'The Temptation of Jesus'

Dear friends,
The 'Temptation of Jesus' is the next story from the life of Jesus that we are going over in our story group in Kayamandi (SA).  In some Christian circles this story is associated with Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting that serves as the first day of Lent. Lent originated as a memorial of Jesus' fasting 40 days in the desert and some Christians observe it in preparation for Easter. The Biblical story of the 'Temptation of Jesus' is found in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. Audio
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1) Watch and or Listen to the Story. Repeat as necessary. Then 2) read the Commentary below.

After his baptism, Jesus faced the devil who sought to bring Jesus’ identity into question (Mt.4:3).  God had said, ‘You are my beloved son!’ But Satan essentially said, ‘if you’re God’s son, why are you starving in this desert? Why wait on God? Turn these stones to bread and meet your own needs.’ Jesus answers the devil by submitting to God and His word (Mt. 4:4, Dt.8:3). Then Satan said, ‘if you’re God’s son, God’s king, then prove that God is with you. Jump from this temple for God will send His angels to lift you up (Mt.4:6, Ps.91:11-12).’ Again, Jesus submits to God and His word by trusting and not testing God (Dt.6:16, Ex.17).

Finally, Satan basically said, ‘if you want to be king of all the earth then take the easy way out? Why deny yourself and submit to God? I can give you all the kingdoms of this world if you will bow and worship me (Mt.4:9).’ Again, Jesus submits to God’s word which says to serve and worship God and him only. Then Satan left Jesus and God sent his angels to ‘lift Jesus up’ (Mt.4:11). Jesus, unlike Adam and Israel before him, was wholeheartedly committed to go God’s ways, as God’s true king.

After being baptized in the Jordan, Jesus went into the wilderness to face the equivalent of Israel’s forty years in the desert. Jesus would replay Israel’s story and succeed where both Israel and Adam had failed. The devil tempted Jesus, but God tested Jesus’ resolve to rely on God and His word. He defended himself using scripture from the story of Israel in the wilderness (See Dt.8:2-3). Jesus endured Satan’s temptations, in order to faithfully carry out God’s calling to redeem Israel and the world.

Our God tells those who trust Jesus that we are God’s children (Jn.1:12). Yet, our adversary tempts us to turn us away from serving God and His purposes. While our Father tests us that we may learn to depend on God and His word (Jms.1:2-3, 12). So if you have heard God affirm that you are His child then be assured that the devil will bring your identity ‘in Christ’ into question and will entice you to go your own way and take the easy way out. Knowing this, we must use the same defence as the son of God and use the truth of God to expose the lies of Satan. So keep you’re your eyes on Jesus and rely on God and His word!

Psalm 91:11–14 (NIV84) ¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; ¹² they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. ¹³ You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. ¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

Tsalani bwino (stay well),
Rev. Jay, Laura, Clara, Katherine and Lauren Stoms
Tsalani bwino (stay well),

Jay, Laura, Clara, Katherine and Lauren Stoms

Prayer Requests:

1) For the 'International Students Ministry' at Christ Church Stellenbosch.

2) That we can organize a 'School of Storying' in Malawi for June/July 2015.

3) Pray that we can pick up three new partnering churches.

4) For a 'good deal' as we seek to purchase a vehicle.

5) For longer term accommodations for our family in Stellenbosch.

6) That the health and growth of our 'story group' in Kayamandi.

7) Starting a series of luncheons for International students where we would story through the life of Jesus.   

8) About possibly going to South Sudan for two weeks to train Anglican Pastors.

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John's Baptism and Jesus' Baptism.

Dear Friends and Family,
Here is the story of the John's baptism and that of the baptism of Jesus mostly from what happened after the 'Birth of Jesus' from Luke 3 and Matthew 3.   Audio file

1) Watch and Listen to the Story. Then 2) Read the Commentary (below). 

God had been silent over the period between the testaments, but now the ‘Word of God’ came to John in the desert by the Jordan River (Lk.3:2).  Israel had wandered through the desert after the exodus from Egypt until they crossed the Jordan to enter the ‘Promised Land’. The imagery here is that of a ‘New Exodus’. John preached ‘a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins’ in preparation for the ‘coming one’ who would rescue God’s people (Lk.3:2-3, Mt.3:2-3).

