prepared by Chris Hancock – 22nd February 2026

Hymn 1         StF 20     Be still for the presence of the Lord

1     Be still,            for the presence of the Lord,            the Holy One, is here;            come bow before him now            with reverence and fear:            in him no sin is found —            we stand on holy ground.            Be still,            for the presence of the Lord,            the Holy One, is here.    2     Be still,            for the glory of the Lord            is shining all around;            he burns with holy fire,            with splendour he is crowned:            how awesome is the sight —            our radiant King of light!            Be still,            for the glory of the Lord            is shining all around.

3        Be still,            for the power of the Lord            is moving in this place;            he comes to cleanse and heal,            to minister his grace:            no work too hard for him —            in faith receive from him.            Be still,            for the power of the Lord            is moving in this place. David J. Evans (b.1957)

Prayers

Lord God, as we begin this Lenten journey, we remember the trials and temptations of your Son, Jesus Christ, in the wilderness, and how he triumphed over all. In our prayers, we ask for the strength to overcome our own challenges and for the grace to walk in your light, drawing nearer to your holy presence. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen

Hymn 2                            StF 353             Jesus is Lord

1   Jesus is Lord!  Creation’s voice proclaims it, for by his power each tree and flower was planned and made. Jesus is Lord!  The universe declares it; sun, moon and stars in heaven cry: Jesus is Lord!    Jesus is Lord!  Jesus is Lord!    Praise him with alleluias, for Jesus is Lord!    2   Jesus is Lord!  Yet from his throne eternal in flesh he came to die in pain on Calvary’s tree. Jesus is Lord!  From him all life proceeding — yet gave his life a ransom, thus setting us free

3      Jesus is Lord!  O’er sin the mighty conqueror, from death he rose; and all his foes shall own his name. Jesus is Lord!  God sends his Holy Spirit to show by works of power that Jesus is Lord.   David John Mansell (b.1936)

Matthew 4: 1-11 The Temptation of Jesus

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written,
“One does not live by bread alone,
   but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
“He will command his angels concerning you”,
   and “On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’
Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
   and serve only him.” ’
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Reflection

Every year the season of Lent starts with the story of how Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the devil.

I think that many of us are alarmed by the reality of temptation, that when we pause and look into our hearts, we notice that there within them are desires that we are know are wrong, wants that we know if indulged will lead us away from God.

We think of ourselves as good people – honest, hardworking, and upright – yet there – lurking inside some of us is anger, jealousy, envy, or bitterness – inside still others of us, there are desires for material things. Desires to control other people. The fact that temptation, exists in us, exists in me, is distressing.

Perhaps the more vivid the sense of temptation – the more disturbed we become. We begin to question our spirituality, our faithfulness, our ability to do good, we begin to feel inferior – weak – uncertain – and insecure.

I think that at the heart of this uneasiness, lies the thought that if we are really doing what we should be doing then we would not experience the temptations that we do experience, that our impulses would all be for the good, that our habits would keep us from even considering doing

something we ought not to do.

To these feelings the gospel today replies – No!  That is not how it works. Temptation is a part of the human condition – it is so much a part of our humanity – that perhaps the times when we are most connected to God, are the times we are most tempted.

Jesus is tempted in the wilderness… not once – not twice – but three times and we are told that when the devil finally leaves him – he does so only to wait for another time – for an opportune time.

The good news of today’s gospel lies in the fact that Jesus himself was tempted. We are not spiritually or morally inferior simply because we experience temptation. Nor are we sinful because you feel sinful desires. Sin only occurs when we succumb to that temptation. When we indulge the impulses that we should not.

Some people break down temptation into three categories – categories that roughly match the experience that Jesus went through while wandering in the wilderness in the days immediately after his baptism.

First there are physical temptations – the urges we have to satisfy our physical wants regardless of how we go about it. 

