The Wilderness Experience Matthew 4:1-4

The Wilderness Experience Matthew 4:1-4 INTRO: My Elk Encounter. We often think of the wilderness as adventurous, fun, frightening. Regardless to our perception, very few would volunteer to live in the wilderness for any length of time. In today’s passage Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Odd? – lead us not into temptation but DELIVER us... This is not something I expect the Holy Spirit to do. It is not something I expect for God to allow. Winter Storm is our present Wilderness Experience. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL PRAY WITH YOU WHEN YOU FEEL ALONE IN THE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE. Alone = no one is present. When we feel alone, we start to believe no-one has time for us; is concerned about us; God doesn’t care. Beams of Heaven as I go through this wilderness below... When you’re ALONE the devil will tempt your mind. “If you are...Romans 8:16 - The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. But Thank God for the Holy Spirit. He will pray WITH YOU.

THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL PRAY THROUGH YOU AS YOU SUFFER IN THE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE. Suffering = the state of constant pain, hardship, agony. In times of suffering, INJUSTICE; RACISM; we don’t know WHAT to pray. We don’t want to just beg God. NOT TRUTHFUL about suffering. Eph 6:18 - And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests...and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. As you pray for others, God will bless you. We have to know it’s NOT US, but the Holy Spirit THROUGH us. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL PRAY FOR YOU WHEN YOU FEEL HELPLESS IN THE WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE. Helpless = unable to act without assistance Romans 8:26 - the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Pandemic; Water Shortage; No electricity; No Food in the store; No transportation to work; No school; No church.

CLOSE: What is your landscape right now? Whatever your landscape, you are a member of God’s family. Psalm 103:13-14 - As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him; 14 for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust. God knows that we are dust. We can’t handle the Wilderness. SO, He sent the Holy Spirit to help us communicate with Him in the Wilderness Experience. The Precious Gift of the Holy Spirit pray WITH; THROUGH; FOR US. As a member of God’s family, you’ve got to know you have already been prayed for. John17:15 - My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.