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you ever noticed that the greatest time of testing occurs when we are discouraged or disappointed? Or, as in
the case of one three year old, the temptation came quickly because it was there. What was there? It was a
jar of cookies. The three year old explained when she was caught eating the cookies, “I just climbed
up to smell them, and my tooth got caught.” For most adults the temptation is more involved. A difficult
situation comes into our life; we get our eyes off of Jesus, and then trouble is really on the way. We can
often handle one discouragement okay; but when two or three come, then trouble really comes. Or, if the
negative situation lasts for a lengthy time, it discourages us, and often sin follows. Men and women often
turn to food, money, or sex in an attempt to overcome their discouragement and disappointment. Negative situations
can set us up for temptation. The Preparation. Jesus found Himself in a similar situation after His baptism.
The gospel of Mark tells us that immediately after Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit moved Jesus into the
Judean wilderness - a lonely place.
Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. (NASB) Mark 1:12 Matthew and Luke reveal that the Holy Spirit did this to prepare Jesus for testing by the Devil.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (NASB) Matt. 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness . . . (NASB) Luke 4:1 So Jesus found Himself in the wilderness being led around by the Holy Spirit. We do not know why He was
moving around, but it is clear that He was expending energy. The gospels of Matthew and Luke add that Jesus
was in the wilderness for forty days.
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| Life & Heart of Jesus | ||||||