Isaiah foretold that John would call people to make ‘straight paths’ and construct a highway for the ‘coming Lord’ (Isa.40:3-4, 11). Valleys would ‘be raised’ and mountains ‘made low’ and Sovereign Lord would return like a shepherd to gather his lambs and lead them close to his heart. Malachi had said that the Lord would send Elijah before that ‘coming day’ to turn the hearts of the people (Mal.4:5-6). Now John very intentionally dressed the part and played the role of Elijah (Mt.3:4, 2 Kgs.1:8).

People came from throughout Judea to confess their sins and to identify with John’s ‘repentant and expectant’ community. Yet, when the ‘religious leaders’ came to where John was baptizing, John denounced them as ‘snakes’ needing to flee the coming wrath (Mt.3:7-8, 11, Lk.3:8, 16). According to John they needed to ‘produce fruit’ consistent with genuine repentance. So John pointed to the more powerful one, Jesus, who would pour out God’s Spirit and bring the fire of God’s judgment.

Jesus came to the Jordan identifying with those needing the forgiveness of sins.  John needed to be baptized by Jesus, but Jesus considered it proper for him to identify with the ‘repentant community’. Jesus was acting on behalf of God’s people as their representative and God was preparing Jesus for his role as Messiah (Mt.3:13-15, Lk.3:21-22).  Jesus was anointed by John in a similar fashion to the way Samuel anointed David as Israel’s future king (1 Sam.16:13). The Spirit came down on ‘King Jesus’ and the heavenly voice confirmed Jesus’ identity, “This is my beloved Son” (Mt.3:16-17).

Tsalani bwino (stay well),

Jay, Laura, Clara, Katherine and Lauren Stoms

Prayer Requests:

1) For the 'International Students Ministry' at Christ Church Stellenbosch.

2) That we can organize a 'School of Storying' in Malawi for June/July 2015.

3) Pray that we can pick up three new partnering churches.

4) For a 'good deal' as we seek to purchase a vehicle.

5) For longer term accommodations for our family in Stellenbosch.

6) That the health and growth of our 'story group' in Kayamandi.

7) Starting a series of luncheons for International students where we would story through the life of Jesus.   

8) About possibly going to South Sudan for two weeks to train Anglican Pastors.

"Celebrating '11th Wedding Anniversary' in Africa"

Dear Friends and Family,

Laura and I just celebrated our 11^th wedding anniversary in beautiful South Africa where we actually spent our honeymoon. Truly, the “lines have fallen for us in pleasant places; indeed, we have a beautiful inheritance” (Psalm 16:6).

Looking back reminds us of the words of a dear Pastor who while introducing us to his church said, “The Stoms’ greatest accomplishment is their three daughters, Clara, Katherine and Lauren.” Truer words have not been spoken and they remind us of God’s unmerited ‘super-abounding grace’ to us. 

I once endured a lecture on the 20 (maybe 10 but it seemed like 20) things churches expect from their missionaries. I felt like a failure until I was reminded of all the people who have been endeared to us through our three daughters. Clara had an entropic eyelid that had to be sown and Katherine was born with a growth that had to be removed surgically. Those were trying times, but through them so many people were united to us in prayer. I don’t recommend this as a marketing strategy, but it’s a continual reminder that God’s “ways and thoughts are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9).”

Our first story group!

I recently preached a sermon on how God taught Peter His ‘True Grace’ (1 Peter 5:12) at Christ Church Stellenbosch. In it I told the story of Peter denying Christ three times and explained how God used ‘trials and failure’ in Peter’s life. Over and over again, in various circumstances, we have found God teaching us our need to ‘trust and pray’. Having said this, we are asking that you pray as we launch both a ‘story group’ in Kayamandi (informal settlement) and hold a series of ‘brown bag lunches’ with international students where we plan to story through the ‘Life of Jesus’.   

Thanks (Zikomo),
Jay, Laura, Clara, Katherine and Lauren Stoms
Cheers!

Prayer Requests:
1) For Laura as she home-schools our girls.
2) That our girls make new friends here in South Africa.
3) For the 'International Students Ministry' at Christ Church Stellenbosch. 
4) That we can organize a 'School of Storying' in Malawi for June/July 2015.
5) Pray that we can pick up three new partnering churches.
6) For a 'good deal' as we seek to purchase a vehicle.
7) For longer term accommodations for our family  in Stellenbosch.
8) That we successfully  launch a 'story group' in Kayamandi.
9) About possibly going to South Sudan for two weeks to train Anglican Pastors.