March 5 2017 “In the Spirit for 40 Days” *Matthew 4.1-11

March 5  2017  “In the Spirit for 40 Days” *Matthew 4.1-11 Pastor Jacqueline Hines

During this Lenten season, we are setting apart a tithe of our year – 40 days in order to rededicate ourselves to God our Saviour. We are entering into this Lenten journey with our prayers, our presence, our preparations to participate in Lenten Lunches and give testimonies, and find other ways to walk in the footprints of Jesus. [slide # 1 Footprints]

Jesus’ life was jam packed with spiritual activity. Wherever he went, the atmosphere was charged with tension of trouble coming, followed by calm and serenity. Trouble flashed like lightening, [slide# 2 lightening] then the blue skies would resume. [Slide # 3 blue sky]

The gospels tell us that one day Jesus was in a boat, sleeping peacefully even though there was a storm so fierce that the boat was filling up with water. He was sleeping so soundly that the disciples had to wake him up. [slide # 4 Jesus sleeping on boat] Jesus truly had peace in the midst of the storm. That is why he can teach us a thing or two about resting and having peace when we are in a storm. [slide# 5 rest]

There may have been perhaps at least one day or two that he tossed and turned, restlessly, saying, “My God, why have you forsaken me?” We know that feeling, too, don’t we?

In this morning’s lesson from Matthew, we can relate to every step of Jesus’ 40 fay journey in the wildeness.

In verse 1 Matthew tells us that Jesus was led up by the Spirit. [slide # 6 Led by…] You have been led by the spirit. In the various testimonies at coffee hour, committee meetings, and coming up in the next few weeks, we hear again and again of the ways that we, like Jesus, have been led by the spirit.

The Spirit leads us in many ways. We may follow the Sprit’s lead that comes from a gentle thought, a persistent idea, a pricking of our conscience, a still small voice. Every now and then we may have a dream, a vision, a conversation among family, friends, even strangers that is clearly the Spirit propelling us into a state of blessing.

At times we may be led, like Jesus, into a 40-day wilderness. [slide # 7 Wilderness] A wilderness is usually crowded with wild emotions, untamed difficulties, wayward circumstances and uncontrollable fears. A wilderness is a trying time, a time of temptation and testing by Satan.

We do get tested sometimes; just like you stick a toothpick into a cupcake to see if it is ready to be enjoyed, we get tested. Just like the exams we take from elementary school to college, to on the job, we get tested. Tests help us to see where we stand. Tests show us what we need to do to maintain a certain level or advance to the next level. Have you been tested lately? [slide# 8 Tested?]

When I served in Columbia, Maryland I did a very lengthy fast and one of the members jokingly waved a juicy cheeseburger in front of my nose and said, “Aren’t you tempted?” I was not at all tempted, but if it had been a slice of organic double chocolate fudge, 70% grade cocoa cake made from natural sugar and unbromated flour and a glass of raw milk, I would have been in real trouble. 

After going 40 days without food, verse 2 says Jesus was famished. The first thing the devil did was to dare Jesus to use his spiritual power to make bread since he was hungry. [slide# 9 bread] He was dared to make bread out of the stones. [slide# 10 stones]He not only dared him he double dog dared him. Have you ever been tempted to take a dare, to risk doing something that was completely in your power?

The IRS would say people make their own bread all the time. Those who advertise their wares on the street corners or the fancy city hotel lobbies are rolling in dough that they make themselves, the hard way, from stone. Every hungry heart knows the difference between a stone and real bread.

Rather than yield to temptation, it is better to follow Jesus’ steps and read the bible, listen to a Christian radio station, watch a sermon on television, come to church, come to a Lenten Luncheon, complete a Godly mission, serve on a church committee. That is what Jesus would do. Being in the right place at the right time can keep us out of a whole lot of trouble.

1.   This week I was singing that old gospel song Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each vict’ry will help you some other to win;
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue;
Look ever to Jesus, He’ll carry you through.

o    Refrain:
Ask the Savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.

After Satan dared Jesus, he took Jesus to the Holy City. Jesus was taken - involuntarily. Can you remember a moment that you arrived at a certain place, but you did not go there on your own? Perhaps it was a ride in an ambulance. You may have been forced to go to court, or pushed into an argument or dragged into a string of detestable circumstances and undeniable unpleasantries.

The devil took Jesus to the top of the temple, in verse 5,  [slide# 11 devil took him] the top of his spiritual game. He was heads above the rest of his peers and elders. Even in our holiest places when we are accomplishing our saintliest acts, the devil may be right there to take us where we do not want to go. He may even be sitting in the pew next to you, looking like an angel! Satan dared Jesus to throw himself off and trust God would protect him just like the bible promised in Psalm 91. Even a devil can quote scripture.

Jesus had an answer for Satan as well we should too. Jesus quoted the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 6 that says after God leads you into a blessed place, do not test God. Do not treat God like your magic wand. Do your due diligence. Work and prepare as the Spirit leads. Do not try God, do not play with God, do not aggravate God. Instead, be cool and cooperate! Be nice and be grateful to God. After all, God is good all the time.

Satan took Jesus away from the heights of the temple and took him to a high mountain where he could see all the marvelous wonders of the world. From where he stood, he could see all the spectacular privileges that are given to the rich and the famous, all the luxuries, all the niceties and the pleasantries. Perhaps you have seen them, too.

They would all be given to him if he would do one little itsy bitsy bow - down to worship the devil.  [slide # 12 Jesus and Satan] But, Jesus had had enough. He could no longer be taken. In verse 10 He commanded Satan, “Get out of here, Satan” [slide # 13 Get out..] and Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6 and Exodus 23 for it is written,
“Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” Even Jesus worshipped God. Even Jesus humbled himself. He lowered himself and obeyed even to the point of sacrificing his life.

The Hebrew word for worship is said to be derived from the Hebrew word to kiss a master’s hand with the same lowliness as an innocent puppy who licks your hand and looks up at you for approval. [slide # 14 puppy]

That is the posture in which we have come into this place to worship. We have followed in the footsteps of Jesus, and this is the church to which he has led us. We have been tempted to make our own bread, but we have come to this place and remembered that we do not live by bread alone. We remember that God will provide.

We have seen days when we were deceived into thinking that we were higher and more spiritual and more special than someone else. We imagined that God thought the same. Here we remember that we are all precious in God’s eyes.

We have all been on top of the world but no matter how high we go, we will never be higher than God, never. So if we have pictured ourselves bowing above God, and not below God, this is the season to do what Jesus would do.

So always, as the song writer declares,

1 We have come into His house 
and gathered in His name 
to worship Him. 
to worship Christ the Lord. 

2 Let's forget about ourselves 
and magnify His name 
and worship Him. 

Today and every other day, let us bow below him and not above him and worship him and him alone. Amen. [slide # 15 dog with prayer paw]