Pause 3 Study Guide web
Pause #3: “Proving Grounds”
The Second Temptation:
To PRESUME Upon God. 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.’” Matthew 4: 5-6 “When We Presume Upon God We Are Forcing Him Into A Position Where We Are No Longer Serving Him But He Is Serving Us” Faith vs Presumption:
Presumption Is Coming Up With A PLAN On Your Own, Pulling The Trigger And Then Expecting God To Bless It. Faith Is Trusting God To Do What He Has PROMISED To Do, In His Way And In His Time. Lessons From Ancient Israel:
When Faced With A Negative Circumstance They TESTED God. The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Reph-i-dim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” Exodus 17:1-3 “Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah.” Deuteronomy 6:16 Jesus’ Response To The Temptation
“It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matthew 4: 7 As Christians We Are Called To CO-OPERATE With God Not To Manipulate God Three Areas To Self-Evaluate Whether You Are A Co-Operator or a Manipulator:
1.
Your PRAYER Life.
2.
Your Responses To NEGATIVE Circumstances.
3.
Your Attitude When You Are TEMPTED To Sin.
“The Men And Woman Who Are Most Deeply Disappointed With God Are Those That Have Never Fully Surrendered To God”
Life Group Discussion Questions. At Waipuna Chapel we believe that Spiritual growth happens best in the context of small intimate groups where authentic Christian community can be experienced and faith can be explored in a safe, biblical way. Contact Pastor [email protected] to find a Life Group and to start growing today. Read Matthew 4: 1-11. • In the second temptation the devil quotes scripture; what does this tell you? •
Read Psalm 91 in it’s entirety. In what way does the devil misrepresent God’s Word in Matthew 4:5-6?
•
The second temptation is very subtle; it is the temptation to presume upon God. Discuss the differences between presumption and faith.
•
What are some different ways that we as Christians presume upon God?
Read Exodus 17:1-7. •
Jesus’ response to the second temptation was to quote Deuteronomy 6:16 which refers back to the events described in Exodus 17:1-7. In what ways did the Israelites “test” God?
•
Describe a time when you were tempted to “test” God.
•
Discuss the statement: “The Men And Woman Who Are Most Deeply Disappointed With God Are Those That Have Never Fully Surrendered To God”.
•
Have you ever been disappointed with God? If so, do you think your disappointment was connected to your willingness to surrender fully to God’s will for your life? Discuss.
•
Jesus’ response to the devil was indicative of his willingness to fully co-operate with God, and not to try and manipulate God. Evaluate your willingness to co-operate with God by: 1. Listening to your prayer life; 2. Observing your responses to negative circumstances; 3. Paying attention to your attitude when tempted to sin. Share with the group some of your honest observations in these three areas of your life.
•
Pray for each other.
Sources: • William Barclay – The Gospel of Matthew www.wjkbooks.com • Andy Stanley – North Point Resource http://northpoint.org Send feedback, comments or questions to [email protected]
The Second Temptation:
To PRESUME Upon God. 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.’” Matthew 4: 5-6 “When We Presume Upon God We Are Forcing Him Into A Position Where We Are No Longer Serving Him But He Is Serving Us” Faith vs Presumption:
Presumption Is Coming Up With A PLAN On Your Own, Pulling The Trigger And Then Expecting God To Bless It. Faith Is Trusting God To Do What He Has PROMISED To Do, In His Way And In His Time. Lessons From Ancient Israel:
When Faced With A Negative Circumstance They TESTED God. The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Reph-i-dim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” Exodus 17:1-3 “Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah.” Deuteronomy 6:16 Jesus’ Response To The Temptation
“It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matthew 4: 7 As Christians We Are Called To CO-OPERATE With God Not To Manipulate God Three Areas To Self-Evaluate Whether You Are A Co-Operator or a Manipulator:
1.
Your PRAYER Life.
2.
Your Responses To NEGATIVE Circumstances.
3.
Your Attitude When You Are TEMPTED To Sin.
“The Men And Woman Who Are Most Deeply Disappointed With God Are Those That Have Never Fully Surrendered To God”
Life Group Discussion Questions. At Waipuna Chapel we believe that Spiritual growth happens best in the context of small intimate groups where authentic Christian community can be experienced and faith can be explored in a safe, biblical way. Contact Pastor [email protected] to find a Life Group and to start growing today. Read Matthew 4: 1-11. • In the second temptation the devil quotes scripture; what does this tell you? •
Read Psalm 91 in it’s entirety. In what way does the devil misrepresent God’s Word in Matthew 4:5-6?
•
The second temptation is very subtle; it is the temptation to presume upon God. Discuss the differences between presumption and faith.
•
What are some different ways that we as Christians presume upon God?
Read Exodus 17:1-7. •
Jesus’ response to the second temptation was to quote Deuteronomy 6:16 which refers back to the events described in Exodus 17:1-7. In what ways did the Israelites “test” God?
•
Describe a time when you were tempted to “test” God.
•
Discuss the statement: “The Men And Woman Who Are Most Deeply Disappointed With God Are Those That Have Never Fully Surrendered To God”.
•
Have you ever been disappointed with God? If so, do you think your disappointment was connected to your willingness to surrender fully to God’s will for your life? Discuss.
•
Jesus’ response to the devil was indicative of his willingness to fully co-operate with God, and not to try and manipulate God. Evaluate your willingness to co-operate with God by: 1. Listening to your prayer life; 2. Observing your responses to negative circumstances; 3. Paying attention to your attitude when tempted to sin. Share with the group some of your honest observations in these three areas of your life.
•
Pray for each other.
Sources: • William Barclay – The Gospel of Matthew www.wjkbooks.com • Andy Stanley – North Point Resource http://northpoint.org Send feedback, comments or questions to [email protected]
