MATTHEW 4
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Matthew 4:1
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Then Jesus was led by the Spirit
into the wilderness
to be tempted by the devil.
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After Jesus is baptised, the Spirit leads Him into the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil... Curious, ain't it. Does this show us that we're not to fear Satan; that, if we hold on to God and faith, no harm shall befall us? Follow the leading of the Spirit = remain in God's hand?
The image of the Holy Spirit leading someone to a place where they will be weakened greatly, to the point of having nothing - no home, no friends or family, no food, no internet (scary!!) etc - where great temptations would come as we seek to comfort our flesh - with a home, friends or family, or food, etc - shows me God is saying, "With Me, there is nothing to fear. I will protect you, and, in time, I will bring you all you need." Or, in short, "I'm here; Don't fear."
Jesus' flesh would've been screaming at Him, wanting food and shelter and comfort - especially after 40 days. He was in a body, just like ours, tempted as we are. Could you imagine the state of your body and mind after those forty days? Gee, take my favourite treat away from me and I start pining immediately. If someone walked in the door with it, I'd be all over them wanting it!
What would you do if your partner or best friend or family didn't have contact with you for a month? What would you be like after a few days if you couldn't get your hand on coffee, or a shower, or a nice comfy bed? After several days in the desert - or wilderness - who wouldn't run for the first food and shelter offered, thinking 'this is the one God has sent'...?
Jesus is tempted many times, and the tempter even uses Scripture in the hope of getting Jesus to succumb to temptation (beware those who lead you from your conscience!), but Jesus stands strong. After 40 days of wandering the desert, with no food, it's pretty safe to say He is at His weakest; yet, even then, He accepts nothing from any hand but God's. This tells me it's not enough to know what is written in the Bible; you need to know your Father, and you need to let the Holy Spirit do the leading.
When the flesh starts to whine and yearn for what it wants, it would be so easy to give in to temptation, especially if someone twists the word of God in order to get us to eat from their hands, don't you think? Me, I've followed many 'Word-knowledge folk' instead of trusting The Hand that feeds me. Over the past 20-odd years, walking with God, I have, on more than one occasion, put aside what God was handing me and eaten from man's hand instead...and, yep, each time I suffered for it. (I take full responsibility for that now.)
This passage tells me to take only which God offers - be it a spouse, a job, a place in the church, or whatever we find our needs to be - and that by the Holy Spirit's leading. Don't follow man. Don't follow the desires of your flesh. Don't follow insecurity. Don't follow fear. Don't follow ego. Don't even follow hope if it hasn't come directly from God's hand and heart. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and make like Jesus does: Accept only what comes from the Father's hand.
This passage also reminds me to be careful of those who sprout God's word but have no heart, and no leading of the Holy Spirit.
The New Testament tells us that Satan knows the Bible. No doubt he knows it better than we do. But that doesn't mean what he is offering us comes from the hand of God, does it. And the same can be said about man - no matter where he stands in a church service. It's not enough to know the written word; we need to know the Living One.
The image of the Holy Spirit leading someone to a place where they will be weakened greatly, to the point of having nothing - no home, no friends or family, no food, no internet (scary!!) etc - where great temptations would come as we seek to comfort our flesh - with a home, friends or family, or food, etc - shows me God is saying, "With Me, there is nothing to fear. I will protect you, and, in time, I will bring you all you need." Or, in short, "I'm here; Don't fear."
Jesus' flesh would've been screaming at Him, wanting food and shelter and comfort - especially after 40 days. He was in a body, just like ours, tempted as we are. Could you imagine the state of your body and mind after those forty days? Gee, take my favourite treat away from me and I start pining immediately. If someone walked in the door with it, I'd be all over them wanting it!
What would you do if your partner or best friend or family didn't have contact with you for a month? What would you be like after a few days if you couldn't get your hand on coffee, or a shower, or a nice comfy bed? After several days in the desert - or wilderness - who wouldn't run for the first food and shelter offered, thinking 'this is the one God has sent'...?
Jesus is tempted many times, and the tempter even uses Scripture in the hope of getting Jesus to succumb to temptation (beware those who lead you from your conscience!), but Jesus stands strong. After 40 days of wandering the desert, with no food, it's pretty safe to say He is at His weakest; yet, even then, He accepts nothing from any hand but God's. This tells me it's not enough to know what is written in the Bible; you need to know your Father, and you need to let the Holy Spirit do the leading.
When the flesh starts to whine and yearn for what it wants, it would be so easy to give in to temptation, especially if someone twists the word of God in order to get us to eat from their hands, don't you think? Me, I've followed many 'Word-knowledge folk' instead of trusting The Hand that feeds me. Over the past 20-odd years, walking with God, I have, on more than one occasion, put aside what God was handing me and eaten from man's hand instead...and, yep, each time I suffered for it. (I take full responsibility for that now.)
This passage tells me to take only which God offers - be it a spouse, a job, a place in the church, or whatever we find our needs to be - and that by the Holy Spirit's leading. Don't follow man. Don't follow the desires of your flesh. Don't follow insecurity. Don't follow fear. Don't follow ego. Don't even follow hope if it hasn't come directly from God's hand and heart. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and make like Jesus does: Accept only what comes from the Father's hand.
This passage also reminds me to be careful of those who sprout God's word but have no heart, and no leading of the Holy Spirit.
The New Testament tells us that Satan knows the Bible. No doubt he knows it better than we do. But that doesn't mean what he is offering us comes from the hand of God, does it. And the same can be said about man - no matter where he stands in a church service. It's not enough to know the written word; we need to know the Living One.