Jesus Came Preaching, Mark 1:14-15

 

¹⁴ Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

You’ve got to get a running start to jump on board a moving train. In the same way we need a running start, to get back on board Mark’s Good News Express.

In about five seconds the Lord painted a picture of the Trinity, in living color with sight and sound. Mark 1:9 Jesus was baptized by John, ¹⁰ immediately, the heavens opened, the Spirit descended like a dove, ¹¹ and the Father spoke, “You are My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Mark 1:10-11.

The perfect picture of Love and Power.

Then, in just a breath or two He revealed the war is with our flesh and the devil. 

¹² Immediately, the Spirit led Him into the wilderness, ¹³ where He fasted and prayed, 40 days (Matthew & Luke 4:1-2).  He was tempted by satan. He was in the presence of wild beasts. He was ministered to by angels. And He emerged victorious walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit. Luke 4:14.

¹⁴ Now after John was put in prison... means some time passed before John was put in prison.

During that time (John 2-3), Jesus turned water into wine. Cleansed the temple. Had the famous nighttime talk with Nichodemus, resulting in the beloved verse John 3:16.

John the Baptist was faithful in his mission as one crying in the wilderness, “prepare the way of the Lord.” Isaiah 1:23.

John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30.

So, therefore, Jesus’ popularity increased, John’s decreased, until the prophetic baton was passed from the final prophet, John, to the Anchor of our soul, Jesus.

When John was put in prison is an event in HIStory not only recorded in the Bible but also by secular history documentation. Once again, adding validity to the integrity of Scripture.

Why was John put in prison?

For speaking Truth. For condemning Herod’s sin for marrying his brother’s wife, Herodias. Matthew 14:3-4, Mark 6:17-18.

Herod imprisoned John in the hilltop fortress-palace of Machaerus about 60 miles southeast of Jerusalem on the east side of the dead sea. In modern day Jordan. (Per, 1^st Century Historian Flavius Josephus).

After John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee.

Jesus set up his ministry headquarters about 80 miles north of Jerusalem in Capernaum on the beautiful shores of Galilee.

There were multiple reasons for this.

It was fulfillment of a prophecy spoken 700 years prior.

 Isaiah 9:1b-2. In Galilee of the Gentiles. ² The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.

Prophecy is HIStory told in advance.

Just one more undeniable evidence of God’s all-knowing Sovereignty, and the inerrancy of His Holy Word.

Now, God doesn’t waste Words and doesn’t give prophecy just for show like a fortune teller.

Jesus moving north had purpose and wisdom.

Fullness of Time (Kairos). His forerunner, John, had just been arrested and would soon be beheaded. Jesus had much to accomplish on His Divinely timed mission, (save the world). So, He needed to avoid premature conflict, getting arrested—for now. This was prudence, not fear.

Fishers of Men. Galilee was scattered fishing villages, full of regular hard-working folks nobody paid attention to. But Jesus noticed them. He knew them before they met Him. He saw their hearts... perfect for making fishers of men. 

Light in the Darkness. Just down the road about ten miles or so from Capernaum was Magdala, known for its ladies of the night. The hometown of Mary Magdalene from whom Jesus cast seven demons. They were a mixed lot, marginalized, despised, rough around the edges, living in spiritual darkness... perfect for shining His Love and Light.

¹⁴ Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching...

John went to prison and Jesus went to preaching.

Jesus revealing this is how you win the war.

He didn’t go to picketing the palace of Herod. His friend was put in prison, so Jesus went to setting prisoners free.

His opening Scripture when kicking off His ministry was:

Isaiah 61:1-2. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound...

So, does that mean Jesus sent an angel to set at liberty, the captive, John, like He did with Peter (Acts 12:5-17)? Or did He send an earthquake to open the prison, like He did for Paul and Silas (Acts 16:16)?

Nope. Jesus sets him free, but nothing like that. Only, we’ll have to wait until we get to Mark 6 to find out what happens.

Okay, now, back to Jesus, preaching.

Remember, the Lord opened this glorious gospel with the words, “The beginning of the gospel...”

And then, He showed us how He built the Gospel, just like, “In the beginning,” Gen. 1:1, He showed us how He built creation.

And what did we learn?

1.    God

2.    Word of God

3.    Messenger of God

Now, here Jesus is showing us how it’s done. He is the Gospel. All three in One.

