STUDY NO. 1: TEMPTATION OF JESUS: Read Matthew 4: 1-11

Q1.Why did Jesus fasted (and assume praying) for 40 days? Why not less days?

As a man Jesus was fully flesh. Fasting and prayer with God for 40 days prepared him to face temptations. Though he was God he was also man. Thus the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. (Matt 26:41; Mk 14:38) What would have happened if Jesus never learnt to bring his flesh under the submission of the Spirit?

40 days is probably the minimum time needed for an earthly man to spend time with God before his spirit can be strengthened by God’s Holy Spirit. When we learn to spend at least 40 non- interrupted days with God we will begin to be able to grow strength in our faith in HIM. This 40 day journey is not for us just to get God to do something but for us to draw near to Him. To even take and interest in others.

This also tells us that 40 is the number of testing.


CROSS REFERENCE

Genesis 3:6 Temptation & Fall of Man (NIV)
‘When he woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.’
1 John 2:16 (KJV)
‘For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.’
Therefore, temptations comes in the form of
  1. Physical desires (lust of the flesh)
    Example: hunger for food, drink & sex
  2. Need to own or possess (lust of the eyes)
    Example: materialistic & focused on accumulating wealth

    The Bible’s response to this is -

    Matthew 6:18-20 (NIV)
    "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

  3. Drivenness for power, position & recognition (pride of life)
    Need for power = desire to have social impact & control over others & want their importance to be visible.

    Example
    1. climb the career ladder to gain power & people’s recognition
    2. wear prestigious clothes,
    3. buy expensive possessions,
    4. exploit relationships
Therefore we should be careful that when we are tempted – especially in these areas, we should stand firm not to succumb to the temptations because: -
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Q2. How can we overcome temptation?
As Jesus quoted Scriptures to triumph over the Devil’s temptations, so we too should rely on God’s Word, the Bible to guide us in our daily decisions & enable us to differentiate between right or wrong, good or evil,….
Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you

STUDY NO. 2: MOSES ON MT SINAI: Read Exodus 24:9-18

Part I: Read Exodus 24:9-18


Q3. What was the result of Moses spending 40 days with God?
He saw God’s glory. He received God’s 10 commandments. He had a good understanding of God’s heart and of God’s ways. (refer Ex 25:8)


Part II: Read Exodus 20:18-21, 32:1-4

Q4. While Moses spends 40 days with God, where were the children of Israel and what were they doing?

40 days on earth doing their own thing. Notice that we will always say we don’t have time for God – but the real truth is we HAVE time only what do we have time for!!! The time we don’t spend with God will be spent doing something else.

40 is the number defining human choice of destiny – for those who spend time with God it will lead us towards faith in God. For those who don’t spend 40 days with god it will affect their destiny – like the children of Israel.


Q5. What happened to children of Israel?
Ex 32: 1-4- They built a Golden Calf and went into idolatry. They lost faith in God and in Moses.


Q6. What caused the children of Israel to become idolatrous?
Ex 20: 18-19.
They kept themselves at a distance from God. They wanted Moses to hear from God for them. They only saw God as thunder and lightning. They never discovered His will, His heart, His true purpose. Because of this their faith was weak. It was not a relationship but just a religion!