Worship at Home

W/B 22nd February 2026

Dave Elliott

Prayer:

Let us be aware of God's presence as we worship him. Lord speak to us in this special time that our stress and concern may be taken away as we rest in your peace.

Hymn 335  STF  'Rejoice your Lord is King'

Prayer:

Almighty and Living God we praise you for your goodness to us each and every day. We thank you for the World you have created and for our part in this world. We thank you for health and healing, for those who care for us and those we care for. We thank you that our faith helps us even in the most testing of times.

So we say the prayer that Jesus taught us saying Our Father who art in heaven…

HYMN  236  STF  'Forty days and forty nights you were fasting in the wild'

Reading:

Today's gospel is found in Matthew 4 v:1-11,

the story of Jesus's temptations.

Address:   

The story of the temptations shows us how much there was a human side to Jesus. He has become aware of his ministry and of God's calling. He knows that in order to be prepared he needs to test his own faith and his own resolve to cope with the demands of his Ministry. We are told that in the first temptation Jesus in his hunger is tempted to turn stones into bread. Jesus replies by saying we don't live on bread alone but on every word that comes from God. Yet we remember Jesus did turn bread and fish   into enough food to feed the crowd. Jesus does not use his power for himself but to care for his people.  

Food is important and we thank God we have our daily food. But just as we can be hungry for our food, so we must hunger for God's word to give us spiritual strength.

In the second temptation Jesus is asked by the tempter to throw himself from the top of the temple and he would be saved. A great way to draw people to him by doing such an amazing act, yet in his miracles Jesus is not showing off about himself but he uses his powers to heal and to save all who put our trust in him. Jesus has replied to the tempter by saying do not put the Lord your God to the test.

Lastly Jesus is  shown the Kingdoms of the World and told they will all  be his  if he bows down to the tempter. Jesus commands the tempter to leave him and he says that we must worship God and serve him only.

When we look at the story of the temptations we see how Jesus deals with each one by using his knowledge of Scripture. An important thought for us that we should be aware of the relevance of Scripture in our lives not just when we are tempted to maybe do wrong, but in every part of our lives. The story tells us that Jesus knows through this experience what it is like to be human and that is comforting and reassuring for he goes through temptations as we do.  

During Lent we may give up things we enjoy as a sign of our power to ward off temptation but it is more important during Lent to become even more aware of the relevance of the Bible and especially the teachings of Jesus in our lives. Being tempted is part of our life experience  some are tempted more than others, but in all our temptations we turn to Jesus and are assured he will not let us down.

Amen

Hymn:  StF 550  'Forth in thy name O Lord I go'

Prayers:  

Lord we pray you will accept our sorrow for the times when we have been tempted, to maybe do or say things we knew were wrong.  Forgive us for giving into temptation to feel we don't need you and being too sure of ourselves.  We know you are with us, that you understand our human frailty and that you do forgive.  

We pray for those who have gone astray, those who have done wrong and are paying the price, maybe those in prison, those who are ostracised  by others for their wrong doing. Be with those who support them in becoming better people.  Help us not to be judgemental but to be forgiving and compassionate to those who need that forgiveness.  

We pray for all who are ill at this time in body, mind or spirit, and we pray for all who care for them. Bless the people we care for, our loved ones, we commend them to you at this time. We pray too for your world for peace and unity and love. Hear these our prayers in the name of Jesus.

Amen  

Hymn: StF 465  'Guide me O thou great Jehovah'

Prayer:

May the Grace and Blessing of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us and with all those who we love and with those who it is difficult to love, now and always Amen.