He is God. The Word of God and the Messenger of God.

His plan of Salvation. God. The Word of God. The Messenger of God.

We don’t need a concert, funny stories, big screens, sound systems, lights, cameras, coffee and donuts...

We just need to stay the course that He has laid.

Romans 10:14. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

1 Corinthians 1:21. For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of  preaching to save those who believe.

So, Jesus shows up preaching up and down Galilee.

And what is He preaching?

Herod is such a wicked scumbag looser, he put John in prison just for telling the Truth.

No! He didn’t preach the evils of Herod. He preached the Goodness of God, the Gospel, the Good News.

He was on offense. Always.

Which means at times, He spoke the Truth about the evils of men like Herod.

He never spoke from a place of victimhood, always victory.

Jesus is our example. Therefore, if you have Jesus, you are not a victim. No matter your circumstance. "In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33. 

Gospel means the Good News.

Jesus came preaching Good News of the Kingdom of God.

If you have a Kingdom, you have a King.

If you have a King, you have a court, a hierarchy, with rules and regulations and processes and protocols and law and order; a governmental system.

If you have a Kingdom, you have borders.

That’s just a few basic Kingdom principles. 

Now, Jesus preaches the Gospel, the Good News, of the Kingdom of God, painting Kingdom principles as a good thing, in a positive light.

Therefore, protesting or promoting defunding police, or ICE or law enforcement, is contrary to the spirit of the Kingdom of God.

Abolishing borders goes against God’s Good Kingdom principle.   

Of course, no earthly kingdom is perfect, but we should not reject the pattern the Lord has given. 

The Kingdom of God is different than that of man. God’s Kingdom operates on the Supreme Law of Love. That’s why it’s Good News.

Our US Constitution is the best and longest surviving ever established, probably because it was built on Biblical Kingdom Principles.

However, it’s fueled by the Law of Love. It won’t work when the handlers are fueled by greed, or power or immorality, or selfish interests.

That’s why our nation is so divided, why our congress can’t get along, why judges don’t follow the law, why supreme court justices are blind to the plain simple Truth of our US Constitution.

Jesus came preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, saying, The time is fulfilled... 

Time: Kairos. God’s Divine Timing. Heaven’s clock. The fullness of time.

Galatians 4:4-5
But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

The Kingdom of God is at hand, the door is open, at this Kairos moment, now is the time, today is the day, do not harden your heart, and miss your Kairos moment of His visitation.

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand repent. 

Repent, mentioned over fifty times in the New Testament.

Repent, that your sins be wiped away. Acts 3:19.

It’s not a suggestion:

God commands all to repent. Acts 17:30.

It demands change in lifestyle:

Bear fruit reflecting repentance. Matt. 3:8. Luke 3:8. Acts 26:20.

Repentance and forgiveness are linked together:

Luke 17:3-4.  Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴ And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”

Romans 2:4. The goodness of God leads to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Luke 24:46-49.  Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ And you are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

And believe in the gospel.

Believe: 244 times in the N.T.

Is a verb that demands corresponding action.

Don’t miss the powerful big little word, “in” that normally follows “believe”.

Believe in... Picture being outside, and then, going inside the Church, you’re fully committed, fully in. Not outside, looking in.

Intellectual assent is not enough. James 2:19. Even the demons believe and tremble.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, ¹² that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

To disbelieve is to disobey.

Acts 16:30-31, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”

There’s a big difference between, “I believe you” and “I believe in you.”

Big difference between:

I believe I ought to pray, read my Bible and go to Church.

I believe in praying, reading my Bible and going to Church.

John 17 Jesus prayed repeatedly, “Father make them one...”

John 17:20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe IN Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are IN Me, and I IN You; that they also may be one IN Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 "I IN them, and You IN Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 

John 14:19-20. “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am IN My Father, and you IN Me, and I IN you.

John 15:7-8. If you abide IN Me, and My words abide IN you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Galatians 2:20. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives IN me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith IN the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Colossians 1:27. Christ IN you the hope of glory.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, please help us to abide in You. Thank You for this Word we’ve just heard. We pray for it to stay in us, to grow, to bear much fruit, so that You are glorified in us. We pray this not for ourselves alone but that other will see You in us, and be drawn to You, so that of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

 Prayer Requests:

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Make a Wall, Ezekiel 22

 

It is a kairos moment, by the hand of Providence, that our journey through Ezekiel finds us in chapter 22. Where the sins of the nation of Judah are exposed, echoing all the way to today, while our Senate exposes what appears to be the national sins of a mass murdering mad scientist.