Then there are emotional temptations – temptations to indulge one’s feelings – one’s ego – to make oneself the centre of all things – to receive all glory and all praise and all power – all the attention that you want – that you should have…

And then their are spiritual temptations – the temptation to test God – to dare God to prove his love – to manipulate God – to get God to use his magic powers on your behalf that you may impress others with them – that you may show to others your favoured status in the eyes of the Lord.

Though we are tempted in all of these ways, I think that temptation always contains a spiritual element. For, temptation rarely comes to us as a clear cut decision between good and evil. 

Temptation always comes to us shrouded in goodness – in plausibility – in attractiveness. It comes as an outgrowth of the circumstances that we are in – circumstances that have their own logic and their own appeal

Temptation is a natural thing.  It appeals to our natural impulses – both for good and for bad. Temptation is also an easy thing – that is a major part of its’ attraction. And there is only one cure for it – That cure is focus – or faith.

Christ showed us the way – by rebuffing the things that tempted him with his focus on what God revealed to Israel through Moses and the prophets.

When tempted with the easy way – he drew from his heart to his mind the word of God that he had been taught: One does not live by bread alone – Worship the Lord your God and serve only him, Do not put the Lord your god to the test.

Christ resisted the easy way, the natural way – by recalling God’s way – by speaking it out in the midst of his vision, his dream, his temptation.

And so can we – and even more so.  More so – because Christ is in us, he who won the victory over the evil one he who resisted successfully – dwells within us.

He knows how hard it is to walk the walk and talk the talk – he knows how easy it is to close your eyes to the troubles around you, your ears to the cries of need and despair and your hearts to the hearts of those who live with you or near to you. He knows the attraction of the quick fix and the struggle to keep on the difficult road.  And he stands ready to help when we call upon him.

When we touch the Christ who is in us – When we reach inside ourselves and ask of ourselves  – What would Jesus do here and now – then we are on the road we should be on – .

At the end of our days God will not ask us if we did wrong – nor will he ask us if we have been tempted – but he will ask us if we have learned to play the tunes of love with the talents he has given us. He will ask if we have walked the road that Christ was on in the direction that Christ walked it. And if we have – and in doing so we happened to stumble and fall once in a while – God will bandage the wounds and wipe the tears from our eyes – and give us a hug – for we will have done all that he expects of us. Amen.

Hymn 3             StF 481             The Lords my shepherd

1     The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;            he makes me lie in pastures green,            he leads me by the still, still waters,            his goodness restores my soul.                And I will trust in you alone,                and I will trust in you alone,                for your endless mercy follows me,                your goodness will lead me home.    2     He guides my ways in righteousness,            and he anoints my head with oil;            and my cup — it overflows with joy,            I feast on his pure delights.

3        And though I walk the darkest path —            I will not fear the evil one,            for you are with me, and your rod and staff            are the comfort I need to know. Stuart Townend (b.1963)

Prayers of intercession

LET US PRAY Lord – listen to our prayers for ourselves at this time – bring to our minds the places we have compromised the truth for that which is convenient to us – the times we have shut our eyes and

ears and hearts to the needs of others – the times we have indulged ourselves to our own detriment…  – Help us dear God to know that you forgive these things – and give us strength to resist them in the future… Lord hear our prayer….

Lord, listen to our prayers for others at this time – for those who hunger for bread – but only find stones – for those who seek justice – but can find no advocate who will help them – for those who are in danger and have no one watching over them….  Lord hear our prayer….

Lord – speak to us in the silence of our hearts – show us the way we should go……………. Amen

Hymn 4                            StF 186             Tell out my soul

1      Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord! Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice; tender to me the promise of his word; in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.    2      Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name! Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done; his mercy sure, from age to age the same; his holy name — the Lord, the Mighty One.

3      Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might! Powers and dominions lay their glory by; proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight, the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.    4      Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word! Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord to children’s children and for evermore! Timothy Dudley-Smith (b.1926)

Blessing: As we leave this time of worship. We go in peace, joy and love. As we meet others in our daily lives, help us be ready and willing to share the good news of the salvation Jesus brings. May the blessing of God rest upon each of our lives now and forever. Amen.