Welcome to the
North Wiltshire Methodist Circuit
Worship
in the Wilderness - Bible
reading: Luke 4: 1-13
Dear
Friends,
Today’s
title is: How to Worship with a KISS. Worship in the sense that God
is Worth It, of our time, energy, passion, purpose, and love. KISS standing for
Keep It Simple, Simple.
When Jesus
stepped into the Wilderness landscape, sand filtering though his shoes, He had
a plan and purpose. Deliberately selecting the self-imposed constraints of the
desert as an opportunity to journey deeper, closer, stronger to His Heavenly
Father. A vital need as Jesus was on the cusp of changing world history for
good and your destiny for eternity.
Today, our
pandemic landscape is like shifting sands, moving our society on many levels.
It’s never been more important that we have an ongoing deeper, closer, stronger
relationship with our Heavenly Father.
So how can
we imaginatively recreate Wilderness Worship in our homes? Here are three helpful
ways to explore Worship with a KISS.
1: Solitude
Alone time
with our Heavenly Father aids perception (Isaiah 40: 26 -31) We start to see a
bigger perspective which helps us regain and be refreshed with hope. That sure
confident hope that comes with knowing that His promises are true and can be
trusted.
For Susannah
Wesley (the mother of John and Charles Wesley) solitude for her was very
simplified indeed. Because she had so many children, she would sit down, throw
a blanket over her head, while warning the children to leave her in peace, as
she was about to spend time with her Heavenly Father.
For my wife
(Monica) and I, we have a special armchair in a quiet corner of the house.
Clear of distractions including the kids!
2: Simplicity
Jesus
travelled light, only taking enough belongings into the wilderness to enable
his survival. He kept it as simple as possible.
Through
simplicity our reliance on physical trappings and securities of life, can
potentially shift towards the spiritual, inner heart provisions of our Heavenly
Father, who nevertheless recognises and provides for all are physical needs.
Through
simplicity we create the space and margin to think clearly and coherently.
Through
simplicity we enter the presence of the Almighty in an open, honest, and real
way (the Psalms example this so well). We can unload unwanted baggage that drags
down our daily lives.
Practically,
simplicity might be exampled in our clearing out of cupboards and giving
unnecessary items away. Or it might mean tidying up the clutter that just seems
to grow and grow around the house?
You might
like to try my favourite book of last year? The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.
Its by the Christian author, Mark Comer. The sub-heading being; How to stay
emotionally and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world.
3: Fasting
Towards the
end of the 40 days in the wilderness, the Devil whispers cynically in his ear,
‘If you are the Son of God, then tell these stones to turn into bread’. It’s a
dart at Jesus’ identity. He counters quoting Deuteronomy 8 ‘Man does not live
on bread alone, but from every word that comes from the mouth of God’.
Although
Jesus was so hungry, He kept his feet firmly planted in scripture and the eyes on
His Heavenly Father. Jesus was confident in His Identity, mission and life
purpose.
Fasting
relates to identity. It is a reminder that even more important than food is our
life in God. The one who created you, loves you and has compassion and concern
for you. Fasting is not however a way to try and push God to do your will in
your way.
A Lent Fast
could be anything that is liable to steal your identity or dependence on the
Lord. Ideas could include, turning of the News Feed on your mobile phone, or
cutting out the 8 cups of caffeinated coffee which seem to have become your
main source of energy!
Conclusion
Through Lent,
I would encourage you to try one or more of these Wilderness practices. Keeping
It Simple Simple (KISS) and remembering that restrictions can be opportunities
to release your creative imaginations and bring focused attention onto what
really matters.
At the end
of the 40 days in the Wilderness, the gospel writer Matthew explained that
angels came and attended Jesus. May we also be attended to by angels as we fix
our identity, values and focus on our Heavenly Father.
Every
blessing
Andrew Bird
Welcome to the
North Wiltshire Methodist Circuit
Worship in the Wilderness - Bible reading: Luke 4: 1-13
Dear Friends,
Today’s title is: How to Worship with a KISS. Worship in the sense that God is Worth It, of our time, energy, passion, purpose, and love. KISS standing for Keep It Simple, Simple.
When Jesus stepped into the Wilderness landscape, sand filtering though his shoes, He had a plan and purpose. Deliberately selecting the self-imposed constraints of the desert as an opportunity to journey deeper, closer, stronger to His Heavenly Father. A vital need as Jesus was on the cusp of changing world history for good and your destiny for eternity.
Today, our pandemic landscape is like shifting sands, moving our society on many levels. It’s never been more important that we have an ongoing deeper, closer, stronger relationship with our Heavenly Father.
So how can we imaginatively recreate Wilderness Worship in our homes? Here are three helpful ways to explore Worship with a KISS.
1: Solitude
Alone time
with our Heavenly Father aids perception (Isaiah 40: 26 -31) We start to see a
bigger perspective which helps us regain and be refreshed with hope. That sure
confident hope that comes with knowing that His promises are true and can be
trusted.
For Susannah Wesley (the mother of John and Charles Wesley) solitude for her was very simplified indeed. Because she had so many children, she would sit down, throw a blanket over her head, while warning the children to leave her in peace, as she was about to spend time with her Heavenly Father.
For my wife (Monica) and I, we have a special armchair in a quiet corner of the house. Clear of distractions including the kids!
2: Simplicity
Jesus
travelled light, only taking enough belongings into the wilderness to enable
his survival. He kept it as simple as possible.
Through simplicity our reliance on physical trappings and securities of life, can potentially shift towards the spiritual, inner heart provisions of our Heavenly Father, who nevertheless recognises and provides for all are physical needs.
Through simplicity we create the space and margin to think clearly and coherently.
Through simplicity we enter the presence of the Almighty in an open, honest, and real way (the Psalms example this so well). We can unload unwanted baggage that drags down our daily lives.
Practically, simplicity might be exampled in our clearing out of cupboards and giving unnecessary items away. Or it might mean tidying up the clutter that just seems to grow and grow around the house?
You might like to try my favourite book of last year? The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. Its by the Christian author, Mark Comer. The sub-heading being; How to stay emotionally and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world.
3: Fasting
Towards the
end of the 40 days in the wilderness, the Devil whispers cynically in his ear,
‘If you are the Son of God, then tell these stones to turn into bread’. It’s a
dart at Jesus’ identity. He counters quoting Deuteronomy 8 ‘Man does not live
on bread alone, but from every word that comes from the mouth of God’.
Although Jesus was so hungry, He kept his feet firmly planted in scripture and the eyes on His Heavenly Father. Jesus was confident in His Identity, mission and life purpose.
Fasting relates to identity. It is a reminder that even more important than food is our life in God. The one who created you, loves you and has compassion and concern for you. Fasting is not however a way to try and push God to do your will in your way.
A Lent Fast could be anything that is liable to steal your identity or dependence on the Lord. Ideas could include, turning of the News Feed on your mobile phone, or cutting out the 8 cups of caffeinated coffee which seem to have become your main source of energy!
Conclusion
Through Lent,
I would encourage you to try one or more of these Wilderness practices. Keeping
It Simple Simple (KISS) and remembering that restrictions can be opportunities
to release your creative imaginations and bring focused attention onto what
really matters.
At the end of the 40 days in the Wilderness, the gospel writer Matthew explained that angels came and attended Jesus. May we also be attended to by angels as we fix our identity, values and focus on our Heavenly Father.
Every blessing
Andrew Bird