When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, he did not need forgiveness. We did – he did it for us. The moment was so spectacular that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were all present in an astonishing show of unity.
Immediately after his baptism, Jesus went into the world to confront evil face-to-face on our behalf. Why?
Because he knows we face evil every day and nothing could be more important to teach his children than how to combat it.
Because a unified show of force against evil is the way to unblock and maintain the flow at Streamside.
The temptation of Jesus was a show of strength. Ours comes in moments of weakness. We must be armed with the weapons Jesus gives us in the wilderness or perish. And this is true as a unified family, not just as individuals.
When evil tempted Jesus, it knew Jesus could turn stones into bread. When it tempts us in physical distress, we feel as if we have no power and the only hope we have is to smell the aroma of false promises as enticing as a fresh loaf of bread in the oven.
But the answer is the same: “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 and Deuteronomy 8:3, NIV).
This is our first weapon in the wilderness. And where do we find every word that comes from the mouth of God?
Three revelations as unique as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet unified as one weapon against temptation when we are beaten down by the world or riding so high we feel invincible:
How can we do this together as family so that evil will flee?
Immediately after his baptism, Jesus went into the world to confront evil face-to-face on our behalf. Why?
Because he knows we face evil every day and nothing could be more important to teach his children than how to combat it.
Because a unified show of force against evil is the way to unblock and maintain the flow at Streamside.
The temptation of Jesus was a show of strength. Ours comes in moments of weakness. We must be armed with the weapons Jesus gives us in the wilderness or perish. And this is true as a unified family, not just as individuals.
When evil tempted Jesus, it knew Jesus could turn stones into bread. When it tempts us in physical distress, we feel as if we have no power and the only hope we have is to smell the aroma of false promises as enticing as a fresh loaf of bread in the oven.
But the answer is the same: “It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 and Deuteronomy 8:3, NIV).
This is our first weapon in the wilderness. And where do we find every word that comes from the mouth of God?
Three revelations as unique as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet unified as one weapon against temptation when we are beaten down by the world or riding so high we feel invincible:
- The glory of creation all around us, the sunset, the deer lapping at streamside;
- Every word of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation;
- The still small voice of the Holy Spirit guiding us in active, intense prayer.
How can we do this together as family so that evil will flee?
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