Jesus is Lord Church Gapan City

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit to the wilderness to be tempted by the devil

Matthew 4:1-11 the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness

What is a Wilderness?

3 stages in Israel’s journey1. Egypt – imprisonment, slavery,

oppression2. Wilderness – challenges, consecration,

preparation, provision, freedom.3. Promised land – prosperity, answered

prayer, peace, spirit-filled life, success

Wilderness• Surviving day by day• Waiting for answered prayer• Waiting for Healings• Persecution• Problems • Mediocre life• Ineffective ministry

Why do we experience the Wilderness

• Deuteronomy 8:2 remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to HUMBLE you and to TEST you in order to KNOW WHAT’s IN YOUR HEART whether or not you would keep His commandments

Surviving the Wilderness and preparing for the Promised Land• Jesus was in the wilderness for 40

days• The stubborn Israelites spent 40

years!!!

Temptation #1 Provision

• Mat 4:3 – If you are really the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.

Jesus’ Reaction:

V4 Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of GOD

The Word is the secret weapon!!!

Temptation #2 Testing God• Mat 4:6 – If you are really the Son of God, throw yourself down . For it is

written: He will command His angels concerning you and they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Jesus’ Reaction:

V7 Do not put the Lord your God to the TEST

Temptation #3 The GOD we Worship

• Mat 4:9 – all this I will give you. If you bow down and worship me (satan)

Jesus’ Reaction:

V 10b Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.

1 Cor 10:13 no temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The wilderness can make us strong. Don’t die there and move to your promised land.

Joshua and Caleb are the only two original Israelites who made it to the promised land and faced battles victoriously.

Mat 4:11 The devil left HIM(Jesus) and angels attended Him.

After this experience Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and had a very effective ministry.

God wants you to live in the promised landJohn 10:10b I have come that they may have

life, and have it to the full.