"Will You Trust God Even when it Looks Impossible"?

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."

4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"

5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ' He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, ' In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" 7 Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'"

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."

10 Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Jesus was lead by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Is it possible you are in a wilderness place because the Holy Spirit led you there? What is the purpose for the wilderness? Does God lead us this way for reason?

The wilderness is a hard and difficult place. It is in the wilderness that you will have to become totally dependent upon God. Repeat after me, "man is not my source, all things come from God". That is not to say that God can't use someone to fulfill your need. Let God decide who to help you. You pray and believe.

Jesus had gone without food for 40 days and 40 nights. If you were to go without food for 40 days and 40 nights then you would be in a desperate place. When you are at your weakest than God can show himself the strongest. If you can't physically fill the need yourself, then God is going to have to find a way to get it to you.

There were three ways that Satan tried to tempt Jesus. He was asked over and over again to prove that he was who he was "If you are God's son". Then if you are who you say you are then perform this miracle. How did he answer the devil? He answered the devil back by quoting the word of God. 4But He replied, it has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

The devil came at him again. The devil makes more than one attempt to lead you astray. He basically says; prove yourself again, by putting yourself in harm's way. He actually takes that scripture out of context. Once again Jesus quoted back the word of God to him. "Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written also, You shall not tempt, test thoroughly, or try exceedingly the Lord your God. OK, now we have a competition going on here. Can you guess who is going to win?

OK, so the devil figures what else can I tempt him with? Then the devil realizes that he has the worldly desires that he can offer him. Here he comes round three. However, this time if Jesus accepts his offer he is asking for more than he has ever asked for before. It is in our most desperate hour that the devil will show up with an answer, but it will cost us greatly if we bow our knee to him. The devil wants to be worshiped and served. He wants what Jesus has. Jesus was feed up with the devil and his tactics. So he said "Begone, Satan! For it has been written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve.

Here are the three areas that you will be tested in while in the wilderness:

1. Basic needs (food, clothes, water, and shelter). What does the bible say about our basic needs? Matt 6:31-34 "Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?' or "What shall we drink?' or "what shall we wear?' 32For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. It is verse 33 that will tell us what to do first, and then all these other things will be taken care of.

2. Sin: Being asked to do something that is morally unethical, by taking an unnecessary risk. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Matt 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

3. Worldly/Carnal Desires: A need may be meant but there will be strings attached or an ulterior motive behind it. Matt 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matt 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

How can you avoid these traps that the enemy will set for you?

• Know the word of God and Study the word of God. Quote the word of God to yourself out loud. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17). What you say out loud, your spirit will receive and will rise up inside of you when there is an attack on your faith.
• Don't make any snap decisions. Pray and wait until you have peace. Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
• Don't be lead astray by your worldly or carnal desires. It will cost you greatly in the end. Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Our time in the wilderness can be difficult. We will have to pass some tests and our attitudes will have to be aligned with God's word. It is important to remember that while in the wilderness you are not being punished, you are being tested. It is in the hard times and desperate places that our character will be developed. We will learn to totally trust God. Decide that you won't let the devil defeat you or lead you astray. Trust God and he will bring you out and what he promised you will be yours.