I’m really glad there were no speed traps on the way to church today because I pulled into the Heart of Mesa parking lot on two wheels this morning. Nothing like running late when you sing on the worship team.
I missed hugging on people and shaking hands with newbies, but before I rushed on the platform to my smiling worship team sisters, Kaye Martin grabbed me and squeezed me tight.
I can’t even begin to express the comfort my church family was to me while I was in Louisiana saying goodbye to my dad. I was able to post 9-1-1 prayer pleas on our Heart of Mesa Community page on Facebook. Knowing my church family was praying for my family and me helped keep me going. Thank you, sweet family!
Since I missed church for two weeks, it felt especially good to take part in corporate worship. To mesh my voice with hundreds of others as we brag on our Savior and seek His face.
But grief can be sneaky. When Michelle played the tell-tale first bars of “I Can Only Imagine,” the tears erupted like a sudden spring shower. I pulled the microphone from my lips and just mouthed the reality of my daddy’s new life. I pictured him, whole and smiling, in the presence of his Savior. Dancing and singing. Awed and adoring.
One day, I’ll be there, too.
We had the sweet blessing of dedicating a precious baby boy during the family prayer time. Daddy Russell used to be in my children’s choir! I can’t believe he’s not only a husband and daddy but also a recently re-enlisted soldier. Russell’s parents dedicated him in that very same spot 23 years ago.
With my pen poised and my heart ready to receive teaching, I was sooo ready to hear my pastor’s heart. Two weeks away is two weeks too long! In his prayer, he thanked God that he devoured the Word last week and that the Word devoured him. I love that! I want to be famished for more and more of God’s word. May it be so, Lord!
Gary took us to a familiar passage in the gospels where Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I love it when the Lord allows me to see a familiar passage with fresh perspective. Thank you, Lord, for inspiring Gary with such thought-provoking insights!
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be temptedby the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “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.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matthew 4:1-11 NIV)
This is the deal.
Believers will experience temptation. If Jesus wasn’t immune, there’s no way anyone will be.
The evil one has some favorite times to attack: right after a mountaintop experience, when we’re alone, and when we’re weak and worn out.
Satan is especially prone to attacking Believers who are full of the Spirit and walking in step with Him. It’s kind of a double-edged sword. As Believers, we want to live a Spirit-led life, but, in doing so, we really do set ourselves up for attack. The devil doesn’t bother with luke warm Believers because he knows they pose no threat.
Jesus modeled the right way to block the poisoned arrows of Satan. And, as always, His way is the best way.
It’s all about being full: full of the Spirit, full of the Word, and full of prayer.
Full of the Spirit
Compelled by the Spirit, Jesus spent 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness where He was assaulted by Satan again and again. He withstood the pressure of the enemy by the power of the Spirit, not personal willpower.
At Celebrate Recovery, Pastor Gary is the facilitator of the newcomer group. Recently, he spent time with three men who had a combined prison time of 60 years. As Gary heard their stories, all three of them admitted to feeling assaulted by temptation as soon as they walked out of those prison gates. Almost as if a force was pulling them back to the old ways that got them into trouble in the first place. We don’t want to go back. Please…tell us how to not go back.
Their only hope is to allow the Spirit of God to take control. He gives direction, and He gives strength. Oh, Lord, I relate to these men. I find myself going back to the same sins and struggles again and again. Help those men…and help me…to surrender fully to the power of Your Spirit. Fill us up, Lord.
Full of the Word
Every time the devil tempted Him, Jesus had the perfect comeback: the Word of God. And not just any random passages. Every scripture He quoted came from the book of Deuteronomy, a chronicle of the rebellious ways of the Israelites. If the Israelites had lived by those verses, it would have saved them a lot of trouble.
Let’s take a look at the three ways Christ was tempted. Such lessons to be learned.
- Satan knew Jesus was famished and physically weak after fasting for so long, so he started with the obvious…food. But Jesus understood the truth. He knew that eternal nourishment was far more important than a temporary physical fix. Sometimes, God lets us go hungry for a while to help us learn to trust in His provision. Sometimes, God lets us go hungry so we’ll understand how to be truly satisfied. Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
- Next, Satan tried to appeal to Christ’s pride and sense of personal power. He even quoted Scripture to give himself some extra credibility. But, again, Jesus saw through Satan’s ploy. It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test. Jesus got it. We don’t control God. We’re out-of-line when we try to force God’s hand and make demands. The evil one would want us to believe that God needs our bright ideas, but He doesn’t. He wants our obedience, not our suggestions. Lord, please forgive me for the “to-do list” prayers. Please help me to trust You to always do what’s best in every situation.
- After striking out twice, Satan decided to just go for it and ask for what he really wanted: Christ’s allegiance and worship. But again, Jesus shut him down with Scripture. Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. That passage was written shortly before the Israelites entered the promised land. God knew they would be living in houses they didn’t build and harvesting crops they didn’t plant. He knew they would be bombarded with idols that could steal their hearts. Jesus wasn’t about to trade in God for a cheap imitation. Lord, forgive me for how easily my affections stray. I want to worship and serve You only.
Full of prayer
Jesus prayed.
Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear. (Hebrews 5:7)
Throughout His life, Jesus made prayer a priority. He laid Himself bare before God. And the Scripture says God heard Him because of His godly fear.
Godly fear = God’s ear
So, what does godly fear look like?
Pastor Gary summarized John MacArthur’s description.
Godly fear has four parts: self distrust, tenderness of conscience toward sin, vigilance in fighting temptation, and extreme care to not offend or dishonor God.
Oh, Lord, I want to truly fear You. To trust in You, not my own efforts. To be sensitive to even the slightest hint of sin. To treat temptation as a life or death fight. To weep over the thought of dishonoring Your name.
