BETTER DECISIONS, FEWER REGRET: BETTER THAN YESTERDAY

Text: Matthew 4: 1- 10

INTRODUCTION:

 "War" is defined as a long standing armed conflict between two or more groups over
resources, land, cultural differences, or other matters of contention.
 FACTS about WAR:
 1. Public declaration but there exist an undeclared wars in the form of surprise attacks
 2. There are different types of war namely: total war, limited war, civil war, and
guerilla war.
 3. War is different from warfare wherein warfare is the activity of fighting a war, esp.
with reference to the type of weapons used or the way the fighting is done
 4. Warfare is always changing, always evolving
 5. War usually ends: a. treaty or peace agreement; b. the ultimate weaker side declaring
some form of surrender; c. complete and total destruction
 Bakit pinag-uusapan natin ang tungkol sa gyera?
 Because IT REALLY EXISTS not just in the old times but up to now.
 One thing to know about wars – we have our own individual war – and that includes
our spiritual war.
 LABAN na di lang sapat na ALAM mo pero dapat PINAGHAHANDAAN
 A soldier is the one who fights as a part of a military.
 They undergo series of trainings to be prepare and equip
 “The ultimate goal of training is to win battles and engagements and to do so with the
lowest cost in terms of national resources and with the lowest loss of life among those
who have volunteered to fight to defend the nation.” – (heritage.org)
 Pag-usapan natin ngayong hapon ang tungkol sa laban at pagtuunan natin ang
pagsasanay na matututunan natin mula mismo sa ating Panginoong Jesus kung
papaano Nya hinarap at tinapos ito ng matagumpay!
 “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
 So joined me in our topic entitled “BETTER THAN YESTERDAY”

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After
fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If
you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written:
‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Alam niyo po before this things happen, Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist.

John the Baptist baptize people with water as a sign of repentance and turning to God. And
Jesus went to be baptized too! But He was not a sinner, yet he humbled himself in obedience
to identify with us and give us an example to follow.

Dagdag pa nito, sa Matthew 3: 16-17:

16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened[g] and he saw
the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven
said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

The Spirit of God settling on Jesus and declaration of God’s sonship.

And right after baptism, He went out into a barren dessert and fasted 40 days and 40 nights

Makikita natin a tempter came right AFTER Jesus Christ baptism and fasting.

A 100% human and 100% God – was tested by a tempter.

Simply implies that we can be also subjected to be tempted LALO we are a believer of Christ.

Makikita po natin kung papaano ang ating Diyos mismo na si Jesus - lumaban at napagtagumpayan ang
pagsubok o pagsusulit mula sa kalaban.

Maunawaan natin na kaya nating maging better mula sa kahapon -- maging handa lumaban at
magtagumpay sa kinakaharap natin ngayon at sa mga susunod pa.

1. Be STRENGTHENED BY GOD’S WORD

3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become
bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every
word that comes from the mouth of God.’

 The tempter targets the PHYSICAL Body.

 Remember it happened AFTER His 40 days and 40 nights fasting in the wilderness
 Sa oras na nakaranas si Jesus ng matinding gutom.
 At kapag gutom ang tendency ng body becomes weak and tired
 Jesus was tested to make bread from stones
 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word
that comes from the mouth of God.’
 Sa tagalog, “Hindi lamang sa tinapay nabubuhay ang tao”
 Jesus implies to us that we are not to live para magpalakas lang physical sa
pamamagitan ng pagkain
 But to live and be strengthened by the word of God.
 Sa panahong nanghihina ka at nagugutom feed yourself with the word of God!
 Hindi mo icocompromise ang Faith mo dahil nagutom, napagod ka.
 Hindi ka susugod sa laban basta basta dahil lang malakas ka lang by your own power
and will.
 We fight for the sake to WIN not just to show na lumalaban ka!
 ibahin natin si Jesus, nanghihina man sya pisikal, pinalakas naman Nya ang kanyang spiritual
 Pisikal na gutom pero busog spiritual
 Christian life is not a playground kapag nagutom ka napagod ka magtitimes up ka,
 No! Christian life is a battleground!
 We are in the spiritual battle! Kaya Palakasin mo muna ng sarili mo ng salita ng Diyos!


2. Be INTIMATE with God

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of
the temple. 6 “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.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the
test.’[d]”

 Ang kaaway nagpaplano din yan para subikin tayo

 Kung hindi ka mapapatumba sa physical hahanap yan ng ibang butas na pwedeng
makita sayo
 Lumelevel up din ang kanilang pagkilos!
 A. Tignan natin yung settings from wilderness dinala siya ng devil sa holy city – sa
highest point of the temple
 B. Gumamit na ang kalaban ng scripture!
 Mahirap nyan kapag sa mismong teritoryo ka na sinubok
 Binanatan ka ng scripture tapos ikaw walang bala!
 Wala kang pang offensa!
 Jesus’ identity was tested!
 “If you are the Son of God” was mention two times as the tempter test Jesus
 Just like Jesus, kayang subukin ng kalaban ang identity mo!
 Kaya dapat alam mo ang identity mo kay Lord!
 6 “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.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the
test.’[d]”
 Hindi lang identity mo ang dapat alam mo, higit sa lahat ang pag-unawa sa identity
ng Lord mismo!
 Kapag alam mo ang Identity ng Diyos, walang pagdududa ang pagkilala mo sa sarili
mo sa paano ka kilala ng Diyos
 Hindi kinailangan ni Jesus na patunayan sa kalaban na Syay anak ng Diyos at
 Alam ni Jesus ang kapangyarihang meron ang Ama, at di na dapat ito subukin para
mapatunayan pa!
 Intimacy mo sa Panginoon ang magtutukoy kung gaano mo kakilala ang Panginoon mo!

3. Be Submissive to God
 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the
kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you
will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your
God, and serve him only.’[e]”

 Compared from the last two scenarios, this one is different

 the enemy tries to lure Jesus – persuading to go on the enemy’s side by offering Jesus all
the kingdoms of the world and its power
 Ang kalaban di sumusuko yan, di papayag yan papatalo.. kaya ang last nyang kayang gawin ay
aakitin ka sa pamamagitan ng pagoofer ng mga bagay na mula sa mundo
 Just like today, the world has lots to offer – power, wealth, fame and many more
 Enemies way to deceive US and later DESTRUCT
 Pero Jesus shows to us – how to win the fight!
 Through SUBMISSION to GOD!
 Alam niya kung para kanino sya at sino ang kanyang pinaglilingkuran!
 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your
God, and serve him only.’[e]”
 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (james
4:7)
 “Kaya nga pasakop kayo sa Diyos. Labanan niyo ang diyablo at lalayuan nya kayo”
 Sabi ni Jesus, “Lumayas ka satanas!” and right that moment iniwan sya ng diyablo.
 Jesus has the authority over satan!
 And we children of God, has given the authority over satan!
 Alam mo dapat kung para kanino ka at kung sino ang pinaglilingkuran mo!

CONCLUSION

 Jesus passed the test!

 At mapapansin natin after this, Jesus began to do His ministry – to preach the gospel!
 A test not just to see the proof of readiness and capabilities
 But a PREPARATION for greater things!
 I don’t just see Jesus was put to be tempted but to let himself to prepare for the ministry
God wants him to start and to finish!
 Just like Jesus, He demonstrated to us how to win against the enemy!
 That we can have always better decision that regrets
