The Third Sunday of Lent
for Legionaries and their Friends
WE pray to you, Almighty God, to look at the most hearty desires of your humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of your Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read the Bible Story
Read the Lesson
Do the Lesson Exercises
Luke 11:14
Jesus delivered a man from a demon that had kept him speechless. The demon gone, the man started talking a blue streak, taking the crowd by complete surprise. But some from the crowd were cynical. "Black magic," they said. "Some devil trick he's pulled from his sleeve." Others were skeptical, waiting around for him to prove himself with a spectacular miracle.
Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, "Any country in civil war for very long is wasted. A constantly squabbling family falls to pieces. If Satan cancels Satan, is there any Satan left? You accuse me of ganging up with the Devil, the prince of demons, to cast out demons, but if you're slinging devil mud at me, calling me a devil who kicks out devils, doesn't the same mud stick to your own exorcists? But if it's God's finger I'm pointing that sends the demons on their way, then God's kingdom is here for sure.
"When a strong man, armed to the teeth, stands guard in his front yard, his property is safe and sound. But what if a stronger man comes along with superior weapons? Then he's beaten at his own game, the arsenal that gave him such confidence hauled off, and his precious possessions plundered.
"This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse.
"When a corrupting spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along through the desert looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil. When it doesn't find anyone, it says, "I'll go back to my old haunt.' On return, it finds the person swept and dusted, but vacant. It then runs out and rounds up seven other spirits dirtier than itself and they all move in, whooping it up. That person ends up far worse than if he'd never gotten cleaned up in the first place."
While he was saying these things, some woman lifted her voice above the murmur of the crowd: "Blessed the womb that carried you, and the breasts at which you nursed!"
Jesus commented, "Even more blessed are those who hear God's Word and guard it with their lives!"
LESSON
Grace and Peace be with you Legionaries!
******************** the lesson text**********************
- Can you draw a picutre that tells the Gospel story? Do so and then explain it to your friends.
- Wrtie or share a little story about ***************
- Can you think of a time when you were ******************
- Memory Verse: Blessed is he that hears God's word and keeps it