Monday, November 28, 2005

Mark - Tested in the Wilderness

Testing in the Wilderness

Mark 1:12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

The Spirit driveth, to lead one forth or away somewhere with a force which he cannot resist, into the wilderness. From a time of the presence of the fullness of the Godhead, the Triune God, he immediately is sent out to be alone in the desert, for prayer and fasting. In our own life a Spiritual high time is often followed by the Spirit removing us to a quiet place. The reason is that satan comes to stop our Spiritual progress. Be aware of this, and be sensitive to the direction of the Holy Spirit. One thing that often occurs, is we may think we have arrived in heaven, Spiritually we are with Jesus, basking in His presence, but don't forget that an enemy will try to stop us, with words from another or thoughts in our mind. We must get in even closer and most importantly study God's Bible. His word will renew our minds. We will know the voice of God and the voice of the enemy.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Jesus was never a sinner, but we were sinners. Satan continually wants to remind us of our past.

1 Pet 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1 Pet 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1 Pet 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Mark 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

He was tempted by satan, and he resisted by quoting the scriptures, the written word of God. In Luke's gospel we read that he was tempted in the flesh, to make bread to eat. (Luke 4:2-4) He was tempted to receive power and dominion by worshipping satan and he was tempted to kill himself, testing God. (Luke 4:5-13) No, we do not do suicide, or seek things from satan, for he wishes to steal kill and to destroy us. (John 10:10) Jesus successfully resisted the devil by quoting scriptures, and the devil departed from him.

God sent angels to minister to him. When we are in need, we are never forgotten by our Father who loves us. We must have faith, quoting scriptures and staying close to God in prayer. Jesus is our teacher, in all things, we follow his example

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