Matthew 4:1-7 (NIV):
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted[a] by the devil. 2 After
fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter
came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become
bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread
alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand
on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,”
he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his
angels concerning you,
and
they will lift you up in their hands,
so
that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the
Lord your God to the test.’[d]”
Today
I want to teach on the wilderness period. I will continue this study for the
next couple of weeks depending on how fast we go through this particular
passage which is Jesus Tested in the
Wilderness.
Its
interesting to me because Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness-and a
lot of us as Christians are led by the Spirit into the wilderness-to be tested.
We are led to be tested to bear fruit-to
produce perseverance and grow more in our character as children of the LORD:
Romans 5:3-4 (NIV):
3 Not only so, but we[a]
also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Now
the LORD had been fasting forty days and forty nights-He had gone through a
spiritual cleanse and now he was going to be tempted in the flesh-he was hungry.
A
lot of us go through a season of spiritual sensitivity-where you feel your
prayers are answered, your steps are ordered and then you enter a season of
hunger-for that job, that spouse, that child, that promotion, that promise-you
become hungry.
And
this is when the devil steps into to tempt us out of the LORD’s timing.
I
have noticed that the enemy usually comes first for your identity.
He
told the LORD if He is the Son of God He
should tell stones to become bread.
In
other words, he told Jesus to prove his identity. The devil will usually tell
you to prove your identity in Christ-he may say if you are a singer, then why
can’t you get signed? If you are an artist, why can’t you sell your paintings?
If you are a writer, why can’t you get published? He will always come at you
with a question that is aimed at your identity as revealed in Christ.
And he will point out
your wilderness season in the process-you see the devil comes in the wilderness
because that is his habitat-he thrives in environments that lack life. But the LORD answered-a lot of us fail to answer
you see-we instead accept the lies of the
enemy instead of responding as children of the LORD.
And
we need to respond through faith-surround yourself with the Word, meditate on
His voice, listen to worship, praise, fellowship with friends-just get yourself
in that environment of faith.
And
the LORD answered and said it is written that man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the
mouth of God.
And
this is important because as a child of God, you begin to understand during
this season that you have to hang on to
the Word the LORD has spoken to you-it gives you life and strength to keep
going-so hang on to that Word.
Speak
it. Profess it. Remember it.
The
LORD will give you a Word for every
season you are in. The Scriptural reference for this wilderness season
Christ was going through was Deuteronomy and
each time the enemy spoke in the wilderness-Jesus responded from this Word.
Hence
it is important to understand how to wield the Sword of the Spirit because it
is alive and active! (Hebrews 4:12)
And
if you look at the Word from this passage it is powerful!
It
speaks of a similar wilderness season the Israelites went through for 40
years-remember the LORD fasted for 40
days and 40 nights. Hence this season of wilderness will release a
breakthrough in your life, which is why the enemy will come to try and derail
you; but you hold unto the Word the LORD has given you.
We
go through the wilderness to be tested, and refined in Him-it is a season that
equips us to face the challenges on the next level because we learn how to rely
on the LORD as His Word literally becomes the bread of sustenance that keeps us
moving! We also go through the wilderness to be humbled and tested by God but
He will always feed you with the Word to keep you going! Also He takes us
through this season to remind us of His grace in our lives! And when you step
out of it, you step into a new level in Him and through Him.
(Deuteronomy
8:1-3).
Next
week we will continue this study-until then, God Bless!
Q: What
wilderness season are you currently going through?
Tip:
Surround yourself with worship and praise, get into the Word, faith comes by
hearing-so make sure you are hearing the Word in some shape or form. (Romans
10:17)
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