Sunday 29th July 2007

Morning Service

Jesus – THE EARLY YEARSHOW HIS WARFARE BEGAN

Luke 4:1-13

PSALM 100:1-5 (p. 362)

1 All people that on earth do dwell,

Sing to the LORD with cheerful voice.2 Him serve with mirth, his praise

forth tell,Come ye before him and rejoice.

PSALM 100:1-5 (2/4)

3 Know that the LORD is God indeed;

Without our aid he did us make:We are his flock, he doth us

feed,And for his sheep he doth us

take.

PSALM 100:1-5 (3/4)

4 O enter then his gates with praise,

Approach with joy his courts unto:

Praise, laud, and bless his name always,

For it is seemly so to do.

PSALM 100:1-5 (4/4)

5 For why? the LORD our God is good,

His mercy is for ever sure;His truth at all times firmly

stood,And shall from age to age

endure.

Prayer of Approach to God

Luke 4:1-13 (p. 1030) 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from

the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,

2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."

4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"

Luke 4:1-13 (p. 1030) 5 The devil led him up to a high place and

showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.

6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.

7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the

Lord your God and serve him only.'" 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him

stand on the highest point of the temple.

Luke 4:1-13 (p. 1030) "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw

yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: "'He will command his

angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that

you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" 12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the

Lord your God to the test.'" 13 When the devil had finished all this

tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

PSALM 2:6-12* (p. 2)

6 The LORD has made it known to them:

“My chosen king I have installed

On Zion, my own holy hill.He is the one whom I have

called.”

PSALM 2:6-12* (2/5)

7 The king then solemnly declares: “I will proclaim the LORD’s

decree.‘Today your father I’ve become;You are my son,’ he said to me.

PSALM 2:6-12* (3/5)

8 “ ‘Ask me, and for your heritageI’ll give you nations near and far.

9 You’ll break them with an iron rod,

And smash them like a potter’s jar.’ ”

PSALM 2:6-12* (4/5)10 Now therefore, kings, true

wisdom find;You judges of the earth, give

ear.11 With rev’rence come and

serve the LORD;Bow down with joy and

trembling fear.

PSALM 2:6-12* (5/5)12 Pay homage to the royal son

Lest you in wrath aside are thrust,

For swiftly can his anger blaze. Blessèd are all who in him trust.

Prayer of Confession

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Almighty and most merciful Father, we are thankful that your mercy is

higher than the heavens, wider than our wanderings, deeper

than all our sin.

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Forgive our careless attitudes toward your purposes,

our refusal to relieve the suffering of others,

our envy of those who have more than we have,

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

our obsession with creating a life of constant pleasure,

our indifference to the treasures of heaven,

our neglect of your wise and gracious law.

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Keep us from falling before the power of temptation.

Help us to change our way of life so that we may desire what is good, love what you love, and do what

you command, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S PARDON

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19

JESUS – HOW HIS SPIRITUAL WARFARE BEGAN (Luke 4)

Luke 4:1-13 - Jesus’ Temptation A classic story of conflict: a drama

with three actors. Jesus; The Holy Spirit; and Satan. Jesus is the BATTLEGROUND. Our Sinless Saviour was savagely

tempted – we can expect the same.

1 - SATAN ATTACKEDJESUS’ IDENTITY

Who was he…? Luke 3:22 was still ringing in his ears!

"You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

But in Luke 4:3, “If you are the Son…” Why not put God to the test? Don’t rely

on God’s voice, God’s word. How may the devil attack your identity?

2 - SATAN ATTACKEDJESUS’ MINISTRY

What he came to DO was challenged. God’s words in Luke 3:22 are quoting

Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 42:1. Jesus - the Son who Rules (Psalm 2) Jesus - the Servant who Suffers (Isaiah) His Mission has a DOUBLE IDENTITY –

but Satan offers him an easy short-cut.

2 - SATAN ATTACKEDJESUS’ MINISTRY

Just give people BREAD for the belly. Give spectacular signs of power; or gain

earthly acclaim, through compromise… God cares about MEANS, not just ENDS. To resist: TUNE IN to the voice of God. “It stands written…” – Absorb your

Father’s Mind, in Scripture, and you too will be able to resist the devil, and will see the devil flee. (James 4:7).

Take a moment to reflect…

Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!

O Israel, if you would butlisten to me!

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Oh, that my people would listen to me,

that Israel would walk in my ways! (Psalm 81:8,10b,13 ESV)

Paraphrase 58 (Hebrews 4)

Where high the heavenly temple stands,

The house of God not made with hands,

A great High Priest our nature wears,

The Guardian of mankind appears.

Paraphrase 58 (2/6)

He who our guarantor once stood,

And poured on earth His precious blood,

Pursues in Heaven His mighty plan,

Our Saviour and the Friend of man.

Paraphrase 58 (3/6)

Though now ascended up on high,

He sees us with a brother’s eye;

He shares with us the human name,

He knows the frailty of our frame.

Paraphrase 58 (4/6)

Our fellow-sufferer yet retainsA fellow-feeling for our pains:And still remembers in the

skiesHis tears, His agonies, and

cries.

Paraphrase 58 (5/6)

In all that pains the human heart,

The Man of Sorrows had a part,

He sympathizes with our grief,And to the sufferer sends

relief.

Paraphrase 58 (6/6)

With boldness, therefore, at his throne,

Let us make all our sorrows known,

Find grace to help in time of need:

Jesus, God’s Son, to you we plead!

God Calls Us to delight in

Christ and to Share His

Hope.

Join us for

Tea & Coffee

Served now in the church

hall.