Spirit-Filled LifeSample

After being filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit. The wilderness period lasted forty days. It was a time of temptation. 

It seemed like the Holy Spirit left Jesus in the wilderness. There was no reference to the Holy Spirit being in the wilderness with Jesus. We don’t see the dove, fire, wind, or oil. It’s almost like the Holy Spirit led Him somewhere and then abandoned Him. That’s what wilderness feels like.

In the wilderness, we tend to feel like we missed God; He left us. Again, it’s not true—but it feels like that at times. Being led by the Holy Spirit, hearing His voice, and being filled with Him cultivates our sensitivity to the spiritual realm. While that is great, it also has a negative side. It could make us very emotional and too sensitive to our feelings. The righteous live by their faith, not by sight. Israel also had a wilderness season after their spiritual encounters in Egypt. In contrast to Jesus’ wilderness, the people of Israel spent forty years there. It wasn’t God’s goal for them to spend so much time in the dry place. The difference between Jesus and the children of Israel was their reaction in the wilderness: 

- Jesus quoted the Scriptures; Israel quoted their feelings. 


- Jesus confessed God’s word; Israel complained. 
 

- Jesus trusted what God said about Him; Israel doubted God’s presence with them.

Our reaction in the spiritual dryness determines if that time will shrink or be extended. If the Holy Spirit led you to this wilderness, trust the Holy Scriptures to get you through it. In the wilderness, the Holy Spirit hides in the Holy Scriptures. That’s why Jesus said, “man shall not live by bread alone.” Bread represents what you see, what you feel—your senses. Don’t make this difficult time longer by giving in to your feelings instead of feeding yourself with God’s truth. The Holy Spirit hides in the Holy Scriptures during the wilderness times. 

Let’s pray:

Holy Spirit, help me live by faith and not by sight, regardless of the circumstances I may be facing. Help me.