Pastor's Comments

"As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a Stumblingstone and a Rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." Romans 9:33

In this Holy Lenten Season let us walk with Jesus as He obeys the Father and enters into God's Divine plan for humanity. Jesus walked among God's creation to reveal the plan of Salvation. Scripture tells us Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness. It was a time of preparation. Perhaps you have experienced a period of time that seemed like you were dwelling in the wilderness and probably something tried to influence you to "give up." But the wilderness experience was a time of developing the power of God in Christ's earthly life. He was driven there, seemingly that would mean He was forced to go into a lone place and there the devil tempted Him. I love the ending of His wilderness experience, did it break Him, did He give up? Luke 4:14 tells us: "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee;" [Galilee was His hometown.] The wilderness time strengthened Jesus! Jesus returned to His home, went to the Synagogue as was His custom. They knew Him, He came regularly to the Synagogue, this was His custom. They handed Him the Holy Scrolls and He turned to Isaiah and began to read. But it was not as usual, something had transpired, there was "power" and authority for the Spirit of God had anointed Him and filled Him on the day of His baptism. He had battled with the tempter. He had overcome the flesh and now the Spirit of God poured through Him. O Holy Spirit of God, pour through your Church, empower your people to overcome the temptations of the day. Endue your Church with the Power of your Spirit! Teach us to face our wildernesses that we might gain spiritual strength, strength to stand in the face of those who oppose your Truths; that we might triumph as our Lord, rising up in the Power and the Anointing of Your Holy Spirit, endued with overcoming strength to say to the enemy, "It is Written, Thou shalt worship the Lord Thy God and Him only shall thou serve."

Loving you and Loving Jesus, Pastor