2023/09/10 - Luke 4: Jesus Tempted & Rejected
Jerry Starling
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Reading: Luke 4: Jesus Tempted & Rejected
Verse for Today
So, He continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea. (Luke 4:44)
Daily Devo
Temptations
The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where He was tempted by the Devil for forty days. At the end of those days of fasting, the Satan came to Him.
Bread from Stone
Devil: “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.”
Jesus: “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.””
Worship Me
Devil: Showed him in a moment all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, then said, “If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Jesus: "It is written, ‘Worship the Lord Your God, and serve only Him.”’
Throw Yourself Down
Devil: Took him to the pinnacle of the Temple and said, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will command his angels to protect you.”’
Jesus: “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’
The devil departed from Him until an opportune time.
Early Galilean Ministry
He returned to Galilee, and news of him spread through all Galilee. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.
Rejected in Nazareth
He came to Nazareth; as His custom was, He went to the synagogue and stood to read.
Nazareth Manifesto
He, being handed the scroll, found the place and read:
“The Lord’s Spirit is on me, because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor.
“He sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
He returned the scroll saying, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All were amazed at His gracious words, saying, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
Heal Yourself
He said, “You will quote the proverb, ‘heal yourself!’ You will say, ‘Do here what we heard You did at Capernaum.’ Truly I say, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.”
Nazareth Enraged
“There were many widows in the time of Elijah; he was sent only to the widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were many lepers in the time of Elisha, and none was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
Hearing this, all were enraged. They drove him out to the brow of a hill so they might throw him over the cliff. “But He passed through them and went on His way.”
At Capernaum
Synagogue
He went to the Synagogue at Capernaum and was teaching on the Sabbath. They were astounded because he spoke with authority. A man with a demon cried out, “Leave us alone, Jesus of Nazareth, have You come to destroy us?”
All were amazed. They kept saying, “What utterance is this? With authority He commands unclean spirits and they come out!”
Peter’s House
From there, He went to Peter’s house. They asked Him about Peter’s mother-in-law who was sick. Jesus rebuked the fever, and she began to serve them.
As Sabbath ended, they brought all the sick with various diseases. He laid his hands on them and healed them all.
Must Go to All
Early next morning, He found a lonely place to pray. The crowds looked for Him to keep Him from leaving. He said, “I must proclaim the gospel of the kingdom in other cities; I came for this purpose.”
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Pray for Yourself
Father, I pray that I may never face the temptations Jesus had to face, but perhaps I will be able to remember how he overcame by quoting Scripture! In His Holy, Precious name I pray. AMEN!
My Prayer for You (and for me)
Father, I offer this prayer for all who may read these words, and for myself. I pray that each of us will meditate deeply and see how Jesus’s temptations may impact us as well. Satan is not likely to ask us to command a rock to become bread – but he does tempt us with material prosperity and think of ways he can tempt us with power and fame to be ready for those temptations. In the Holy, Precious Name of Jesus, I pray, AMEN!
Central’s Updates
Top Golf Half Price Tuesday in this Tuesday. Sign up in the Church Lobby or meet there at Top Golf off Lake Emma Rd., in Lake Mary.
The Ladies’ Book Group also meets this Tuesday on Zoom. They are studying the book, “Pursuing Contentment.” This group meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays. Zoom ID is 919 473 5097 and the password is kidsmeet.
The Kids Club will be on Saturday evening, Sept. 16th, from 6:00-8:00 pm. Melissa Knowles will be the teacher. Kids aged 5-12 will have fun learning while Mom & Dad relax, shop, or just chill out.
Jerry Holder will make a presentation on his work in Romania Sunday morning, Sept. 17.
Sunday Evening for the Master we will Have light snacks and writing, calling, or visiting next Sunday evening the seventeenth.
Our Next Fellowship Sunday Potluck Fellowship will be on Sept. 24. Make plans to join us after the morning worship.
