Led By the Spirit – Part 2

The Path of the Disciple

The Living Message, demonstrated by the Son of God, will prepare you to do the Works of God, and yes, even greater works, which He said we must do.

Let’s begin.

Matthew 4:1 says “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Remember, if you desire to follow Jesus, you will encounter and suffer these prophetic words found in Matthew Chapter 3. Endure to the end and you will be ministered to by Angels and you will see the Glory of the Lord in the land of the living. You will be one of His Disciples.

Following Jesus is not just about attending church and saying you believe in Him. Following Him means you go where He goes, and you will do what He does.

Some say they will follow Him, but they cannot or will not:

John 6:53-66, So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.

“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.

“For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.

“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

“As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.

“This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”

“These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

“Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?”

“But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble?

“What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before?

63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

“But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.

“And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.

“As a result of this, many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.”

Count this cost because Jesus not only calls, but He actually MAKES Disciples. Consider this carefully so when the testing begins, you will not lose heart and turn back.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit”... WHEN was Jesus led up by the Spirit?

(Immediately after His baptism. Don’t be surprised or taken unaware that this testing begins so quickly. So will it be with you.)

…led up by the Spirit. WHO led Jesus?

(The very Spirit of God. This is the Spirit of God, present at creation. The Spirit of God who comforts, guides, leads, empowers, convicts of sin, prays on your behalf with Words and Groanings, too deep for our understanding. Jesus is showing us, by His example, the path we must walk to become His Disciple.)

This is one of the most powerful events in the life of a Believer and Follower of Jesus. It is not imaginary. This is deadly serious and gloriously real.

…into the wilderness (Judean desert ). WHERE was Jesus led?

(The Judean wilderness was and is a dangerous, barren, dry, life-threatening environment. There were scarce resources of food and water, or no resources at all. The temperatures were extreme. Any wildlife that could survive in these areas were predatory. This is where the Spirit led Jesus, and likewise, where He will lead the willing Disciple.)

This is an apt description of what you endure in your preparation to follow Jesus and become His Disciple. Be warned)

…to be tempted by the devil. Tempted by WHOM?

(The Devil, and he is real. He is “the ruler of this world,” a spirit creature who became wicked and rebelled against God. (John 14:30; Ephesians 6:11, 12) The Bible reveals the Devil’s personality through these names and descriptions:

· Satan, which means “Resister.”—Job 1:6.

· Devil, which means “Slanderer.”—Revelation 12:9.

· Serpent, which is used in the Bible to mean “Deceiver.”—2 Corinthians 11:3.

· Tempter.—Matthew 4:3.

· Liar.—John 8:44.

Some view Satan the Devil as just a principle or quality of evil that exists inside us. The devil is not a principle or quality of evil. The Bible records a conversation between God and Satan and remember, God is perfect, so he could not have been talking to an evil part of himself.

The devil is real, and you will be tested by this evil one, at some time. Be prepared.

Matthew 4:2 “And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.” And after He had fasted… WHEN?

(After He had fasted. Not before, not during. After He had fasted He became “hungry”. The importance of this one verse take will take prayer, study to gain a proper understanding.)

(Fasted. Abstaining from food and nourishment. We have to put this fasting into the context of these verses. Jesus was led into the wilderness where He had no food, no water, no companionship, no resources, no help. He was isolated and alone, except for the Spirit of God. His physical Self was at great risk.

This fast began with no food, but continued with the lack of any sustenance for His physical, mental, or emotional well-being. This fast intensified as it affected every aspect of Jesus, yet Jesus obeyed and followed the Spirit. )

And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights… HOW long?

(The significance of the “forty days and forty nights” cannot be ignored.

• Before his temptation, Jesus fasted “forty days and forty nights” in the Judean desert. (Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2)
• Forty days was the period from the resurrection of Jesus to the ascension of Jesus. (Acts 1:3)
• Biblical verse Numbers 14:33-34 alludes to the same with ties to the prophecy in The Book of Daniel. “For forty years–one year for each of the forty days you explored the land–you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.'”
• In modern Christian practice, Lent consists of the 40 days preceding Easter. In much of Western Christianity, Sundays are excluded from the count; in Eastern Christianity, Sundays are included.
• Rain fell for “forty days and forty nights” during the Flood. (Genesis 7:4)

The number forty symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation. In fact, the word “tempted” in this verse “to be tempted by the devil” means to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself. So it will be for you and me.

Remember, this is Jesus going before us, enduring the Trial, and showing us the way which we must go, also. But, He assures us that we, too, can endure, because He has gone before us.

Likewise, as a true Believer and Follower of Jesus there comes a time when we will find ourselves seemingly without help, without hope, without resources, at risk, isolated, with circumstance intensifying. Now the Great Work of God is beginning in our life. Endure this to the end, following the example of Jesus carefully.)

Matthew 4:2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Please proceed to part 3)

(Back to Part 1)

 

LED BY THE SPIRIT – Part 1

The Path of the Disciple

Before we study and meditate on the Word of God, it is important to pray and be reminded about the magnificence, the power and the Truth of The Word of God.

