Wandering the Desert (2/2)
This Sunday, Rev. Jean-Marie will continue exploring the desert stories in the Bible and how they relate to the Lenten season. Building upon the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, we will have a closer look at Jesus Christ's time in the desert, tempted by the devil, and what it all means in today's world and our own spiritual journey.
Join us for another eye-opening experience, accompanied by some wonderful music, and heartfelt fellowship after service.
Listen & Watch
Sermon Notes
Scriptures
Main Scripture
"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over he was famished.” —Luke 4:1–2 NRSVUE
Supporting Scriptures
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
"Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.” —Luke 4:14–15 NRSVUE
The Good News of Deliverance
“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” —Isaiah 61:1–2 NRSVUE
Quotes
“If we could read the secret history of our enemies we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.” —Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Metaphysical Interpretations
*Revealing Word
**Metaphysical Bible Dictionary
baptism*—the two baptisms, those of John and Jesus, represent the two common steps in spiritual development, denial and affirmation, or the dropping of the old and laying hold of the new. In the first baptism, that of John, through the power of the word, the sense man is erased from consciousness, and the mind is purged and made ready for the second baptism, that of Jesus. In the second baptism, the creative law of divine affirmation, set into action by supreme Mind, lights its fires at the center of man's being, and when thus kindled raises soul and body to a high degree of purity. This process is known as regeneration.
fasting*—denial; abstinence from error thoughts, to the end that we may meditate on Truth and incorporate it into our consciousness of oneness with the Father.
temptation*—a proving, testing, or trying. The temptations in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11) represent the desires and ambitions of the untried and untrained forces in the subconsciousness. When in the wilderness, Jesus was tempted by the Adversary, or personality; but with His superior understanding, He withstood the deceptive promises made to Him. When the personality suggested that Jesus make matter out of substance, use His power to rule over others, or do other marvelous things to prove His mastery, He said to the satanic personality, "Get thee hence, Satan.”
Jesus*—the Man of Nazareth, son of Mary; the Saviour of mankind according to present-day Christian belief. Metaphysically He is the I AM in man, the self, the directive power, raised to divine understanding and power--the I AM identity. See Jesus Christ.
Christ*—the incarnating principle of the God-man; the perfect Word or idea of God, which unfolds into the true man and is blessed with eternal life by measuring up to the divine standard, thus fulfilling the law of righteousness. "Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11). See Christianity.
