What Are You Hungry For?

Matthew 4:1–11 (NLT)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Matthew 4:1 (NLT)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.

Luke 4:1 (NLT)

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,

How can we walk in the oracles and commandments of God if we are not “Led by His Spirit”?

To be Led by the Spirit we must be (recommendation) filled by the Holy Spirit. Lets look at Matthew 3:16

Matthew 3:16 (NLT)

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him.

After Jesus was filled with the Spirit, He was then Led by the Spirit. Are we trying to do things and place things in motion with the Spirit of God leading us?

Matthew 4:1 (NLT)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.

What is a “Wilderness”?

The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament ( érēmos) Desolate, deserted, lonely. Used as a noun and translated “wilderness” Also with the meanings desert, desolate, waste.

Jesus was led by the Spirit to a place that were life was rare and non-sustainable. A place that would be lonely. a place where He was separated from what was common to man. A place where the Spirit led but the devil tested. As we search through scripture to find out what things are tested, we can make a pit stop at something that Peter had said. 1 Peter 1: 6-7

1 Peter 1:6–7 (NLT)

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.

These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.

So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

We know that Jesus lived a sinless life but we must acknowledge that Jesus was 100% God and 100% Human. The Human characteristics of Jesus had to be refined just like ours must be. This wilderness that Jesus faced was the most perfect example of how we must go through the wilderness or refinement. Lets look at how Jesus handle the testing of the Devil. Matthew 4:3-4

Matthew 4:3–4 (NLT)

During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Jesus first testing was the “Lust of the flesh” Jesus was in the fasting process and as we all are aware of what its like to be fasting as we have spent the last 7 days interacting with our church family with one mind. Jesus proclamation of the spoken word of God placed His desires with what He was Led in the wilderness to do. It is the spoken word of God that feast upon and not the ways of our flesh. Our flesh will cause us to be deceived and to believe a lie. Just as Jesus was led by the Spirit to fast and to overcome this testing of His flesh.

Next we will see in verse 5 to 7 the next part of His refining

Matthew 4:5–7 (NLT)

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

We can notice in verse 6 that Satan was quoting scripture. Psalms 91:11-12

Psalm 91:11–12 (NLT)

For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.

But as we have studied in the past and we know that the Holy Spirit will never contradict the written word of God. Jesus said that it is also written that You must not test the Lord your God. I see 2 exerts here.

Jesus was again being tested in the area of “the Lust of the eye”. How majestic was it to see the entirety of all the temple. The place where we would bring the sacrifice of Praise, the Outer courts, the inner court, the Holy Place. Jesus could not allow His flesh to be taken captive by what His eyes beheld. His faith again was put to the test. Jesus told a parable in the book of Luke 16:30-31

Luke 16:30–31 (NLT)

“The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

Faith and Obedience to the Leading of the Spirit is not what you see but what you have been told. We can see the simplicity in 1 Kings with Elijah at the cliff of the mountain. God was found in the whisper and not the manifestations. The church as camped at the manifestations of God and has failed to follow the continual instruction He gives.

Just like the children of Israel. What did Moses say to Pharaoh 7 times? Let my people go that they may worship me in the wilderness. God didn't release them to send them to the promise. He released them that they my have fellowship with their maker. Why would He let Moses take them to the promise without introducing them to the Promiser? He would have done this then they would had make the promise a place of idolatry.

It is so much more important to listen to the voice of God rather than to seek the manifestations. Faith is what we believe, not what we see.

2. Jesus quote of the Scripture in verse 7 is found in Deuteronomy 6:16

Deuteronomy 6:16 (NLT)

You must not test the Lord your God.....

To test is to try, prove, or evidence.

But there is an exert that really stands out at the latter part of verse 7. Matthew 4:7

Matthew 4:7 (NLT)

.........‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

Jesus was reminding the Devil that God was and will always be Lord. Just as scripture has said that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

The final temptation or testing the Jesus had to face is in Matthew 4:8-10

Matthew 4:8–10 (NLT)

Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”

Jesus faced the testing of the “Pride of Life”. The Pride of Life is to think of yourself as superior. One that is better than above all. And that is exactly what Satan was offering Jesus. A throne that was never Satans to give. A place of Lordship through Pride. Jesus was swift to respond with

His authority aver Satan. “Get out of here Satan”

And a reminder of who and what we are to worship. a Worship of God the Father and all of Majesty.

Again, Jesus reminds Satan that “You must worship the Lord your God......”

As we can take a short journey to the book of Genesis.

Genesis 3:1–7 (NLT)

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ” “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

Here we see that Jesus did what Adam and Eve failed to do. They allowed the deceiver to beguiled them to believe something that was almost true but yet lack discernment.

What Are You Hungry For? Jesus clearly sated that whoever shall thirst and hunger for righteousness shall be filled. He didn’t say that everyone that sits at the table would be filled. We must come thirsty and hungry for so much more than what the world has to offer. We close with this Scripture

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (NLT)

Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.