Guidance in the Desert

Philippians 2:5–11 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus exhibits the

Answers the call into obedience

Time in Reflection

In filling of the Holy Spirit

Commission

The task was hard the testing was just as intense

Depends on the continual relationship with the Father and the infilling of the Holy Spirit

The example Christ lays out for us is one which calls us into right salvation, repentance, obedience, and beckons us to be filled by the Holy Spirit....

Guidance through the time in reflection.

The Transformation

Matthew 3:16–17 ESV

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus was intentional in exemplifying for us what we would go through

In the Baptism there are two things that happen

filled by the Spirit

Heaven’s were opened to Him

Affirmed by God

Hunger in Reflection

Matthew 4:1–2 ESV

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Being filled with the Spirit He spends time in the desert (deep refelctions)

Fasting and Praying

Paul spends 3 days

Moses 40 Years

Jesus 40 days

He was hungry

Temptation in the Hunger

Tempted 3 times

Hunger

Abusing the word of God

Make yourself God

Jesus responds by only using the word of God

Answering the Hunger

Matthew 4:4 ESV

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

filled by the word of God

It is written

Answering the Abuse of the Word

Matthew 4:7 ESV

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

Satan uses the word of God to trap Jesus

being the word knows the word

Answering desire to make yourself God

Matthew 4:10 ESV

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

Be Gone

There is only one God… Jesus walked in His role being God according to the will of God

There is a need to constantly be filled with the Holy Spirit… and to be rooted in the Word of God

Spiritual Warfare is Ongoing

Luke 4:13 ESV

And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

We are not told He was left alone the enemy was looking for an opportunity

Christians cannot say because were saved the satanic and demonic have no influence… they are looking for a door in.

The Weight of Ministry

Jesus is rejected by His own people

He is persecuted by His own

Is led to the slaughter by one of His own

He Fills Himself with a relationship with the Father

Luke 22:41–42 ESV

And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

An angel appears to Him

Continued to Pray even through the agony

Pursue the will of the Father

Philippians 2:9–11 ESV

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Being a vessel for the living God is an incredible honor. This selection the Lord places on us comes at a cost… we learn to Love Christ , we learn to Obey Christ, we learn to be Filled continuously with the Holy Spirit.

We learn the enemy will look for an advantage to destroy the work of Christ in our lives.

We learn that there is a glory that awaits those who serve… God will be exalted and those who serve Him a place of honor.