Changi Chapel

Will we embrace a wilderness experience?
We read in Luke 4:1, that Jesus “was led of the Spirit into the wilderness”. Why the wilderness? Because it there we are often tested, shaped and spiritual formation takes place.

The wilderness is a place where the usual comforts of life are not available. It is dry, difficult and often uninhabitable. And it is here God often gets our attention and does His deep work in us.

We see in the life of Moses how it was those 40 years in the wilderness that prepared him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. The Torah was given in the wilderness at Mount Sinai – and not in the promised land!

Before David was anointed King over all Israel, he was living in the wilderness because of Saul who sought his life. Joseph had his wilderness experience in the dungeon before God made him second to Pharaoh.

Will be embrace or refuse God’s dealing in our lives, when He takes us into the wilderness?

Have we experienced the power of fasting and prayer?

We see in Luke 4:2, Jesus shows us the power of fasting and praying. Spiritual battles are best fought when we fast and pray.

In Mark 9:29, Jesus said, that certain spiritual victories are won only through fasting and praying. Denying ourselves of food for a certain period, facilitates a spiritual sensitivity that other times may not be possible.

Moses in Exodus 34:8 continued in the presence of God on Mount Sinai, without food AND WATER for 40 days, which is impossible for a normal human being. Yet he was physically nourished being in God’s very presence.

Are we willing to give up our creature comforts and fast and pray for spiritual breakthroughs?

How often do we use the Sword of the Spirit?

In Acts 4:3, we see how Satan tempts Jesus to turn the stones into bread because of His hunger. But Jesus refused to be tempted and responded using the Scripture.

Denying oneself is the bedrock of Christian discipleship. Often the devil will want us to take the easy way out by appealing to our desire for instant gratification.

Jesus did not argue or have an intellectual debate with Satan. He simply used God’s Word. Paul tells us in Eph 6:17 “And take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”.

Are we willing to use God’s Word to attack the devil or will we simply argue with him? Eve argued with the devil and lost the argument!

Do you think we will do better?

John B Samuel