"INTO THE WILDERNESS"

By Rev. Jay Pearson

 

You and I as born-again Christians, baptized with the Holy Ghost, have been led into the wilderness. This wilderness is a place of testing. It is the place where you and I rely on the world or we rely on the God of heaven, every day and in every way. We will feed on the manna from heaven or the manna from the world.

There are 3 basic temptations to be aware of in this wilderness:

1. Provision:

2. Power:

3. Pride:

Mark 1:9-12
9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

The Temptation of Provision:
Failure to wait on the Lord, and instead seeking the world or self to provide

Luke 4:1-4
1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

The Temptation of Power:
Seeking praise from others. The world will love you until it doesn’t

Luke 4:5-8
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

The Temptation of Pride:
The one who cries "I can do all things" with emphasis on "I".

Luke 4:9-12
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Jesus sent him down the road.

Luke 4:13
And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

That did not end temptation in the wilderness but for a season. How did Jesus handle all the pressures of daily life and its demands, with its temptations?

Luke 5:12-15
12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

Here is how Jesus handled all his fame and the pressures of daily life and temptations. He kept in touch with his Father in prayer.

Luke 5:16
And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Luke 6:12
And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 9:18
And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

Mark 1:33-35
33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.
34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

In this wilderness we must be aware of the temptations that will come. We must keep in touch with our Lord in prayer and supplication. Pray often in the Spirit and in your understanding also. Prayer is essential to guard against temptation.

2 Corinthians 2:11
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

In last week’s lesson, one exhortation was to stand.

Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

While, during, and after putting on the whole armor of God, what are we to do?

Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

We are in this wilderness of temptation until we wake up in glory with our Lord. It would be very beneficial to follow the lead of the one who went before us into this wilderness of temptation, our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 2:17-18
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Jesus endured the same temptations as you and I. He not only knows the way, Jesus is the Way. Follow him in obedience and with prayer through this wilderness.

Psalm 95:6-8
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,
8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

AMEN

 

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Presented October 17, 2021 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana