Part 4: Aladdin: Seeking Approval
BLOCKBUSTERS - REMADE
PART - 4
Matthew 4:1-11
If you try to follow God, there will be things that pull you away from who God wants you to be.
“And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’”
Matthew 3:17 (NIV)
1. THE TEMPTATION TO BELIEVE: YOU ARE WHAT YOU HAVE.
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.”
Matthew 4:1-2 (NIV)
“The tempter came to Him and said, ‘If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 4:3-4 (NIV)
“Yes, He humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 8:3 (NLT)
2. THE TEMPTATION TO BELIEVE: YOU ARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF YOU.
“Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If You are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw Yourself down. For it is written: 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.’ Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Matthew 4:5-7 (NIV)
Idol--Anything in our lives that takes the place of God.
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:31-33 (NIV)
3. THE TEMPTATION TO BELIEVE: YOU ARE WHAT YOU DO.
“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give You,’ he said, ‘if You will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’ Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him.”
Matthew 4:8-11 (NIV)
“For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.”
Galatians 3:26-27 (NLT)
MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS TO:
Do this week’s YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan: “The Idol of Approval” (4 day plan).
Check out this week’s blog or podcast: “4 Ways to Fight the Approval Idol.”
Seek God first - with Him I already have all the approval I could ever need.
Get more information about our next Baptism Day on August 1st.
NOTES:
Comeback Sunday--August 15th:
Attend in person or online.
Give financially - any amount.
Serve - somewhere Sunday or during the week at “For Midland Week”.
Invite someone to attend in person or online.