Ivan Kramskoi, “Christ in the Desert,” 1872 (oil on canvas) inspired by Matthew 4:1-11 Led by the Spirit into the wildernessJesus fasted from foodto the extremes of human possibility.And it was then,then, that the devil set to work. Then the devil set to workchipping away at Jesus' identity:"If you are the Son of God..."Immediately after …
What If God Is Leading Us Into the Wilderness?
This is a repost of something I wrote back in February 2021. It ties in with some of what I preached about in my message this weekend at Eastbrook. Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1) What if God is leading us into the …
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Is Spiritual Conflict Real?: guidance from the Apostle Paul
In Matthew 12:22-37 Jesus is accused of exorcising demons by the power of Satan. The entire episode raises an important question: is spiritual conflict, or spiritual warfare, real? The Apostle Paul addresses that pretty directly in the last chapter of the book of Ephesians, where he closes out the letter by writing these words: "Finally, …
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Standing Firm in the Lord: a reflection on Ephesians 6
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. (Ephesians 6:10-11) What always captures my attention in these verses is the reality of our conflict and the source of our defense. Paul takes it for …
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Jesus, Light to the Nations
As we continued our series "Power in Preparation" this past weekend at Eastbrook Church my good friend and colleague here at Eastbrook, Pastor Femi Ibitoye, explored Jesus' temptation in the wilderness in Matthew 4:12-17. I appreciated the insights that Femi shared in this message, as well as the personal testimony he shared from his life …
Matthew Erickson 