Only, with God, there is no pleading the fifth.

Charges are made.

Judgement is rendered.

But then, the Judge, pauses, to reveal His heartfelt search for a possible pardon (verse 30).

Finding none.

Justice is served.

HIStory reveals it happened, exactly as He said.

His Word echoes today, declaring, it is happening again.

Only those who are listening will be ready.

Are you listening?

Ezekiel 22:1
 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

Notice, Ezekiel speaks, the word of the Lord, not the word of Ezekiel.

Whoever speaks for the Lord must speak the words of the Lord.

Folks do NOT need to hear the words of man but God.

John 12:21. We would see Jesus.

 ² “Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloody city? Yes, show her all her abominations!

Literally: You son of man, judge, judge, the city of bloodshed to know all her abominations.

Judge Jerusalem, the city of bloodshed, by exposing all her abominations.  

Ephesians 5:11. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

So, with that, the Lord through Ezekiel, exposes all her abominations. We will expose our abominations.

 ³ Then say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “The city sheds blood in her own midst, that her time may come; and she makes idols within herself to defile herself. ⁴ You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and have defiled yourself with the idols which you have made. You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years; 

Abortion.

The city sheds her own blood. They offered their own babies to the demon molech, known today as abortion.

She makes idols within herself to defile herself. She worships self—my body my choice—and thereby defiles herself, to her own demise.

https://abortionclock.com/

We are literally, killing ourselves every 28 seconds.

therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all countries. ⁵ Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and full of tumult.

Debased mind and strong delusion. Rom. 1:28, 2 Thes. 2:11.

The city where the Twin Towers tumbled by Islamic terrorists, is now run by muslim marxist mayor mamdani, who mocks America’s Christ centered Judeo Christian Biblical foundation.  

You rejected God’s guidance and went after your own gods, your own lusts, your own lovers... “therefore I have made you a reproach... a mockery.”

So, God gave you what you wanted. Absence from Him.

His peace that gives soundness of mind, no longer fills you.

His wisdom that blesses everything you set your hand to, no longer speaks to you.

Without His help, you are a stupid fool.

Romans 1:28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.

2 Thessalonians 2:11. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.

⁶ “Look, the princes of Israel: each one has used his power to shed blood in you. 

Murder.

Princes (government elite) use power to get away with murder.

⁷ In you they have made light of father and mother;

Dismantle Family.

Undermine God’s Divine design for marriage and the family structure.

Vilify masculinity.

Discredit Biblical definition of marriage.

Government overreach into parental rights.

Propagate Planned Parenthood, (planned murderhood).

⁷ ...in your midst they have oppressed the stranger; in you they have mistreated the fatherless and the widow.

Trafficking.

Open borders not only crush our economy, corrupt our elections, create skyrocketing crime, it facilitates the vile sin of human trafficking, child sex trafficking, slave labor and sex slaves.

Lord, we pray for expedient justice against the vile animals involved in such wickedness.

 ⁸ You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths. ⁹ In you are men who slander to cause bloodshed; in you are those who eat on the mountains;

Left God’s Word

Abandoned Biblical teaching

Drifted from God’s Word, doing what was right in our own eyes.

Which left US wide open for deception.

June 25, 1962, prayer banned from schools.

June 17, 1963, Bibles banned in schools.

Worshipping on high places, (eating on the mountains), altars, shrines, burnt offerings and feasts to demons.

Adopting pagan religions destructive to our law, our Way, our Constitution. An abomination to our God.

Islam is an abomination to God and the US Constitution and the Judeo Christian Biblical Foundation our nation is built upon.

Don’t believe me? Just look at HIStory. It destroys the freedom of every people it touches.

WARNING: Don’t get tunnel vision. Islam is not the enemy. Evil is the enemy. Islam just happens to be one of many entities willing to carry out the stealing, killing and destroying, evil demands. Evil accepts any useful idiot willing to be enslaved. They are all deceived. The Christian’s job is to pray for them. Stand against the lie. Speak and do, Truth, in love.

