Pastor’s Corner March 2010
Lent is a forty day season with two primary themes: Baptism and Penitence… both are a time of preparation of our Lord’s passion. What are you doing to become more focused on the Lenten season? Sometimes people gave up something. Karen and I have decided not to have any sweets and I’m doing additional devotional readings. We are encouraged to read our bibles during the Lenten season. It’s a great way to get started to read the bible. Jesus Knew His Bible Too. Jesus defends himself from the evil one in the wilderness.
Jesus fasted FORTY DAYS, a very long time. Luke says that Jesus was FAMISHED. Of course he was FAMISHED! Who wouldn’t be FAMISHED after FORTY DAYS without FOOD! Then the devil came to Jesus. The devil DIDN’T ATTACK Jesus when he was STRONG, but when he was WEAK from HUNGER. That’s the way the devil WORKS. He looks for our WEAK SPOTS our VULNERABILITIES. He tries to SNEAK in through the CRACKS in our ARMOR. So the devil came to Jesus when he was WEAK from HUNGER, and said: "IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, command this STONE to become a loaf of BREAD."
LET’S LOOK AT THAT. At Jesus’ BAPTISM, a voice from heaven said, "YOU ARE MY SON." Now the DEVIL begins the first temptation by saying, "IF you are the Son of God." That’s a great line, isn’t it especially for TEMPTING MAN! Just think about it.
So the DEVIL starts by saying to Jesus, "IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD, command this STONE to become a loaf of BREAD." Jesus said, "IT IS WRITTEN!" Written WHERE? Written in the BIBLE, of course Deuteronomy 8:3 to be precise! But for now, just remember that Jesus, who was FIGHTING for HIS SPIRITUAL LIFE, deflected the devil by QUOTING SCRIPTURE.
Then the DEVIL SHOWS Jesus all the KINGDOMS of the WORLD and says, "If you will worship me, it will all be yours."THAT’S A LIE, but it’s the kind of LIE that people LIKE TO BELIEVE. "Just give me your MONEY, and I’ll make you RICH!" Wow! That sounds WONDERFUL! Or "Just buy a BOTTLE of this WINE, and women will FALL at your FEET!" Or, "Party at our CASINO, and you will have FUN, FUN, FUN."What HAPPENS here……STAYS here. What a LIE!
The DEVIL said, "If you will worship me, it will all be yours." THAT’S A LIE.
So Jesus answered, "It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him."
Jesus said, "IT IS WRITTEN!" Written where? Written in the BIBLE!
Then the DEVIL took JESUS to the PINNACLE of the TEMPLE and told him to JUMP. The devil QUOTED A SCRIPTURE that seemed to promise that ANGELS would PROTECT Jesus. He was trying to TEMP JESUS to make a GRAND GESTURE and a MIRACULOUS RECOVERY, with the promise that people would FLOCK TO HIM. What a way for Jesus to JUMP-START his MINISTRY!
But Jesus answered, "It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the TEST."
Jesus began his answer by saying, "IT IS SAID!" Said where? In the BIBLE, of course!
So Jesus DEFLECTED all THREE TEMPTATIONS by quoting SCRIPTURE. How do you suppose he did that?
- Did he get his BIBLE and his CONCORDANCE from his BOOKSHELF and start looking for the answer? No!—– No time for that!
- Did he have a BIBLE PROGRAM on his COMPUTER so he could find the answer quickly? Afraid not!
- Did he go to GOOGLE, which promises to ANSWER every QUESTION? Hardly!
Jesus was able to SAVE HIMSELF,– because he had been LEARNING the BIBLE from his CHILDHOOD. He had been NURTURED from the beginning concerning the scriptures. Mary and Joseph had taught him well.
That suggests that we ought to LEARN THE SCRIPTURES TOO! When we have to make a quick life-or-death decision, knowing the BIBLE can SAVE US TOO! But don’t wait until you’re in TROUBLE. Start studying your Bible NOW.
There is a LESSON in that for US. When TEMPTATION COMES, it will SELDOM give us TIME TO THINK or PREPARE. When our life is on the LINE, how we have PREPARED during the QUIET TIMES will often determine whether we will WIN or LOSE in the troubled times. If you will begin STUDYING your BIBLE NOW, it will help you when the CHIPS ARE DOWN. If you will begin PRAYING NOW, you will be STRONG when TROUBLE COMES.
But it is hard to DISCIPLINE OURSELVES. It is hard to prepare ourselves SPIRITUALLY. So I would like to propose one more ingredient for the "Get Ready" formula. Get involved in a Bible STUDY group a small group of Christians who meet for the PURPOSE of STUDYING THE BIBLE and STRENGTHENING each other SPIRITUALLY. Then, when TROUBLE COMES, you will be STRONG. Then, when TEMPTATION COMES, you will be able to just say NO. …according to the Scriptures.
Happy Easter