Remember, there is nothing apart from God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”

God’s Word is God Breathed: As surely as God breathed The Breath of life into created man, God still breathes His Word into the heart and mind of man, today. This can only be taken by faith. He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He rewards those who seek Him. We are to breathe this Breathe of God.

God’s Word is perfect: God’s Word is infallible, It is inerrant, It is immutable, It is eternal. God’s Word never fails to do what it says It will do. Seek Him and you will find Him. God’s Word is without error, and you can and must depend on It, if you will.

You cannot change it, you cannot deny it, you cannot hide from it, even if you try. It accomplished everything God Intends. The Truth of God’s Word is everlasting.

God’s Word is prophetic: It tells the Truth – to you – and when you hide His Word in your heart, it will tell the Truth through you. Imagine, if you can, the Majestic Word of God, being alive and speaking through your mortal body.

God’s Word is powerful: To the creating of worlds; To the pulling down of strongholds; Piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

The book of Matthew contains secrets of the Oracles of God. The entire book is vital to our understanding and our application of the Purposes and Methods of God. The Word will make us, fashion and shape us, into the image and likeness of Christ Jesus.

This is not hyperbole or metaphor. This is not a doctrine or a philosophy. This is the Living Truth of the Word of God, demonstrated on the stage of human history by none other than the Son of God, God Himself: Jesus Christ.

Words of the Bible, are not just stories about Jesus or other people. Nor is it just words used to communicate ideas. These Words are alive.

As one quote says,”Even those who say they love the Bible are likely to make the mistake of looking upon the Bible as merely a book. They may agree that it is the greatest book ever written, but still a book; the truth is the Bible is really a spiritual vortex, from which spiritual power, the Breath of God, pours into the heart, mind and soul of any willing Believer.”

The Bible is The Only source of Eternal Truth. Any other book making such a claim is either an illegitimate copy or a fraud. Most likely, both.

Among the Gospel books of the Bible, Matthew is the Pathway of Discipleship. It is the “narrow gate” and few there are who find it.

It is a difficult and a dangerous path, yet its reward is the transformation of your life. Now and forever to be reigning with Him. Perhaps you are now seated, reading this, where ever you might be at this moment. If you believe and follow in His steps, you will find yourself suddenly “raised up with Him, and seated with Him in the heavenly places”. (Ephesians 2)

This is the model and the pattern you must encounter. This is the instruction you must endure. This is the test you must complete in order to truly be His Disciple.

This Living Message, demonstrated by the Son of God, will prepare you to do the Works of God, and yes, even greater works, which He said we must do.

Let’s begin.

Matthew 4:1 says, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

(Please proceed to part 2)

 

‘“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.”

God told Joshua to, “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)  But, if this promise was only for Joshua, why tell all people throughout the ages?  God has told Joshua about His very nature, and this promise – this Guarantee – is for all people who love God, who will obey Him and follow Him.

This “Guarantee” is for you and for me!

What is life casting upon you?  What are life’s circumstances demanding of you?  Stop and think on this.  God is with us wherever we go.  

And, God is not just “along for the ride”.  His Presence erases all fears.  He is, in reality, a mighty fortress for us.  We can enter into Him and be safe.

Knowing the Key to this “Secret” will enable us to see Him with Spiritual eyes and to know He is here.  He is literally with us to deliver us from life’s snares and traps, from terror and dangers, from pestilence and destruction, from the wicked and to keep you safe from plagues.  

Would that be enough?  God has more for us.  Because of His Presence, the troubles of the enemy will fall harmlessly aside as you will watch on.  God is keeping you safe and troubles cannot touch you – if you know “The Secret”.

And He has even more for us.  God is holding you up and making you steady.  He is giving you His ability to trample down any attack of the enemy.  

You may think, “That would be great, but, how can I know this.  How can I have this in my life?”  The reality of this Truth lies hidden within “His Secret Place”.  God says you must “dwell in the Shelter of God and in the Shadow of the Almighty” to know this for your life.

We know that faith comes from hearing the Word of God.  You will enter into “His Secret Place” by saying to the Lord, “You are My Refuge and my Fortress, My God, in Whom I trust”.

I will meditate on this.  Let’s Pray this.  Enter in, and He will cover you with His mighty Wings of refuge!

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

“THE GUARANTEE”

Psalms 91:1  “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
            Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
            My God, in whom I trust!”

      3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
            And from the deadly pestilence.

      4 He will cover you with His pinions,
            And under His wings you may seek refuge;
            His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

      5 You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
            Or of the arrow that flies by day;

      6 Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
            Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

      7 A thousand may fall at your side
            And ten thousand at your right hand,
            But it shall not approach you.

      8 You will only look on with your eyes
            And see the recompense of the wicked.

      9 For you have made the LORD, my refuge,
            Even the Most High, your dwelling place.

      10 No evil will befall you,
            Nor will any plague come near your tent.

      11For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
            To guard you in all your ways.

      12 They will bear you up in their hands,
            That you do not strike your foot against a stone.

      13 You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
            The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

      14 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
            I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

      15 “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
            I will be with him in trouble;
            I will rescue him and honor him.

      16 “With a long life I will satisfy him
            And let him see My salvation.”