9...  in your midst they commit lewdness. ¹⁰ In you men uncover their fathers’ nakedness; in you they violate women who are set apart during their impurity. ¹¹ One commits abomination with his neighbor’s wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; and another in you violates his sister, his father’s daughter.

Sexual perversion.

LBGTQrstuvwxyz+.

 ¹² In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take usury and increase; you have made profit from your neighbors by extortion, and have forgotten Me,” says the Lord God.

Waste, fraud and abuse.

 Transgender Mice: $8 million

$20 million Iraqi Sesame Street, funneled to Gaza.

DEI: Million$ $pent to promote judging on color of skin, not content of character. Reversing Martin Luther’s dream.

Over $59 million for migrants in high-end New York City hotels.

Billions to maintain buildings that no longer exist.

That's just a snapshot. More in links below. 

Diaspora

¹³ “Behold, therefore, I beat My fists at the dishonest profit which you have made, and at the bloodshed which has been in your midst. ¹⁴ Can your heart endure, or can your hands remain strong, in the days when I shall deal with you? I, the Lord, have spoken, and will do it. ¹⁵ I will scatter you among the nations, disperse you throughout the countries, and remove your filthiness completely from you. ¹⁶ You shall defile yourself in the sight of the nations; then you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”

HIStory proves it happened just as written.

Peek into hell

¹⁷ The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ¹⁸ “Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all bronze, tin, iron, and lead, in the midst of a furnace; they have become dross from silver. ¹⁹ Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have all become dross, therefore behold, I will gather you into the midst of JerUSAlem. ²⁰ As men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into the midst of a furnace, to blow fire on it, to melt it; so I will gather you in My anger and in My fury, and I will leave you there and melt you. ²¹ Yes, I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you shall be melted in its midst. ²² As silver is melted in the midst of a furnace, so shall you be melted in its midst; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have poured out My fury on you.’ ”

Dross: worthless scum skimmed off the top of melted metal.

God wants the fiery trials to purify US, as silver and gold, as His royal priesthood, holy nation. 1 Peter 2:9. 

But rejecting Him we become worthless dross.

As Goes The Church

²³ And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ²⁴ “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ ²⁵ The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. ²⁶ Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. ²⁷ Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. ²⁸ Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken. ²⁹ The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger.

Society is downstream of the Church.

The prophets were corrupted by power, the priests turned from the Truth, and it wasn’t long until the princes (government) followed them, as did the people.

Thus, the fall of the nation was resultant of the fall of the Church.

Judgement must begin at the house of God. 1 Peter 4:17.

Therefore, God searches the Churches for someone...

 ³⁰ So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. ³¹ Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God.

The Lord is looking for one, someone, anyone who will make a wall.

Will you?

Somebody willing to stand in the gap, to pray for the nation.

Are you?

Like Abraham interceded for sinful Sodom. Gen. 18:22-33.

Like Moses prayed for wicked Israel. Ex. 32, Ps. 106:23.  

Will you make a wall?

Will you stand in the gap?

Will you stand against evil and say:

“Not on my watch! You will NOT dismantle my family, pervert my children, burn down my city, enslave my nation. With the help of God, I will be the wall. As for me and my house, and all those God has given me, we stand united and strong under the shadow of the Almighty!”

The Lord is searching.

He is asking, “Whom shall I send?”

Will you be like Isaiah and say:

“Here am I! Send me.”

Isaiah 6:8.

Let’s pray.

Dear Lord God Almighty. Here we are. You see those of US willing to stand in the gap, to be the wall, to stand against evil, to speak Truth. With You that is more than enough. We deserve hell, but ask, Lord God, for mercy. Don't let the other nations see that this nation that has written on every piece of money, “In God we trust.” Don't let that fall. Don't let us become a mockery. Please don't let the rest of the world say, "See, God could not deliver them." Lord, please give US another chance. Stir up the fire within us so we don't land in the fire but have this burning fire within us so that we stand up and speak up, bold enough to be the people you've called us to be. Not the dross, but the silver and the gold and the salt and the light, being soul winners and disciple makers. So that this nation will not perish from the earth.

