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The Wilderness Walk Leads to Paradise :: Matthew 4:1-11

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[Introduction] Lent is our season in the wilderness ... our season among the wild things.  1. Immediately after Jesus was baptized, the Spirit led him into the deep, dark, dry place called the wilderness, the desert (v 1). The Gospel of Mark also tells us that this is the place with the wild beasts (1:12). Scripturally speaking, as a waterless place, this is where unclean spirits wander restlessly. You won’t normally find the Son of God here, but today it’s where he needed to be. The Israelites, you will remember, were in the wilderness for forty years after God rescued them from the hand of Pharaoh, set them free from slavery in Egypt and to be tested. Jesus was there for forty days and nights (v 2), setting you and me free from your bondage to sin. The Holy Spirit had led him there immediately after his baptism to be tempted by the devil (v 1).  We can describe the temptations Jesus faced as materialism, egoism, and spiritualism ... lusts of the body, mind, and spirit (vv 3,...
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Sounds of the Passion: Ripping Cloth :: Joel 2:13

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The sound of ripping cloth is harsh. It often comes suddenly, sharply. It is a sound of destruction. It can create feelings of stress and nervousness, anger and annoyance. And ... sometimes ... it’s oddly satisfying.  For centuries, the ripping of cloth was a sign of mourning ... grief ... loss. Whenever the people of Israel were in great emotional pain, they ripped their clothes and mourned. Joshua tore his clothes when he realized the Israelites had been faithless while attacking the city of Ai. Jacob tore his clothes as he mourned the loss of his son Joseph, who had been cast aside by the sin of his brothers. The people of Nineveh tore their clothes when they heard their great city would be overthrown for worshiping a god other than YHWH. Even King Ahab tore his clothes when he realized how evil he had become.  Tonight marks the start of our 40-day season of repentance, fasting, and prayer. The ashes you wear are a simple mark of mourning and mortality ... a simple expressi...
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He Will Come and Cause Your Salvation :: Isaiah 35:3-7

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He will come and cause your salvation (v 4).  [Introduction] As we prepare to enter the season of Lent ... it’s just four days away ... four as the Hebrews counted them in any case ... you need to hear this promise again ...  He will COME ... and cause YOUR salvation (v 4). Now take a breath ... and actively listen to this word of promise. You can’t hear this too often. It’s a word that creates and sustains faith ... pure Gospel.  HE ... will come ... and CAUSE your salvation (v 4). 4. We always need to hear this promise, especially over the next 50 days.  The season of fasting ... as Lent is also called ... will be long and hard. It always is. We will face great tests of faith. The season is akin to being in the desert ... the wilderness ... just like the Israelites were for forty years ... just like Jesus was for forty days. As we try to deny our sinful selves, we will face temptations from the devil and trials from the Lord. You may find yourself asking, when...
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The Best Rest of Your Life :: Hebrews 4:9-13

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[Introduction] Are you tired? Are you “reTIRED” ... working too hard too often for too long, “reTIRING” yourselves after tiring yourselves during a lifetime of work? Do you long for rest? Even if you don’t feel you are, you should know our children are tired ... our mothers and fathers are tired ... our husbands are tired ... our wives are tired ... our world is tired. We’re all constantly confronted by bickering and unrest ... upheaval and tension ... pressure and anxiety. We’re making demands of others trying to feed the need for rest. And it’s downright tiring. We’re even too busy to call our pastor and say, Hey, Pastor, I’m tired. ... Will you help me?  I need rest ... Will you pray for me?   Yes, we long for good rest. ... So where are we to find it? The evangelist to the Hebrews has the answer. He proclaims that ... THE LIVING WORD OF GOD DELIVERS THE BEST REST TO HIS PEOPLE I. God has given and promised this best rest to his people from the beginning. The best rest is...
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