “And [they] rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he passing through the midst of them went his way, And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days” (Luke 4:29-31). The healing ministry of Jesus was revealed as He healed a man who had an unclean spirit, who cried with a loud voice as He was preaching and teaching
on a Sabbath day (Luke 4:33-36).

The three-fold ministry of Christ was carried out by the power of the Holy Spirit. His preaching and teaching ministry was accompanied with signs and wonders. There were healings, deliverances and other miracles in diverse places.

The miracles showed Christ to be a controller and conqueror of Satan, a healer of diseases who had come to destroy all the works of the devil. “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). The miracles were further to make the people believe in Christ’s messages and Messiahship (Luke 4:4).

Youth DCLM Search the Scripture 6 March 2022 | Lesson 10

THE FIRST DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

(Matthew 4:18-25; Luke 4:33-41)

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets and followed him” (Matthew 4:18-20).

Two of the four disciples mentioned in the above three verses are Peter and Andrew. The other two — James and John are mentioned in the next verse: “And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him” (Matthew 4:21, 22). It is important to note that Jesus called common fishermen to be His disciples. He could have gone to call the rich men and women of renown status, but He did not do that (1Corinthians 2:26-29).

The message here is significant. It is a privilege therefore, that God has called you among many people to spread the goodness to other youths around you. “They immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him” (Matthew 4:22). The prompt response of the disciples to Christ’s call is equally instructive. Nothing should be too precious nor any relationship too dear to severe in order to answer the call of the Master.

Christian youths should be prepared to forsake sin and sin-partners and follow Christ. Our
discipleship should be for the rest of our lives. “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). As Christ’s ministry was three fold, the ministry of any Christian youth could also be three-fold: preaching, teaching and healing by wholly dedicating their lives to prayer, obedience and faith in the word of God.

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