Thank You, our Lord and Savior.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

Prayer Requests:

Call or text: 612-554-2522

Email: pray4measap@aol.com

Facebook: Church at WPV

Books: amazon.com/author/dougspurling

Watch online:

Facebook: Make a Wall, Ezekiel 22

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

MODERN DAY ABOMINATIONS:

"Silence Is Admission" — Josh Hawley Blasts Fauci

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xui-xGSz6cs

https://youtu.be/Xui-xGSz6cs?si=Powhb6OJzKi7JAT2&t=416

Can men get pregnant?

https://youtu.be/rEe5I9QXdOs?si=g12OD_9sJY_a_P58

You were silent because of Samali votes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72Ie2OMSMP0

Nick Shirley Quality Learing Center

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BQaeMbepsaY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiY4ZdwT6NU

Men in women’s locker room

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oS6hZzwx2UE

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/D0QQ6Gwp3_U

Abortion Clock US

https://abortionclock.com/

Winning in the Wilderness, Mark 1:12-13

 

¹² Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 

Immediately, is used over 40 times in Mark, far more than any other book in the New Testament, more than all the other Gospels combined.

Jesus, the Servant King, was on the move, busy about His Father’s business.

Are you?

He’s, our example.

Immediately... after what?

Immediately after being baptized by John.

Jesus being baptized by John made a public statement about who He considered was on the Right side of God.

Jesus did NOT go to one of the politically correct public mikva'ot (ritual baths) in Jerusalem where the long black robed city slicker priests hung out around the temple.

No, Jesus took the dirt road out of town about 20 miles to where a hairy, leather skinned, locust eating, finger pointing, Truth telling, country preacher by the name of John, was baptizing in the Jordan River.

John spoke the raw Truth, called out crooked politicians, fake news scribes, the sins of the people, and even, the waste fraud and abuse of Roman Soldiers. Luke 3:10-14.

His blunt, Truth telling boldness, got him thrown in prison, and his head served on a silver platter. Matthew 14:10-11, Mark 6:27-28.

Jesus said of John: “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11.

John was the culmination of the O.T. prophets, bridging the gap between Old Covenant and New.

John was the Bridegroom’s best man...

Then, after him, it was, here comes the Bride. The Bride of Christ.

So, Jesus was baptized by John and then... ¹² Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 

Pause and picture the scene and we’ll see a powerful message reflected here.

All eyes are on Jesus, standing next to John in the Jordan River, still dripping wet from being baptized by John.

John, popular John. Remember we were told in verse five that all Judea and Jerusalem went out to be baptized by John.

All eyes, lots of eyes, are on Jesus and John.

Previously, John had pointed at Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29). Then, when Jesus asked to be baptized, John said, “I should be baptized by You.” (Matt. 3:14).

So, the crowd was awe struck by this Man that John the Baptist, revered.

It gets even better.

As John lifted Jesus up from under the waters of baptism, the heavens opened and the Spirit descended like a dove and a Voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son in whom I AM well pleased.” (Matt. 3:16-17).

Wow! What a perfect segue for Jesus to say, “Yes, I AM the Son of God, the long awaited Mesiah, the Savior of the world. I have come to set you free from the bondage of sin. If you believe in Me, just say this prayer after Me, and you will be born again, then, come and be baptized.”

But the Spirit had other plans... ¹² Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 

And therein is the message.

If you are a Christian...

Nowadays we need to explain what the word means. If you are a Christian, you love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength (Matt. 22:37-39), you deny yourself take up your cross and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24-26), you set your hand to the plow and don’t look back (Luke 9:62), you want to be used by God, you strive to be His salt, His light, His prayer warrior, soul winner, disciple maker).

If you are a Christian, you must:

1.    Be listening for the Spirit of God above the noise of the world.

2.    Be willing to walk away from the crowd, the spotlight, the popularity, for the solidarity that only comes with investing time alone with the Lord.

Even Jesus, often withdrew to a solitary place to pray. John 5:16.

Even Jesus, only said, and only did, what He heard and what He saw from His Father. John 5:19, 12:49.

Do we?

He’s, our example.

¹² Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 

¹³ And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

Matthew and Luke 4:1-2, tell us He was fasting for forty days and nights in the wilderness.

Sunday, I fasted all day, not on purpose, not for some good, holy, righteous reason, but because I just didn’t have time. Then, I heard from our friend Harrell, that his surgery was going to be on Monday, so I figured I’d just keep on fasting and pray for him, so I did until Monday evening.

