Sunday SERMON Week of February 19-24 MONDAY: Luke 4:1-12; Hebrews 4:12-16 The Devil? “How to Beat the Devil” - February 18 Scripture speaks of the Devil or Satan as real tangible beings whose goal it is to destroy our souls, our spirits, and our sense of humanity. Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-16 (NLT) For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between REFLECTION: Reflect on your understanding of evil. Where does it come from? Is soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts there a tangible source of evil? How does evil enter into your personal world? and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. TUESDAY: Luke 4:1-12; Hebrews 4:12-16 Wildernesses Jesus was faced with temptation in the wilderness. He was young and perhaps So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son daunted by what lay ahead; he was vulnerable. of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands CONSIDER: Consider times when you were vulnerable. This vulnerability is a form of our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. wilderness in which you feel alone and susceptible to outside influences. Consider So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his how having a strong foundation in God through Christ could strengthen you. mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Luke 4:1-12 (NLT) Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the WEDNESDAY: Luke 4:1-12; Hebrews 4:12-16 Daily Bread Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by Christ’s first temptation concerned basic needs. He had not eaten and was hungry. the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry. QUESTIONS: Have you ever been in danger of not being able to provide yourself or your family with the basic needs of food, shelter, basic provisions? If so, can you Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a relate to what Jesus may have felt? loaf of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’” THURSDAY: Luke 4:1-12; Hebrews 4:12-16 Power and Glory Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in Christ’s 2nd and 3rd temptations concerned power and glory. Instead of feeling a moment of time. “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over unprepared and vulnerable, he could have been strong and powerful with all of them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will heaven and earth at his command. give it all to you if you will worship me.” REFLECTION: Reflect on the temptations with which Christ was faced. These are not unlike our individual temptations; but Christ was focused on God, not on the Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, world. ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” FRIDAY: Luke 4:1-12; Hebrews 4:12-16 Strength in Numbers Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and When we feel isolated in life, we are more vulnerable to temptations – temptations said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, that may manifest themselves in the form of poor behavior and poor decisions. CONSIDER: Do you have a friend or family member to whom you can go in times of ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. vulnerability? Facing difficulty with someone by your side is so much easier than And they will hold you up with their hands facing difficulty alone. Consider a reality in which you face challenges with Christ so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” by your side. Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
SATURDAY: Luke 4:1-12; Hebrews 4:12-16 Christ Our Advocate
PRAYER: Guiding, Protecting, and Strengthening God, we thank you for providing us with Christ who becomes our guide and advocate, understanding our weaknesses and walking with us through our wilderness experiences. Read or subscribe to the weekly guide at moumc.org/grow Printed copies are available at the Connector Desk.
(Coniectanea Biblica. New Testament Series 20) Lilian Portefaix-Sisters Rejoice. Paul's Letter To The Philippians and Luke-Acts As Seen by First-Century Philippian Women - Almqvist & Wiksell Internati