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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The Fast
and Temptation of Christ</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This
Gospel is read today at the beginning of Lent in order to picture before
Christians the example of Christ, that they may rightly observe Lent, which has
become mere mockery: first, because no one can follow this example and fast
forty days and nights as Christ did without eating any food. Christ rather
followed the example of Moses, who fasted also forty days and nights, when He
received the law of God on Mount Sinai. Thus Christ also wished to fast when He
was about to bring to us, and give expression to, the new law. In the second
place, Lent has become mere mockery because our fasting is a perversion and an
institution of man. For although Christ did fast forty days, yet there is no
word of his that He requires us to do the same and fast as He did. Indeed He did
many other things, which He wishes us not to do; but whatever He calls us to do
or leave undone, we should see to it that we have his Word to support our
actions.</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Martin
Luther, The Fast and the Temptation of Christ</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">_____________________________</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">We Want
Freedom</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Humans
are always declaring their freedom, wishing for more "space," announcing that
they belong only to "themselves." We want to be free from the enslavement of the
kitchen, or from confinement of a job we don't like.</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Airplane
companies claim to set us free, and medical companies says the same. There are
deodorant companies which promise to set us free from the worry of underarm
wetness and odor; a certain toothpaste declares we can be set free from dull
teeth. Then we are promised freedom from pain by Tylenol, Excedrin, Bayer, and
others. Other products play on our desperation for freedom by telling us we can
be free from "ring-around-the-collar," and Lysol sets us free from germs. We
want freedom to sleep at night with a clear conscience, freedom from fear of
death, and above all, freedom from the terrors of the judgment day.</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">A
teen-age boy told his parents he was going to run away from home.
"Listen," he said, "I'm leaving home. There is nothing you can do to stop me. I
want excitement, adventure, beautiful women, money, and fun. I'll never find it
here, so I'm leaving. Just don't try to stop me!" As he headed for the door, his
father leaped up and ran toward him. "Dad," the boy said firmly, "you heard what
I said. Don't try to stop me. I'm going!" "Who's trying to stop you?" answered
the father, "I'm going with you!"</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Barbara
Brokhoff, Bitter-sweet Recollections, CSS Publishing Company</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">__________________</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">How Are
We Tempted Today?</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">William
Willimon, in his book What's Right with the Church (San Francisco: Harper &
Row, Publishers, 1985), tells about leading a Sunday School class that was
studying the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. After careful study and
explanation of each of the three temptations, Dr. Willimon asked, "How are we
tempted today?" A young salesman was the first to speak. "Temptation is when
your boss calls you in, as mine did yesterday, and says, `I'm going to give you
a real opportunity. I'm going to give you a bigger sales territory. We believe
that you are going places, young man.'<BR><BR>"But I don't want a bigger sales
territory," the young salesman told his boss. "I'm already away from home four
nights a week. It wouldn't be fair to my wife and daughter." <BR><BR>"Look," his
boss replied, "we're asking you to do this for your wife and daughter. Don't you
want to be a good father? It takes money to support a family these days. Sure,
your little girl doesn't take much money now, but think of the future. Think of
her future. I'm only asking you to do this for them," the boss said. <BR><BR>The
young man told the class, "Now, that's temptation." <BR><BR>Jesus overcame his
first temptation by putting his complete trust in God. That's a good example for
us. We're so concerned about "having it all." The wise person trusts that God
will provide all that he or she needs. </SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">William
Willimon, adapted by King Duncan, </SPAN><A
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #800080; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"
href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=aelnpceab&et=1104755468044&s=45429&e=001W8hfT94nU0KRhyIdbTGa0dsH-Vzt0iaAWPr73tl_-zzh_8LwNWWVEkpc3X-p7nfBujS1TapXx99bl0Zp6ysJnU-hmA4j_bBWFeT9rKre-fHUrtpDybNJtg=="
shape=rect target=_blank>www.sermons.com</A></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">___________________________</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">We're
Kind of Stupid That Way</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">In the
very first Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, Calvin's dad is working on the car,
when Calvin walks up in a safari hat and says, "So long, Pop! I'm off to check
my tiger trap! I rigged a tuna fish sandwich yesterday, so I'm sure to have a
tiger by now!" His dad replies, "They like tuna fish, huh?" As Calvin walks off,
he says, "Tigers will do anything for a tuna fish sandwich!" The final frame
shows Hobbes, hanging by his foot from a tree, munching on a tuna fish sandwich.
He says to no one in particular, "We're kind of stupid that way."<BR><BR>Every
day we are tempted to be less than we can be. Without giving it much thought, we
choose what's easiest. We seldom consider how much more is possible. We take
tuna fish when we could do better. We're kind of stupid that way.<BR><BR>Brett
Younger, Disabling
Temptations<BR>_________________________________________</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Forty
Days for Recommitment</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Lent was
originally established for new Christians, those who experienced a call. They
were to spend forty days and forty nights preparing for their baptism. If at the
end they still wanted to follow Jesus, then on Easter Eve they would be baptized
as the sun was rising in the east, signaling the new day, the new era,
inaugurated because of the Resurrection. </SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I am
sure it had a powerful significance for them, to have prepared for their
vocation as Christians the same way that Jesus prepared for his vocation as the
Messiah: forty days of introspection and self-examination. </SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">But
later the Church used the forty days as a time of renewal for those who were
already Christians, because at a certain point everyone in the empire became a
Christian, everyone was baptized as infants. So the time of Lent was used as a
time of renewal and recommitment to the Christian life, examining our lives in
light of the one we are supposed to follow. </SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Mark
Trotter, Collected Sermons, ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc. </SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">________________________</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The
Really Big Sale</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">He had
finally got his chance to make the Really Big Sale. He was going into the final
interview on the biggest contract he had ever written.<SPAN> </SPAN>As he
was ushered into the office of the executive buyer, an assistant brought her
coffee and left. The atmosphere was cordial, and he knew he was giving his best
presentation ever.</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Then the
assistant tapped on the door, re-entered the office and spoke briefly with the
executive.<SPAN> </SPAN>She stood and said, "I apologize, but I have to
tend to a matter.<SPAN> </SPAN>I'll just be a minute or two." And she
followed her assistant out of the room.</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The
sales representative looked around the beautifully appointed office.<SPAN>
</SPAN>He saw her family pictures on her desk.<SPAN> </SPAN>Then he
noticed a contract on her desk.<SPAN> </SPAN>She had evidently been
studying a bid from a competitor. Leaning forward, he could see the column of
figures, but it was obscured by a diet soda can.</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">He was
tempted to move the can and see the bottom line of his competitor's
bid...</SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
style="COLOR: black">The conclusion to this illustration and for many additional
illustrations and sermons for Lent and Easter can be accessed at </SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; COLOR: #7f7f7f; FONT-SIZE: 8pt"><A
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: purple; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"
href="http://www.Sermons.com" shape=rect
target=_blank>www.Sermons.com</A></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: black">.</SPAN></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><SPAN
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