How Marvelous Is His Works!

Psalm 8;  How Marvelous Is His Works!

Wilderness Follows Baptism

"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness.And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him." 

                                                                                 (Mark 1:9-13 KJV)

Immediately following his baptism; immediately after being anointed by the Holy Spirit, Jesus is sent by that same Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. He is there for forty days.

During my years of public ministry this is what I have observed: following baptism or affirmation of baptism by people of consenting age; they often disappear into the wilderness, sometimes never to return. A few will return after a time for special holy days once or twice a year. Sometimes they will come for someone else's baptism or maybe for a wedding or funeral. Thanks be to God that there will be a few who never leave! I have tried to warn them all prior to receiving the Sacrament of Baptism that with the anointing of the Holy Spirit in Baptism they will also be tested by Satan. The devil will not be happy that they have received this sacred gift from God. But, my warnings usually fall on deaf ears; ears that do not hear. They simply do not get that becoming a child of God is about more than getting to heaven when they die. The devil gets it; but, we do not.

We are anointed at our baptisms with the Holy Spirit for very good reasons. One being; that we will need the Spirit with us as we journey through the wilderness.  We will need the Holy Spirit to remind us when to say no to temptations and to reveal to us when temptations are upon us. 

It would also do us well to remember that it was the Spirit that sent Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted in the first place. The journey through the wilderness; the temptations that will come; are the Spirit's way of preparing us for our entire life's journey as children of God; for our ministry as followers of Jesus. Remember, that Jesus' ministry did not begin until after he was baptized and after he was tempted in the wilderness.

Baptism is not just a mere ritual by which we gain entrance into the church. Do not take it lightly. As we become children of God, we are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. That will include journeying through the wilderness; being tempted by Satan; ministering to others; actually worshiping, loving, and serving our Father in heaven, doing His will. 

But, do not fear for you have been anointed by the Holy Spirit. God will be with you on your journey.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Praise Ye The Lord

Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights.

Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created.

He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.

Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:

Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:

Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:

Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:

Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:

Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.

He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.

Psalm 148 KJV

How Majestic Is Your Name

O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouths of babes and infants
you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
to silence the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars that you have established;
what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
mortals that you care for them?

Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet,
all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Sovereign,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8 NRSV