Matthew 4:[1] Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
[2] And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred……
[8] Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
[9] And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
[10] Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Jesus Christ after fasting for forty days and forty nights was offered by the devil what He had come to claim, His throne over the world. In this fleshly weakened condition He could have bypassed all of the pain He was about to endure and receive the prize with no effort. The salvation of men’s souls would have been thwarted and the plan set in motion at the beginning of creation circumvented.
How about you this morning? Whom do we serve? How do we overcome?

Through watching and prayer we too can overcome the weakness of the flesh.
Matthew 26:[39] And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
[40] And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
[41] Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Jesus is familiar with the weakness of the flesh even He Himself experienced it in the garden just before His betrayal by Judas and His mock trial and His crucifixion.
Believe me folks there is no other way to overcome than through watching, this is to be aware of what is going on and the traps of the devil and seeing what is behind the things going on. Being aware of consequences and motives.
If we do not have an active prayer life, as a Christian, we will fail.

Another way we as Christians overcome is by realizing the eternal rewards and glory awaiting us in Heaven.
In Hebrews chapter 12 we read:
Heb.12:[2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We must always keep our eyes upon Jesus and the great price He paid to save us from our sins. Jesus endured because of the future joy achieved through the salvation of those who trust Him. The cross was not joy but the salvation and eternal destiny of man was!
We too must endure many things but the joy of eternity far out weighs the part we must endure.

Look in Hebrews chapter 2:
Heb.2[9] But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
[10] For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
[11] For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
[12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
[13] And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
[14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
[15] And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
[16] For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
[17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
[18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

We can endure when we fully realize that this life is not all there is. We are working to a place beyond this life. A life after death. Death is not an end but rather a beginning of glory.
We can endure by leaning upon Jesus Who Himself suffered all of the trials and afflictions we too experience in our life.

Let us look at the Apostle Paul. In Second Corinthians we find:
2Cor.11:23] Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
[24] Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
[25] Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
[26] In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
[27] In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
[28] Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
[29] Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
[30] If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
[31] The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
[32] In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
[33] And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

2Cor.12:[1] It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
[2] I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
[3] And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
[4] How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
[5] Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
[6] For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
[7] And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
[8] For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
[9] And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
[10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Our glory is not in the flesh but rather in the work of the Spirit. We can endure when we realize our life is not about the physical pleasures of this world but rather the glory of God Himself. God has extended His grace toward us in the forgiveness of our sins through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. He has given us the promise of eternal life through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We endure through the strength of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Look in Philippians chapter 1:
Phil.1:[23] For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
[24] Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
[25] And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
[26] That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

Paul began to want to get out of here. He was anxious to experience the glory of Heaven and get out of this sin sick world. How about you? Ever feel this way? I know I have. But the Apostle Paul realized it isn’t about what we want it is about what God needs from us. Paul realized the Philippians needed him. Rather than get his glory immediately he was aware the body still needed him. God still had a purpose for him. We as Christians must be mindful as long as we are here God has a reason for it. We may endure when we put the needs of others before our own desires. We must realize there are others who watch us and depend on us.

Look at Romans chapter 12:
Rom.12:[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
[2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Let us give ourselves to God. All of ourselves. Let us change the way we think with the mind of the flesh and let our thoughts and outlooks be one with God.

Let us look one last time at the Savior. In Isaiah chapter 53:
Isa.53:[1] Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
[2] For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
[3] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
[4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
[5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
[6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
[7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
[8] He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
[9] And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
[10] Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
[11] He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
[12] Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Yes indeed Jesus is well acquainted with our grief but endured the cross and shame that you and I might become children of God. May we allow our lives to be a sacrifice for the cause of Jesus Christ.