That wasn’t even two full days, and by Monday afternoon I was thinking about food every five seconds.

Can you imagine 40 days and 40 nights?

Jesus did it. But why? He wasn’t trying to kick a bad habit or overcome some sin.

Hebrews 5:8 tells us Jesus learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

Times like this is where He gained the endurance to say things like “Not My will but Thine.” Luke 22:42. 

And the strength to stay the course, to the cross, and say, “Father forgive them...” Luke 23:34.

Hebrews 4:15 tells us Jesus can sympathize with us because He was tempted in every way just like us.

He willingly took off Divinity to put on humanity. All of it. Emotions, temptations, weariness, mosquito bites, hot, cold, pain, sleepy, happy, sad, angry, thirsty, hungry...

He had to face it all and win, He could not slip up and sin, not even a little, or His Sacrifice for sin, would be worthless.

Romans 6:23, The wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is Eternal Life, through Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, led by the Spirit, He went to into the wilderness to pick a fight with His flesh, and the devil, and to win—all humanity depended on it.

They say the first three days of fasting are the hardest, after that hunger goes away.

The most I’ve ever fasted was ten days, and it’s true, after about three days, it gets easier. It’s powerful. Spiritual and moral and mental clarity comes when the flesh is not on the throne.

Forty days is the max a person can go, then, the hunger returns, and that’s a warning sign you’re starving to death.

That’s what happened with Jesus. Forty days and nights fasting and praying, then hunger came, and so did the devil.

The tempter said:

“If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

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

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him 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 shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly 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 will fall down and worship me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

Then the devil left Him, (for a season) and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.  Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13.

 

“If You’re the Son of God— eat. Feed Your flesh.

“If You’re the Son of God—jump. Prove it.

If You’re the Son of God—bow. Take a short cut.

Yielding to any one of those temptations, as innocent as they may seem, would’ve disqualified Jesus as the sinless, spotless, blameless, Lamb of God.

You see, even God, especially God, abides by His own Divine Eternal Justice System.

So, the devil’s no dummy and when Jesus was at His weakest, that’s when he showed up. And what were the first words out of his mouth? “If You’re the Son of God...”  

What did Jesus hear loud and clear before He headed into this wilderness?

“This is My beloved Son in whom I AM well pleased.”

That’s the very Words the devil tried to steal.

Jesus told us in the parable of the Sower that the devil comes to steal the Word. Mark 4:15, Luke 8:12.

The devil is a deceiver, a twister, a perverter, of the Word of God. It’s what he did in the beginning. “Has God said, you shall not eat from any tree in the garden...” Genesis 3:1.

It’s what he attacks the most. It’s why he deceived black robed supreme court justices (with God complexes) into ruling Bible reading and prayer in schools unconstitutional.

It’s why he works so hard to keep people from reading and preachers from teaching God’s Word.

Adam and Jesus were both tempted to eat. Adam failed. Jesus won by knowing and using the Word of God as a quick and powerful Sword. Heb. 4:12.

¹³ And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

Jesus with the wild beasts, seems to indicate He was in danger of the very wild creatures He created.

That’s hard to imagine.

But as per His own Words and actions during the temptations, He would not abuse His Power, He would not put the Word of God to a foolish test.

So, if He saw a rattle snake or a lion, He’d avoid it.

Perhaps, Jesus included this peril of wild animals to show empathy and comfort to first century Christians at risk of being fed to wild animals by Nero.

After battling the flesh in a fast and battling the devil through temptations and avoiding getting bitten by snakes and eaten by lions, Jesus was hungry and starting to starve to death, and the angels ministered to Him.

There are angels among us. They are ministering spirits. Heb. 1:14. Don’t ever, ever, pray to them. Don’t try to conjure them or talk to them.

Just know they are near.

Two out of three are good.

Don’t forget to entertain strangers, for in so doing some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2.

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. But after the fasting after the tempting after the battling, He returned in the Power of the Spirit. Luke 4:14.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word, that calls us to be Your beloved child, that leads us into the wilderness, past the perils, over the temptations, and out the other side in Your Power. Now, Lord we pray for an ongoing hunger for Your Word, the ability to understand it, the wisdom to apply it, and be busy about Your business, as soul winners and disciple makers, so that of all those You’ve given us, none are lost.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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