Tuesday, January 1, 2013

The Wilderness Test


“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.”

Matthew 4:1
 
 
Have you experienced the wilderness test?
It is a test that God brings into your life to teach you that your resources cannot sustain you.
If you are to be used by God in great things, you must settle the fact that He is your source and you are not.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
The temptations the devil brought to Jesus were meant to test who Jesus chose as his source.
Who would He choose when the devil offered Him bread?
He had fasted for forty days and was hungry.
Would he partner with the devil and satisfy His physical hunger?
He partnered with His heavenly Father declaring:
“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Who would He choose when the devil tempted Him to throw himself off the highest point of the temple?
He would not foolishly cast himself down but declared:
“…do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Finally, he was offered all the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship the devil.
Again, He partnered with God and declared:
“Away from me Satan! For it is written: ‘worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”
Three times Jesus faced the wilderness test.
Whose resources would He choose to sustain Him?
Three times He chose to partner with His heavenly Father.
If you have not yet faced the wilderness test; you will.
When you do – choose to partner with God.
You must learn that God’s resources are needed to do God’s work.
Your resources can’t sustain heaven’s agenda on earth!

Have you experienced the wilderness test?
It is a test that God brings into your life to teach you that your resources cannot sustain you.
If you are to be used by God in great things, you must settle the fact that He is your source and you are not.
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
The temptations the devil brought to Jesus were meant to test who Jesus chose as his source.
Who would He choose when the devil offered Him bread?
He had fasted for forty days and was hungry.
Would he partner with the devil and satisfy His physical hunger?
He partnered with His heavenly Father declaring:
“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Who would He choose when the devil tempted Him to throw himself off the highest point of the temple?
He would not foolishly cast himself down but declared:
“…do not put the Lord your God to the test.”
Finally, he was offered all the kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship the devil.
Again, He partnered with God and declared:
“Away from me Satan! For it is written: ‘worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”
Three times Jesus faced the wilderness test.
Whose resources would He choose to sustain Him?
Three times He chose to partner with His heavenly Father.
If you have not yet faced the wilderness test; you will.
When you do – choose to partner with God.
You must learn that God’s resources are needed to do God’s work.
Your resources can’t sustain heaven’s agenda on earth!


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