October 19
JESUS, THE PATTERN SON / PART 3
THE WILDERNESS
-Matthew 4:1 states, … Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil
…
-After being called, recognized, and declared as a son of God, having the heavens opened to us, we are then
LED UP OF THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL. Notice that it is THE SPIRIT OF GOD that leads
us into a wilderness experience to be tempted of the Devil. We must stop thinking that God is mad at us when we find ourselves
in a wilderness experience. GOD IS THE ONE WHO HAS LED US THERE BY HIS SPIRIT! If God leads us into the wilderness to be tempted
of the Devil, then there must be a purpose for it, and it must be for our good.
-The word “wilderness” means: solitary, lonely, and lonesome. This would mean that God is responsible
for placing us in lonely circumstances in our lives. Many times we find ourselves all alone in what we are thinking, doing,
or saying. We begin to feel the pressure of satanic forces coming against us to tempt us to go outside of the will of God.
This is Satan ( the prince of the power of the air ) coming against our mind to try us, putting us to the test. Even though
we do not enjoy our seasons of wilderness in life, we will come to understand that they are necessary, and even for our good.
The wilderness is what brings us in contact with FIERY TRIALS. This causes us to go from glory to glory, growing up into a
fully mature son of God. WE ARE GROWING UP IN GOD! WE ARE PUTTING ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! WE ARE LEARNING TO PARTAKE OF
THE DIVINE NATURE! WE ARE HAVING HIS LAWS WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS! WE ARE LEARNING THAT GOD IS SOVEREIGN! WE ARE LEARNING TO
ACCESS HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS! WE ARE LEARNING TO CAST DOWN IMAGINATIONS, AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTS ITSELF
AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, BRINGING INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST; ( 2nd Corinthians
10:5 ) …
-We must see that it is God Who places us in these experiences, for without going through the wilderness there
is no possible way for us to be an overcomer. How can we overcome if there is nothing to overcome? The purpose of the wilderness
is to teach us to endure temptation, suffering, and fiery trials. It is in and through the wilderness experience that we are
able to become like the Son of God. Every time we leave the wilderness, we leave …
-IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT!-
