Into the Wilderness with Jesus!

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Evidently, being led by the Holy Spirit, does not keep the devil from trying to bring us down! Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

He is indeed like a roaring lion but also more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made (Genesis 3:1). He will come after you when you’re the most vulnerable, the least threatened, and totally unprepared for his visit. WE are totally unprepared…

Jesus… came to PREPARE the way for us. We should take our instruction from Him and not from our own arrogant and foolishly ways! We shouldn’t go before evil without training, preparation, and the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-12 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having  put on the breastplate of righteousness , and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Ephesians 6:13-17

Let’s go into the wilderness and watch Master Jesus take care of business! 

And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. (Yes, Jesus was fully man and became hungry!)

And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”  Matthew 4:2-3 Satan knows exactly WHO this is and he knows humans. If ever there was a time to achieve victory over Jesus, it’s when He is one of those, pesky, foolish “human beings” (easy peasy like Adam and Eve!). Humans do not care much for suffering, so, one way or the other they will find a way to ease any pain and suffering.

We might even call upon God to show us how to and give us power to point and declare these stones to become bread. After all, He loves us so we can assume that whatever our need, or the needs of others is, God will give us the power to defeat our enemy. “If you are a child of God”… now THIS is a challenge no human can resist!

Not Jesus… He quotes the Word of God!

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”  Matthew 4:4

I have to ask, “DO YOU (do I) live on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God? Do I even ask for His Word in the wilderness of this life????

Satan doesn’t give up easily… Then the devil *took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and *said 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 strike Your foot against a stone .’” Matthew 4:5-6

“Come on man, EVERY human wants to (craves to ) show off their power!”

Again, not Jesus! Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matthew 4:7

DO YOU (do I) put the Lord your God to the test? Do I proclaim God’s will as proof positive I can be, should be, and will be (if I have anything to say about it), happy, healthy, and wise? Do I declare that any and every stubbing of my toe is a sign of His concern/care of me? Do you?

Ok, people, one more try!… Again, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “ All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4:8-9

Every man, woman, and child desperately wants power and control over their lives, and the lives they believe they could manage so much better! All one has to do is sell their soul (lock, stock and barrel) to the devil. “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Is it any wonder, he saves the highest of high mountain tops to offer this one? It is reserved for the time in our life when we are at the peak of our life and full of joy, and arrogance, and pride, and accomplishment – a very “special” wilderness to be sure!

Do you (do I) believe THE LIAR and his iie? DON’T DO IT!

Listen to Jesus who IS, the Way, the Truth and the Life… Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Matthew 4:10 We know the ending – JESUS WINS! Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.  Matthew 4:11 

Into the Wilderness with Jesus! Let’s do it His way!  

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord  forever.   Psalm 23:1-6

This whole world is the wilderness we walk through. Who are you going to walk with? Who am I going to walk with? Let’s walk With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,  Ephesians 6:18

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.