Application Guide: “Out of the
Frying Pan & Into the Fire”
July 18, 2004: Nate Irwin, Associate Director
of Outreach, continued College Park’s study of Matthew 4 by stemming off from
Jesus’ use of Deuteronomy when he was tempted in the desert. Nate presented a message based on Deut. 8
that focused both on prosperity and trial, wealth and the wilderness.
- Nate introduced his
message by asking the question, “Why doesn’t God allow us to win the
lottery?” Imagine for a moment all
that could be done if a Christian won $100 million. Nate’s conclusion was
that if we were to obtain that much material wealth, “the Kingdom of God
would have a hard time coming into our lives.” Evaluate your current financial situation:
- How much do you focus on
material wealth over spiritual wealth?
- Where are you storing up
your treasures? On earth or
heaven? How is this revealed in
your life?
- Additionally, in the
introduction, Nate mentioned that Jesus quoted Deuteronomy more than any
other OT book, perhaps, because the book of Deuteronomy best depicts how a
life ought to look when it is lived in the Kingdom of God.
- How does Matthew 4-7
relate to Deuteronomy?
- How does Nate’s sermon
relate to Shane’s two sermons about the Kingdom of God?
- Study through
Deuteronomy. Why was this book so
important to Jesus? Why should it
be important to us? How does the
beauty of Deuteronomy Law debunk most Evangelical’s preconceived notions
about “the Law”?
- Nate’s first major point
concerned “The Purpose of the Wilderness” (vv. 1-5). The three purposes
were:
- “To humble us” – Are you
going through a trying time in your life right now? What is God doing in your life to
humble you, to give you NOTHING left to stand on but Him? Are you trying to live life on your
own strength (“by bread alone”) or on His strength (God’s Word)? (see Isa
64:11; Lam 3:32, 33).
- “To test us” – Nate said,
“The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the proof of believing is
in the obeying.” Is God testing
your faith right now to prove whether or not you are really His
child? Do you consistently follow
God even amidst the toughest times?
Can your faith stand “the fire”? (see Judg 2:22; 2 Chron 32:31;
Prov 17:3; Gen 22:1,2; John 6:5,6; 1 Cor 10:13).
- “To train us” – God has in mind what he wants
us to become. Like little
children sometimes need to be admonished and corrected, God chastens his
children. We must learn what it
means to look like Christ. If you
are going through a tough time today, be encouraged – it is proof that
you are God’s child (Heb 12:4-11)! How is God using tough circumstances
to refine you right now? With
this thought in mind, study through Romans 8:18-30.
- Nate’s second major point
concerned “The Perils of Prosperity” (vv. 6-20). Once we come out of the Wilderness and into the “Promised
Land”, there are three dangers we can face that are detrimental to our
relationship with God:
- “We may forget God” (v.
11a) – How are you living a life of remembrance and thankfulness for what
God has provided and done for you?
What are the evidences in your life (or the “Standing Stones”)
that God plays an active role in your everyday life? Do a word search on “remember” in the
Bible and discover how God’s past blessing ought effect our present
lives.
- “We may fail God” (v.
11b) – Like the man who wins the lottery, have you made God a distant
memory? Are you forgetting the
vine? Has your life stopped
bearing fruit?
- “We may forsake God” (v.
19) – Have you turned over to other “idols” in your life? What are
they? What things in life do you
give more time and energy and concern than your relationship with
God? Upon what is your heart set
on this day?
Suggested
Reading: Alcorn, Randy. The Treasure Principle. Multnomah:
October 4, 2001.
Yancey, Philip. Disappointment With God. Grand
Rapids: Zondervan, 1997.