Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was LED BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS.
The word led in the gr. means properly to lead or drive as in mark 1:12 where is says "driveth him into the wilderness. Christ is our example to follow, to many are following after man or flesh. They try to copy others people's ministry, to preach like them, even wear there hair like them. Christ has never lied or disappointed anyone, never changed his word, in facts each day he is just the same. Everyone is talking about a new level in God, with lips they talk about going deeper into the things of God. They are fine as long as everything goes well and they are being blessed of the Master. As soon as a storm hits-THEY GO ALL TO PIECES! Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness into Judean wastelands, where there was no one, just a barren place if you will. Webster's says a desert, not the best place in the world to be. You might say preacher I thought that God and his Spirit led to great blessings, bigger and finer things in life. Not to a dry and lonely place, a place of TESTING and of TRIALS. A place where we are put under great pressures. Don't forget pressure and time is what causes a piece of invaluable coal to become a priceless stone. Jesus went into the wilderness for a season, the good news to know is we will not always be in this place, but just for a season if need be. So if you are there God is doing something great in your life. He is making you into a vessel of honor that can be used for him. In the case of Christ here he was preparing him for a public ministry. God is getting you ready for something, that only comes from being proven and tried. A word to encourage you it may feel like he has left you, but he is there with you watching over you and seeing that it does not become too much. See God has more faith in us than we have in our self, he knows we are coming out in a greater place. God likes to demonstrate to us, the devil and the world that we can overcome in HIS STRENGTH! It's not always easy to get from one point to another. Many years ago God gave me an open vision and in the vision I was standing in what looked like the Great Smoky Mountains. We live not to far from there and have vacationed there before. What seem like some time could have only been a few seconds. I was standing on top of this mountain and the Lord spoke this to me " do you know how to get to the next mountain" and I said "no Lord". He reply " you must go through the valley". Then I was back to myself and God being so good that he was letting me know I was being led into the wilderness. A great season of testing and proving was just ahead of me. Also God was preparing me for the ministry that He was calling me into. So many today use the term "I DON'T FEEL LED" for an excuse for just not wanting to do something. Anything hard or out of there comfort zone. They think if they use that term they are free from whatever. The preacher has to understand because they DON'T FEEL LED. Why is it that people don't have to be led to shop, go on vacation or things they want to do? The truth is that the Spirit does not have to led us to WHERE WE WANT TO GO for our pleasure, we just go, no questions asked. He leads us to where his will is for us and his purpose for us or to benefit someone else. It's not all about us, we forget it's suppose to be ALL ABOUT HIM and his purpose. Amen! After the test comes the POWER read verse 14)And Jesus returned in the POWER OF THE SPIRIT... I have been in the wilderness many times more than I care to count in the past 30 some years. I can say that God has been faithful each and every time. It's because of those wilderness and deserts that I have the ministry that I have been in trusted with today. There has been some tears along the way, but the joy far out weights the tears. I leave with the old song " I wouldn't take nothing for my journey now- got to make it to heaven some how" God bless you Bro Joey
SPECIAL NOTE TO FRIENDS OF THIS MINISTRY: Please remember us in prayer as we are planning to go back to Guyana in Sept and are gathering things to ship in Aug for Christmas this year. The cost is great, but God always makes the way. We will be shipping to three villages and one mission this year. Thank you for all that help and pray for us, there is a reward for all we do for the kingdom of our dear Lord.
