Bear Grylls, an international television star, has made his living by surviving in the wilderness. His episodes include eating creepy, crawly insects and even rappelling down a cliff to retrieve a dead animal that had fallen off the cliff to its death. He was able to salvage some of the meat and eat it. His battle with the elements shows up in some episodes, including surviving the harsh, frozen wilderness of Iceland and coming face-to-face with a large, adult brown bear in the forest of Transylvania.

Jesus battled evil in the wilderness; the devil tempted him three times. Immediately after his baptism, Jesus entered the wilderness to fast and pray for forty days. Jesus, who is both human and divine, faced great evil yet rose above the temptations.

It is tempting to believe that somehow Jesus was able to do this because He is not like us. C.S. Lewis wrote: “Christ, because he was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means—the only complete realist.”

Join us this Sunday to get real tools for battling the times of spiritual wilderness in your life. Jesus’ story of temptation offers practical help for us so that we can thrive, not just survive in the wilderness! Please read Luke 4:1-13 to prepare your heart for worship.



I look forward to seeing you this Sunday; invite a friend to join you.

Peace,

Pastor Cathy