Mexborough Baptist Church Sunday 28th February 2021
Second Sunday in Lent
What a beautiful week! Sunshine and warmer days, spring flowers and newborn lambs. The government has a roadmap to ease lockdown and move us back to 'normality'. Jesus too had a roadmap. He knew that "he had come from God and was returning to God" (John 13:3). Merys is taking us through some of the journeys Jesus made on earth as part of that huge journey from heaven to earth and back again. This was all in God's plan to save and bless us and to supply all our needs because he is El-Shaddai, God who is all sufficient click on the link
Enid leads us in a prayer...
Lord, God of truth, grace and provision, you alone know what is in all our hearts and minds and where we have fallen short of living lives that bring you glory. Fill us with your Holy Spirit today, that we may be renewed and strengthened in your service. Amen.
Last week we looked at the journeys Jesus made in his childhood; today Merys is going to share with us about the next journey in the life of Jesus. Before she does, please watch this video click on the link
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14.)
We move to the next journey in the life of Jesus as He begins His ministry. He is now around thirty years old and has lived as a son and brother working with His earthly father as a carpenter in Nazareth. Jesus hears that John is preaching repentance and baptising at the river Jordan.
Read Matthew 3:1-6. Jesus showed an urgency regarding the launch of His ministry but always in a way that would please God, His father. Jesus waited until the time was right to begin His ministry and the journey that would lead to the Cross. Even though he was without sin and therefore had no need to repent, He made the journey to the River Jordan and presented Himself to John for baptism.
Read Matthew 3:13-17. God had promised John that the Messiah was coming and how he would recognise Him. Jesus fulfilled that promise and John recognized him as the "one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (Matthew 3:11). John wants to be baptised by Jesus, but Jesus asks John to baptize Him "to fulfill all righteousness", as an act of obedience to God's purposes. His work on earth starts with a public demonstration that he is no longer living His own life but the life of service to God.
Similarly, believer's baptism is a public demonstration that we have turned away from our old life (repented) and put our faith in Jesus to live a new life of faith and obedience to Jesus. If you want to know more about believer's baptism, please speak to Denise on 07983 223343.
Read Matthew 4:1-11. The next part of Jesus' journey is from the Jordan into the wilderness. I love the first two verses of this reading. Jesus came to live amongst us as one of us. "Immanuel, God with us." Jesus went into the wilderness as a human - God’s son, but living as a human. In those forty days and nights He suffered the human pains of hunger, thirst, loneliness and separation from all He had been familiar with for the previous thirty years. On top of that, the Devil tempts Him to use the power which He could call upon as the Son of God to obtain food to stop the pain of hunger. He tempts Him again to place Himself in power over the inhabitants of Earth. Jesus resisted and fought back using faith and scripture, and the devil was thwarted. Hallelujah!
We think of the pain and suffering He endured, we think of the time He was alone to focus on the life and death before Him. The presence of Covid in our lives has affected us all in different ways. We have suffered loss and worry and we miss the things that we are familiar with. While Jesus was tested and tempted in the wilderness He used that time to reflect and prepare. Lent gives us an opportunity to pray and prepare for our life of service; to reflect on ways in which we can continue to live like Jesus and on what we are doing in our lives that is pleasing to God - or not. We call on Jesus to help us as we sing 'Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days' click on the link
Jesus was baptised as the first step in His commitment to serve God here on earth. Jesus demonstrated His obedience to the Holy Will of God. Jesus refined His power to follow His service to God here on earth through this period of prayer, worship and conversation with His father. He left the wilderness after forty days ready to begin His work.
Read Luke 4:14-21 Geographically, this journey is a round trip - from Nazareth to the River Jordan, into the wilderness and then back to Galilee and Nazareth. Spiritually, it's a journey of development - from village carpenter, through obedience, prayer, reflection and testing to Messiah. Jesus returned to his home town, to a synagogue full of people who knew him well, who had watched him grow up and had grown up with him, and tells them that he is the fulfilment of God's promises in the Old Testament. From there he goes on the road as a teacher, preacher and miracle worker.
Merys has shared with us how Jesus was tempted in the wilderness - much more serious temptations than this amusing example click on the link
We all face various kinds of temptation. Jesus in the wilderness overcame temptation by quoting the word of God - "It is written..." God's word is as powerful today and here are some encouraging and helpful verses...
For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
God's word, the Bible, from the first page to the last, clearly shows us that 'There's A Wideness In God's Mercy' click on the link
Prayers
Lord, we live in a fallen world. Each day we are tempted to turn away from you and think of ourselves, of what we want to do, and when we want to do it. We become self-confident and self-centred and want our own way. We ‘do our own thing’ and put confidence in our own experience before faith in you and obedience to your will.
Heavenly Father, help us to love your word and learn more of your will for our lives as we read the scriptures, hear your word, and experience your Holy Spirit's guidance.
We thank you, Lord Jesus, that when you faced temptation and were tempted as we are, you remained faithful to your Father God. Lord, we worship you, the one who was truly human and who brought your divine nature to every one of us.
Thank you, God, for sending Jesus, Thank you, Jesus, that you came. Holy Spirit, won’t you tell me more about your lovely name. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Tomorrow, 1st March, is St David's day; in honour of the day we sing that great Welsh hymn 'Guide Me, Oh Thou Great Jehovah' click on the link
Benediction
The Lord Bless You And Keep You click on the link
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