Tag: Luke 4:1-13

Thursday Morning Prayer: 02 Jul 2020 – Psalm 120:2-4, Job 1:6-8, Luke 4:1-13 ~ a place of testing

Thursday Morning Prayer, 02 Jul 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

All-powerful God, your incarnate Word commands our obedience and offers us true life. Make our ears attentive to the voice of your Son and our hearts generous in answering his call,that we may take up the cross with trust in his promises. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.Amen.

       Follow the example of good men and women of old,
and God will comfort you and help you.
[ St Columba ]

Prepare to Pray:

Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.

Scripture Reading (CEV)

Psalm 120:2-4

“Come and save me, Lord,
from deceitful liars!”

What punishment is fitting
for you deceitful liars?

Your reward should be
sharp and flaming arrows!

Job 1:6-8

One day, when the angels had gathered around the Lord, and Satan was there with them, the Lord asked, “Satan, where have you been?”

Satan replied, “I have been going all over the earth.”

Then the Lord asked, “What do you think of my servant Job? No one on earth is like him—he is a truly good person, who respects me and refuses to do evil.”

Luke 4:1-13

When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, the power of the Holy Spirit was with him, and the Spirit led him into the desert. For forty days Jesus was tested by the devil, and during that time he went without eating. When it was all over, he was hungry.

The devil said to Jesus, “If you are God’s Son, tell this stone to turn into bread.”

Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say, ‘No one can live only on food.’”

Then the devil led Jesus up to a high place and quickly showed him all the nations on earth. The devil said, “I will give all this power and glory to you. It has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. Just worship me, and you can have it all.”

Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say:

‘Worship the Lord your God
and serve only him!’”

Finally, the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and had him stand on top of the temple. The devil said, “If you are God’s Son, jump off. The Scriptures say:

‘God will tell his angels
to take care of you.
They will catch you
in their arms,
and you will not hurt
your feet on the stones.’”

Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Don’t try to test the Lord your God!’”

After the devil had finished testing Jesus in every way possible, he left him for a while.

An Example*:

Inner Farne

Then I saw that there was a way to hell even from the gate of heaven, as well as from the City of Destruction. So I awoke, and behold it was a dream.
(John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress)

In general we pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation’, but at the same time the Spirit of God may draw us into a deserted place to be tested.

The island of Inner Farne which was Cuthbert’s ‘lonely battlefield’ had the reputation of being just such a place.

Inner Farne circular walk and cruise from Seahouses, Northumberland ©

https://youtu.be/nbuGd1romi4?rel=0

A Prayer of Silence

O Lord, I offer you this moment of silence.

This moment is for You.
I consent to Your action
In my mind and in my heart
In my will and in my soul.
I welcome Your action!

And to prepare myself, to make room for You,
I will sit here, quietly, with my eyes closed,
In an attitude of peaceful rest and loving devotion,
My intent is to welcome You.
I will slow down my thoughts and my imagination,
I will calm down my fears and my emotions,
I will try to exercise patience and humility
And I offer you these feeble efforts…

I lift up my soul to You,
Whispering in my heart and in my mind,
“Here I am! Quiet but attentive to You”

Closing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

* Northumbria Community. Celtic Daily Prayer (Kindle Locations 11883-11889). HarperCollins Publishers. Kindle Edition.

The 1st Sunday of Lent – 10 Mar 2019 – Luke 4:1-13 ~ the devil is a liar

First Sunday of Lent

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Lord our God, you alone do we worship, only your word gives life.

Sustain your people on our Lenten journey. When we walk through the desert of temptation, strengthen us to renounce the power of evil. When our faith is tested by doubt, illumine our hearts with Easter’s bright promise.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, our deliverance and hope, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, holy and mighty God for ever and ever.
__________

“God is our Strength and Refuge – Psalm 46” – Glory Presbyterian Church Singapore.

__________

Gospel Reading: Luke 4:1-13 (NLT)

The Temptation of Jesus

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.

Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’”

Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”

Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”

Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.
__________

Fear Is a Liar – Zach Williams

_________

Prayers of Intercession:

Heavenly Father: Teach us to rely on your Word and Spirit to guide us during our Lenten journey. We pray especially –

+ For your people throughout the world….
Don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

+ For all those preparing for baptism this Easter….
Don’t let them yield to temptation, but rescue them from the evil one.

+ For the poor people of the world, provide their basic necessities….
Don’t let them yield to temptation, but rescue them from the evil one.

+ For believers under attack, protect them and rescue them….
Don’t let them yield to temptation, but rescue them from the evil one.

+ For people displaced by war and violence, provide for them….
Don’t let them yield to temptation, but rescue them from the evil one.

+ For lost, unbelieving people, find them and save them….
Don’t let them yield to temptation, but rescue them from the evil one.

+ For the sick and those who grieve and mourn, heal and comfort them….
Don’t let them yield to temptation, but rescue them from the evil one.

Lord our God, you protect and provide for those who put their trust in you. Don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one – through Christ our Lord. Amen
__________

“You Say” – Lauren Daigle

__________

Blessing –

For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given.
As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. – Romans 10:4
_____

Now to him who is able to do far more than all that we ask or imagine, according to his power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians 3:20-21

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!