Scripture available at glenavonchurch.googlepages.com/library
Pastor Lorne started Sunday’s message by reminding us of the old western films and TV shows – the ones where the good guys wear white hats and the bad guys wear black hats. Too bad you can’t tell someone’s character just by the colour of their hat! But nowadays, he reminded us, all the cowboys seem to wear black hats! He should know because he’s a director in the Sask chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys - you know - those pastors that go around to the summer rodeos and puts on a Sunday service for those hard-working cowgirls and cowboys.
Pastor Lorne started Sunday’s message by reminding us of the old western films and TV shows – the ones where the good guys wear white hats and the bad guys wear black hats. Too bad you can’t tell someone’s character just by the colour of their hat! But nowadays, he reminded us, all the cowboys seem to wear black hats! He should know because he’s a director in the Sask chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Cowboys - you know - those pastors that go around to the summer rodeos and puts on a Sunday service for those hard-working cowgirls and cowboys.But back to the Sunday’s message, Pastor Lorne asked us to turn in our Bibles to Mark 1:13. We find that Jesus went into the desert after being baptized. He was there for 40 days. Matthew’s account (Matt 4:1-11) says that during that time, Jesus faced temptation from Satan - the enemy. Not being stupid, Satan waited until Jesus was good and hungry before popping up and tempting Jesus. Matt 4:3&4 says: “The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Satan went on tempting Jesus but each time, the Son of God was able to withstand the enemy. Jesus could have done anything to alleviate His suffering in the desert. He could have performed any miracle to make the 40 days pass easier. He could have called down a lightning bolt to strike the devil down. But He didn’t.
Pastor Lorne said that’s because Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and withstanding the evil one’s temptations came naturally to Him. Along with the other miracles Jesus performed and which we spoke about in previous blogs, Jesus also had power over Satan and the power to cast out Satan’s demons wherever they were hiding. (Matt 4:24)
In Matt 28:18, the Bible says that Jesus admitted, “...All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” That statement alone says that no matter how much power Satan seems to have, Jesus has more.
In Matt 17:15-18, We read about father concerned for his son. The boy suffered from seizures and seemed bent on self-destruction. V18 says, “Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.”
Pastor Lorne asked us to turn to Mark 5 where we read about Legion, the man who had lost all semblance of civilization because of the demons that possessed him. Pastor Lorne said people were afraid to go near him. They could hear him crying out all day and all during night as well. V5 says he’d even been chained but he broke through his chains. He was an uncontrollable wild man. But when Legion saw Jesus, he recognized Him
as the Son of God (V7). Jesus told the demons to leave the man and jump into a herd of pigs. They did and then ran straight into a lake and drowned themselves. What happened to Legion? Well, when the pig owners told everyone what had happened, people came to see for themselves. V15 says, “When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.”
Pastor Lorne says that it’s quite a thing to know that as a child of God, Satan has no power over you. Whatever stress you’re under, if you know Jesus, He will help you withstand temptation. Jesus is the answer when you feel the darkness of Satan closing in around you.
When everything comes at you and you wonder what will happen and it seems like Satan is tightening the noose – believe that your testimony will keep Satan at bay. Jesus knows our demons but the demons also know Jesus.
If you have Jesus, even though you feel the darkness like a blanket around you, you have power over all the enemy’s power. 1 Peter 2:10 says we’re the people of God. And the people of God can resist Satan. Because of the cross, Satan has no power over us.
Pastor Lorne said that’s because Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and withstanding the evil one’s temptations came naturally to Him. Along with the other miracles Jesus performed and which we spoke about in previous blogs, Jesus also had power over Satan and the power to cast out Satan’s demons wherever they were hiding. (Matt 4:24)
In Matt 28:18, the Bible says that Jesus admitted, “...All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” That statement alone says that no matter how much power Satan seems to have, Jesus has more.
In Matt 17:15-18, We read about father concerned for his son. The boy suffered from seizures and seemed bent on self-destruction. V18 says, “Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.”
Pastor Lorne asked us to turn to Mark 5 where we read about Legion, the man who had lost all semblance of civilization because of the demons that possessed him. Pastor Lorne said people were afraid to go near him. They could hear him crying out all day and all during night as well. V5 says he’d even been chained but he broke through his chains. He was an uncontrollable wild man. But when Legion saw Jesus, he recognized Him
as the Son of God (V7). Jesus told the demons to leave the man and jump into a herd of pigs. They did and then ran straight into a lake and drowned themselves. What happened to Legion? Well, when the pig owners told everyone what had happened, people came to see for themselves. V15 says, “When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.”Pastor Lorne says that it’s quite a thing to know that as a child of God, Satan has no power over you. Whatever stress you’re under, if you know Jesus, He will help you withstand temptation. Jesus is the answer when you feel the darkness of Satan closing in around you.
When everything comes at you and you wonder what will happen and it seems like Satan is tightening the noose – believe that your testimony will keep Satan at bay. Jesus knows our demons but the demons also know Jesus.
If you have Jesus, even though you feel the darkness like a blanket around you, you have power over all the enemy’s power. 1 Peter 2:10 says we’re the people of God. And the people of God can resist Satan. Because of the cross, Satan has no power over us.
Are you a child of God?
Pastor Lorne would like to encourage you. With Jesus and the Holy Spirit in your life, even in your weakest moments, you have the power of Jesus to withstand against sin.
Luke 4:13 says that when the devil couldn’t tempt Jesus any longer, “he left Him until an opportune time”. What does that mean? Pastor Lorne says Satan comes at your weakest moment – when he knows you’ve reached a low point – when he knows you will fall. But will you?
Paul said in Eph 6:13 “....after you have done everything, to stand.” Stand on God’s promises. Stand on the word of your testimony and on the blood of the Lamb.
Pastor Lorne reminded us that there is a time coming when the power of darkness will be totally defeated. And all we have to do is to stand.
If you would like to speak to Pastor Lorne, his contact information is on the bottom of the right column.
Pastor Lorne would like to encourage you. With Jesus and the Holy Spirit in your life, even in your weakest moments, you have the power of Jesus to withstand against sin.
Luke 4:13 says that when the devil couldn’t tempt Jesus any longer, “he left Him until an opportune time”. What does that mean? Pastor Lorne says Satan comes at your weakest moment – when he knows you’ve reached a low point – when he knows you will fall. But will you?
Paul said in Eph 6:13 “....after you have done everything, to stand.” Stand on God’s promises. Stand on the word of your testimony and on the blood of the Lamb.
Pastor Lorne reminded us that there is a time coming when the power of darkness will be totally defeated. And all we have to do is to stand.
If you would like to speak to Pastor Lorne, his contact information is on the bottom of the right column.
Comments on any blog post are welcome.
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