Eastern European Mission will receive our entire contribution on September 24. We have participated in all their Million Dollar Sundays for at least a decade. Let’s give generously this year to EEM. We support this effort to get Bibles into the former Soviet Union bloc of nations. From their beginning as smugglers in 1961, EEM has become a powerful force in Eastern Europe, last year giving away about 1,964,000 Bibles.
SHUT-INS: Our Members - Pray for Shut-ins and Caregivers
AT HOME: Pat Brennan * Jack Baugh * Gale Harnish * Pam Hatter * Gussie Keeney*, Carl Bolli * Mary Evans * Steve Mayhue * Tom Jenkins * Ruth & Jesse Matthews, Sr *
IN FACILITIES: Wells Joseph * Sarah Hall * Darlene Hughes * Clifford Jarvis * Lisa Jeminez * Bill Leavitt * Debbie Patton Means * Belinda Pate * Annette Ramirez * Christina Shannon *
Note: These lists of shut-ins are in this Devotional listing on SUNDAYS as a reminder of our shut-in members.
FAMILY & FRIENDS’ LONGTERM PRAYER REQUESTS
PAM HATTER: Son, Lee Miller; Diane Faircloth.
JESSE & DEBBIE JOHNSON: Son, Kyle, Kymm, Daughter, Robyn.
PAT BRENNAN: Her Family: Sons, P.J. & Kyle, Linda & Dennis Lochman; Meredith & Sean; Mary & Mack.
BILL LEAVITT: Sister, Sherry & Roommate, Gary
TOM & BECKY JENKINS: Daughter & son-in-law, Cathy & Doug Foote, Martha Hovind (Tom’s sister).
JENNIFER SAN JUAN: Daughter, Dawn.
PAT DUNCAN: Friends, Joyce & Michele.
TOM & TINA PHILLIPS: His brother, Joe & nephew, Simon
JOANNA TURNER: Father, Bill Berry & Don Knight.
JAY & KELLI EVANS: Daughter, Emma Lemon; Mother Mary Evans.
CARL BOLLI: Niece, Renee Leone-Bolli.
LISA KNOWLES: Daughter, Angela Farr & Sister Stephanie.
LORI CANTRELL: Mother, Kathy
HELEN ROGERS: Cousin Kayla
ROBBIE HATTER: Niece, Kayla
OTHER PRAYER NEEDS
Tina Phillips tested positive for Covid Tuesday. Tom said she is tired but so far he has not caught it. Pray for her and for Tom that he does not get it.
Pat Duncan’s friend’s grandchild, Daniel, is home. Keep the family in your prayers.
Shane Ledford tested negative for COVID-19. Thank God she is free of it.
Susan Allen came home following her procedure. Keep her in your prayers.
Cindi Criss had her surgical procedure, stayed two nights in the hospital, but was discharged on Sunday, September 3. Keep her in your prayers.
Jennifer San Juan asked for more prayer for her daughter, Dawn. She is not doing very well, and Jennifer is deeply concerned. Keep them in your prayers.
Carl Bolli asks for prayers, as he fell a few weeks ago. He missed his CAT scan d/t the storm and is rescheduled for September 8. Keep him in your prayers.
Joan Berry, Joanna Turner’s Mother, needs our prayers.
Jesse Matthews, Sr. Ruth said he is in rehab, and they are looking for a nursing home for him. Their daughter is also still recuperating from her broken ankle. She needs prayers as does the whole family.
Kristi Holder says she is really improving with her neck but is tired of the neck brace. She will have the hard brace until the end of October, so she still has weeks of wearing that brace. Keep her in your prayers.
Joy Bland found she has a broken bone in her foot that requires a boot to help it heal. She will have it for about six weeks and had a CAT scan. She is considering further treatment.
Gale Harnish is home, but not well. Keep her in your prayers.
Susan Allen’s sister Debi is not well at all. Please remember her in your prayers.
Please let us know when you have events to publicize, are in the hospital, or are sick and need prayers. If you request prayer for someone, let us know when to take them off the prayer list. You can contact me by text or phone at 407-453-5392.