SANCTUARY | Jesus in the Wilderness: Identity, Belovedness, Purpose

March 7, 2023

Jesus begins his ministry by being led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days and forty nights.  He enters a harsh environment, depriving himself of food but filling himself with God so that he can prepare himself for ministry.  Because he has just been baptized and heard the voice of the Lord declare “This is my Son, whom I love,” is identity is secure.  Ignatius of Loyola spoke of having a “holy indifference” – letting go of what doesn’t help you love God or others and staying committed to things that help you love God.  Jesus models this for us.  His wilderness time prepared him to face down the temptation of the devil.  It should be no surprise that the Enemy’s first tactic is to question Jesus’ identity:  “If you are the Son of God, then…”  Our identity is in Christ.  Getting this right helps us to fulfill our purpose. Matthew 4:1-2

Easter 2026
From creation to redemption, God’s story is unfolding—and you are a part of it. Join us throughout the Lenten season as we discover how each of our lives fit into God’s grand design and eternal plan. We invite you to join us throughout this special season for our Lenten sermon series, "The Story of God, The Story of Us", and for all the events leading up to the celebration of Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday.
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