Sylvania Wesleyan Church 1
Sunday Morning 2/22

      • Psalm 32:1–2NIV2011

  • Good morning. I am glad that we are gathered together. Today is the first Sunday in lent we are faced with the season of time that we look to Easter and Jesus’ death and resurrection.
    Lent is marked by a 40 day fast before Easter. There is no direct rule from scripture saying that we must observe this season. It is a custom that has its history in the church. Early on there is record that this fast was very strict and would be limited to just one meal a day, usually in the evening. Easting of flesh, meat, fish or eggs was strictly forbidden. Eventually these practices relaxed and traditions changed and have morphed more through the years.
    One thing that is consistent through much of the history is that Lent is observed as a time of penance by abstaining from things and focusing in on religious practices and exercises. This has also become the main focus of much of the western church in that we tend to emphasize the need for a return to religious practice over fasting.
    What do we do than as a church? Do we focus in on fasting, the religious practice of abstaining. Or do we instead focus on other religious practices that feel a little bit easier.
    We are a people who like to be comfortable, but our faith challenges us to get uncomfortable.
    I was thinking the other day about this idea when I thought about one of the favorite things people like to say today. I don’t worry about the church I am a follower of Jesus. I follow after him not anything man will say. I always find that interesting for a couple of reasons first it rejects the very foundation which Christ himself established but also because do they really live that out.
    Let’s go with this premise because for many of us that sounds like the right place to start. I mean what better place to start with Jesus and how he lived.
    Matthew 4:1–11 NIV
    1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “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.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

    The Holy Spirit Role

    Jesus set for an example of how our life is to be lived first with the heart of our relationship with God. It begins with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. A few weeks back we talked about Jesus’ baptism and how the Holy Spirit came upon him and God spoke highly about his son in whom he was pleased. In front of a crowd with John the Baptist's followers and all those who had come to hear him preach his word of repentance.
    How does Jesus move forward after this moment. He starts preaching and teaching right?
    Now the instead the Holy Spirit calls him to the wilderness to a time of fasting, and yes temptation.
    The Holy Spirit’s guidance marks for us that there is divine purpose in Jesus life. It leads us to examine and wonder at why Jesus had to go through this temptation before his ministry fully came into being.
    What did God want Jesus to experience?
    What did the Son of God truly need to learn or gain in this time?
    Why did this have to happen and what can we learn from it?

    Jesus is the Son of God

    This is the first place that we have to start when we think about what Jesus went through. The temptations themselves proceed the fact that he is the Son of God and he must live as the Son of God. So we have to ask the question what does that mean.
    Did Jesus simply come to to be a wonder worker?
    I mean have you ever thought about that. Why don’t we read more stories about Jesus simply doing miracles left and right?
    What would have happened if Jesus did that for people. He just walked around and said oh look someone who is sick. Boom no more sickness. Oh your hungry here is some food. Or any number of signs and wonders that he could have done. I mean why stop there. I mean Jesus could be walking down the street and raise his hand and poof Bread! because he was hungry.
    Or maybe Jesus could have just walked into town and said forget this and went right to the leader of the city and said I am in charge now. I mean he is the son of God why would he not be able to do this.
    Jesus doesn’t do these things. Maybe part of the temptation in the wilderness is both a reminder for us and a self examination of Jesus to not give into the temptations of this world but to instead be focused on the life or Righteousness he is called to and is living out.
    It is easy to think well this shouldn’t be hard because he is Jesus. Yet, we can’t downplay that Jesus was fully man. He faced the same feelings and desires that humanity experiences. He didn’t hold on to them instead as he showed throughout the temptation narrative rejected them.
    Jesus shows us that his focus is on who he is in the eyes of God. Why is this important for us though. I think Paul helps us understand why it is so important that Jesus rejects the things of this world and embraces God’s will.
    Romans 5:17–19 NIV
    17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! 18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

    The Acts of one

    The action of Jesus is important because it is in his actions that so much was changed. It is through him that we have now gained access to the freedom of sings.
    We forget that Adam’s choices in the garden condemned us and that we face the consequences of the deep rooted sin in our lives. The sin that pulls at us and tempts us on the regular. That Jesus changed so much for us in this area. Yes, we could have lived our best life trying to be the person who God wanted us to be.
    There are examples of those who have lived life for God in the Old Testament. Yet, something more needed to be done.
    Jesus came and died so that all may be made righteous before God because of what Jesus did.
    This is the season of Lent. The time of year that we prepare ourselves for Easter season. So i ask you what are you willing to do to engage and go deeper in your faith.
    Earlier I talked about the idea of just following Jesus and his example. I couldn’t not ask for anything more than that.
    I want you to follow after Jesus. This church exists to help you follow after Jesus.
    I can’t help but ask you are you really ready to follow him?
    WE say this but are we truly ready to follow after him?
    Are you ready to go into the wilderness and seek him?
    are you ready to go to the ends that Jesus did for you?
    The temptations story is a reminder for us that Jesus knows what it means to struggle to face hardship and to succeed in rejecting what God doesn’t want for us and accepting his love and grace.
    When i ask you the question of how are you drawing closer to him today we have to be honest and open about it. We have to be wiling to accept that many of us if not all of us are falling short. That there is more work to be done. Are you ready to give it over to him.
    Because the act of one changed it for all of us he choose to ignore the life that calls humanity and instead look to the life that the Holy Spirit was calling him to. To go to the wilderness to come back and walk toward the cross. To suffer and die. To be risen from the grave and ascend into heaven and sit at the right hand throne of God petitioning on our behalf.
    Let’s give it to him. LEt’s give our lives to him so that we may be changed this season. That we may walk in the path of the one who has set it for us and know that his love and grace is powerful.
    LEt’s pray.

      • Matthew 4:1–11NIV2011

      • Romans 5:17–19NIV2011

Sylvania Wesleyan Church 1
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