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<div style="font-family:arial,helvetica;font-size:10pt;color:black">-----Original Message-----<br>
From: Judy <judy_boli@ecunet.org><br>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic@ecunet.org><br>
Sent: Sat, Feb 16, 2013 8:42 pm<br>
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Lent 1C<br>
<br>
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<pre style="font-size: 9pt;"><tt>Dear Friends,
This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Yield Not to Temptation” or “The
Devil Made Me Do It!” and deals with the gospel (Luke 4:1-13). Here
it is:
We just heard the story of the temptation of Jesus in the desert (Luke
4:1-13) and we know the feeling of being tempted all too well, because
temptation is a part of our lives. In Lent it gets even worse as we
try to stick with our Lenten commitment of giving up something that
keeps us from being the best we can be and taking on something to
deepen our spiritual lives. You know as well as I do, even good
change is hard. How many diets have you gone on? Since we purposely
take on change in Lent, we also purposely expose ourselves to
temptation. Do you remember the story about the father who told his
three-year-old son not to go near the street while he was outside. He
could ride his tricycle. He could dig in his sandbox. He could sit
on the steps and watch his father work in the yard. He could help his
father dig in the yard. The only thing he could NOT do was go near
the street, because it was very dangerous. The father held his son’s
small face in his hands and carefully explained this to him, then
asked if he understood. “Yes, daddy,” said the child. As soon as the
father turned away, you know exactly what the little boy did, don’t
you...put his right toe in the street and looked at his father as if
to say, “I dare you!” Sounds like Adam and Eve all over again. We
humans surely do have a disobedient streak in us! So, let’s get
personal. What did you give up for Lent? If it’s doughnuts, I know
your car just happens to drive by the doughnut shop. If it’s smoking,
I know you look at those cigarettes when you pay for your gas. It’s
no accident that Jesus taught us to pray: “Lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil,” better translated: “Save us
from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.” Jesus came to give
us life, allow us to live our lives to the fullest. What is the
opposite of “live?” Sure, “E-V-I-L”- what the devil wants to trick us
into choosing.
Here are some useful facts about temptation and how to handle it:
When we’re under huge assault, it’s so easy to forget that Jesus has
overcome, so the power to overcome is in our hands. The devil cannot
force us. All he can do is simply try to convince us. The trouble
is- we get convinced all too easily.
One of the devil’s tricks is to make us think overcoming temptation
is simply a matter of education. As is the case with most of the
devil’s tricks- this is partly true. Education helps, but the real
problem is one of the will, of making choices. We are tempted to
choose short term happiness over our long term well-being.
Temptation starts in our minds and moves from mind to action. Did
you notice the thought for the week? Gandhi taught: “Keep your
thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your
words positive because your words become your behaviors. Keep your
behaviors positive because your behaviors become your habits. Keep
your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep
your values positive because your values become your destiny.”
The Rev. Dr. Anthony Evans reminds us: “Used improperly, credit
cards operate a lot like sin: enjoy now, pay later.”
Question- how can you know if that still, small voice in your head is
God’s- encouraging happiness and life, or the devil’s encouraging
unhappiness and death? Use Jesus’ experience to help you figure it
out.
5) From the “stones into bread” temptation, ask yourself: “What’s in
it for me?” The essence of the demonic is self-centeredness.
Remember, the devil tempted Jesus to misuse his powers and turn stones
into bread FOR HIMSELF. Don’t let the devil succeed in tempting you
to use your powers and skills selfishly.
6) From the “throw yourself from the top of the temple” temptation,
ask yourself: Am I taking the easy way, a short cut, a “quick-fix”?
Remember, the devil tempted Jesus to throw himself off the top of the
temple as a short-cut means to gain popularity and attention.
7) From the “fall down and worship me” temptation, ask yourself: Am I
being tempted to use an evil means and hoping to get a good end, like
when the devil suggested that Jesus worship him to gain the power he
needed to do good?
8) Finally, did you notice how the first and third temptations
started: “If you are God’s son…..”? Is that voice inspiring self-
doubt, discouragement, depression?
If the answer to any of these is unsatisfactory, just say “NO! Get
thee behind me Satan!
Speaking of “Get thee behind me, Satan,” I’d like to close with an old
story that perfectly fits the beginning of Lent. Watch for the
mistakes the woman makes. Did you hear about the woman who just loved
to shop? The problem was- both of their credit cards were maxed out,
and she had promised her husband that she would not buy anything that
was not absolutely necessary. Well, Lent came soon after she made the
promise, and her Lenten commitment was that she would exercise every
day. Since it was pouring rain, she couldn’t walk outside; so she
decided to go to the mall to walk and get her exercise. “Don’t worry,
dear,” she told her husband before leaving. “I won’t buy anything- I
promise you.” Her walk in the mall started out just fine, but then,
as she strode past one of her favorite stores, she saw this beautiful
dress in the window. You know what she did- stopped walking to look
at it. She noticed that it was in her favorite color and would match
the shoes she purchased the week before. “It won’t hurt if I just go
in the story to look. They probably won’t have my size anyway.” When
she checked out the rack, there was that gorgeous dress; and it was in
her perfect color and correct size. “Wow!” she thought. “It won’t
hurt to just try it on. Trying it on is not the same thing as buying
it.” You know what she did- took it into the dressing room to try it
on. After it was on, she looked at her image in the mirror, and she
really did look good. All of a sudden, she came to her senses and
remembered her promise to her husband. “Get the behind me, Satan!”
she ordered. “I’m not buying this dress!” From behind her came a
soft voice that said- “Gee, that’s a shame. It looks really good back
here too!”
May God bless us as we keep a holy Lent full of life-giving spiritual
growth.
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements either is or will be posted on our parish web site.
The address is: <a href="http://www.stpaulsepisag.com" target="_blank">http://www.stpaulsepisag.com</a> .
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan
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