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Matthew 4:1-4
Immediately after Jesus was baptised, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, alighting upon Him and God the Father spoke from heaven, saying ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’ (Matt. 3:16-17).
Until Jesus Christ was anointed with the Holy Spirit, He was referred to as Jesus of Nazareth…
The baptism paved way for the anointing…(Suffer it to be so…)!
Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness…(Matt. 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1).
Likewise, the Spirit can lead you up! But to where exactly will the Spirit lead you?
It’s important for us to note that before He ushers us into the fulfilment of that glorious destiny, He will first lead us up into the wilderness…
What’s the big deal about the wilderness?
Jesus Christ passed through it, likewise, we must pass through it!
He was led into the wilderness by the Spirit and He returned into Galilee, with the fullness of the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:14).
After the wilderness experience, you will come out better and stronger in the name of Jesus Christ!
What happened to Jesus in the wilderness?
He was tempted by the devil…
He was driven up into the wilderness for that purpose!
The truth is that we will also go through trials and temptations, that’s why we need the ministry of the Holy Spirit, to see us through…
A lot of folks don’t come out of their ‘wilderness’…because they don’t follow the leading of the Holy Spirit all through. Such will not be your experience!
How Jesus was tempted
The devil tempted Jesus in three ways after which he left Him until an opportune (appropriate) time (Luke 4:13).
One of the three ways or categories of temptation (which are still the same templates the devil uses today) is:
Forsake the Word for bread!
The devil knew that Jesus was hungry (having fasted for 40 days) and told Jesus to turn stones to bread to prove that He was the Son of God.
Likewise, the devil comes to us (mostly when we have a pressing need) to make bread out of ‘stones’…
However, Jesus replied him with the Word of God! “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'” (Matt. 4:4; Deut. 8:2-3).
Turning stone to bread was not an issue for Jesus, He had the power to do it.
Of what purpose is the conversion of stone to bread? Who will be glorified at the end of this?
Is it to meet our personal needs or heavenly demands?
What is your bread/meat?
‘My meat (or food) is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work’ (John 4:34).
It was not about His personal need or desire for food (hunger), it was about the will and desire of God…
Jesus later fed multitudes with five loaves and seven loaves in another scenario…
Man shall not live by bread alone…
Are you being led by the Spirit? Are you willing to follow the Holy Spirit to wherever He leads you?
Sometimes, the Lord deliberately cuts off the supply of bread, to make the Bread of life available to you…
The Word of God can only become a bread of life to you, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit!
Henceforth, through the outpouring of the Spirit of God, you will live by the Word.
PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
Resident Pastor
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