Pastor Timo’s sermon,
Feb.10, 2008
Matthew 4:1-11 translated by Katja Kupari
This Wednesday, the so called Ash Wednesday, marked the
beginning of 40 days of Lent that prepares Christians for
Easter, the celebration of Christ's resurrection. Lent has long
traditions; especially the Eastern Orthodox Church emphasizes
its significance in a Christian’s life. As large church
societies have lately become closer, Lent has also gained a
little more popularity in the Lutheran church. Also, the health
benefits of Lent have increased interest for Christian tradition
of fasting.
What does fasting stand for, then? The Bible says that what's
fundamental about the Lent is searching for and fulfilling God's
will. Denying your self food or stimulants partially or
completely is not the aim. Giving up a food or a consumption
habit is not a goal, but a way. During fasting, humans’ turning
to God is the spiritual goal that can be aided by external
factors. A person, who is fasting, for the most part, wants to
listen to his God and to search himself.
Today’s Gospel talks about Jesus’ fasting which takes a long 40
days. And it is not a coincidence that the number of days was
40. As a matter of fact, a period of 40 days has for many other
persons in the Bible been the time during which they have
experienced a significant change in their lives and callings.
Noah was in his Ark for 40 days during the Flood. Moses spent 40
days on Mount Sinai. Those who Moses sent to spy the Promised
Land were there for 40 days. Prophet Elijah stayed in the desert
for 40 days. The city of Nineveh was spiritually revived in 40
days and after His resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days with his
disciples before ascending into heaven.
In the Bible 40 days is often an important amount of time of
change given by God to both individuals and His people. That is
why the Christian church has provided 40 days of fasting to
prepare for Easter, Jesus’ victory celebration and joy.
Victory and joy are often results of hard work and sometimes
weary times in life. One must try very hard in order to succeed
in the end. One must first experience defeat or loss to learn to
win. American entrepreneurs are often admired by the rest of the
world. And often they are extremely determined and driven.
There’s a saying that a successful entrepreneur is the
entrepreneur who has experienced bankruptcy. Or that the winning
coach is a coach who has gotten fired.
I recently heard that a certain Henry Ford filed bankruptcy 5
times before the sixth time ended up being the profitable and
functional business idea that enables many of us to drive to
church with vehicles made by his company today.
Jesus spent 40 days in the desert. It was His time to prepare
Himself for the great mission as the proclaimer, healer and
finally as the crucified and resurrected saviour. During those
40 days Jesus was tested and tempted.
There is an important difference between being tested and
temptation. The spiritual meaning of these words has surely
decreased in modern language, but on the other hand a person who
does not believe in God also recognized these issues in their
life. All humans have struggles of some kind, problems at work,
with health, finances or relationships. These unwanted hardships
are often called trials.
For christians trials are not random, although that’s how it
sometimes feels. Trials are given by and allowed by God. And the
question is; why does the good God allow hardhips and trials for
humans He loves. And as bizarre as it sounds, that is exactly
why He does it; for His love for humans. To call humans to Him,
to His love; to nurture them, in love. To save them, in love.
God’s word is actually a lot about trials and their
significance.
Jacob writes: ”3because
you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
4Perseverance must finish its work so
that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything”
(Jacob 1:3-4)
“12Blessed
is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood
the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has
promised to those who love him.”
(Jacob 1:12).
And Apostle Peter writes: ”…
in all kinds of
trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than
gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved
genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus
Christ is revealed”
(1 Peter 1:7).
Hebrews ; “15For
we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with
our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every
way, just as we are“
(Hebrews 4:15)
“Although
he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.”
(Hebrews 5:8)
Trials, then, are more of a rule than an exception for
Christians. Those spiritual fathers and mothers, preachers and
parishioners, God’s loyal servants, have all something in
common; they have had trials in their lives. Few have asked for
them, few find joy in them as they’re happening, but overcoming
them has changed their lives in a way that has been a blessing.
I have a good friend in Finland, he's my age and also a pastor,
but he has been retired for 15 years due to his MS. Before
becoming sick with this central nervous system disease that
leads to muscles deteriorating, he was also an athlete who had
to choose between being a P.E. teacher and a pastor. So many of
his friends, including me, were puzzled for a long time about
why it was that he had to become sick with this serious disease
at such a young age. Of course he himself had often similar
thoughts, but people who meet him are all amazed by his
personality and joy of life. In his presence a healthy person
may ask, which one of us is actually healthy. Which one of us
has more to be grateful for. My friend often says that he would
give this disease up at any moment, but that it has been
specifically through this disease that God has blessed him and
many others through him in a special way. Including me. My
friend knows and believes that God could heal him in one moment,
but he has accepted the fact that for His special reasons, God
has allowed this to be his part. God’s special blessing through
this friend of mine continues. A little over 2 months ago he was
rushed to the intensive care unit and was put into a medically
induced coma for over a week. The doctors were not very hopeful
but his family, friends and congregation prayed tenaciously for
him. And today, he is awake, has regained partial mobility and
his speech is as full of energy and joy as ever.
God does not test us to torment us. We have all been given a
path and as a part of that path are trials, that are to prepare
and strengthen us. As we have read in the Bible, trials are not
to discourage and depress us, but to overcome them is explicitly
to bring us endurance, hope and joy. It is because of them that
God’s love becomes more real in our lives.
If trials bring Christians endurance and growth or faith and
character, temptations work the opposite. Temptation does not
originate from God, but from the Adversary, from evil. The
tempter's goal is to get beleiver to fall into temptation, which
is the same than turning away from God and our brethrens. To
choose heresy instead of faith, desperation instead of hope.
Selfishness instead of love. Bad word instead of good word. Lies
instead of truth. Bitterness instead of forgiveness.
I believe that all of us know what it feels like to be tested
and tempted. Often the trials allowed by God are a significant
time for the temptress too. That is why the temptations may
increase during trials. Jesus went into the desert to prepare
Himself for the mission given to Him by God. It was a lonely and
trying time for Him, aimed at His great public role. The tempter
knew how to make the most out of Jesus' lonely moments. He
offered Him food to get Him to give up His calling. He came into
the heat and darkness of the desert to offer everything the
world has to offer and in one moment promised Jesus all the
power and glory in the world if only He would bow down and
worship him.
What did Jesus do to overcome the temptations? He did it in a
way that the tempter had no power over. Jesus appealed to God’s
word with all of His three temptations. ”It is written”. He
appealed to the truth when the tempter laid, He appealed to the
king, God, who is the only one to be bowed down to and
worshipped when the tempter tried to get Jesus to bow down and
worship him. He appealed to living on God’s word when the
tempter tried to get Him to eat on his terms. Appealing to God’s
word had a two-way power. It gave Jesus strength and drove away
the evil. The tempter met His victor, God and His word.
Jesus sets an example for those who are tested and tempted;
trust in God and His word if you are being tested. If you fall,
trust His word and forgiveness even then. Start over, do not
give up. If again you are tested, remember that God allows is,
but the He will not let it be beyond what you can bear, He will
prepare a way out for you. (1 Cor 10:13)
Pray to Him for strength and perseverance if your trials confuse
you. Remember that the trials will end up being what is good for
you. Think about how He has carried and helped you so far.
Remember that you are His child and He will never abandon
you.
Remember that He loves you.
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