RETURNING FROM THE WILDERNESS
"Those dry times," as George Mac Donald says.
“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost ... was led by the Spirit into the wilderness ... And Jesus returned [from the wilderness] in the power of the Spirit.”~ Lk. 4:1
Those familiar with the whole canon of Scripture are aware of the fact that among the godly it is a common thing to have wilderness experiences. Both Old and New Testaments prove this to be: Joseph, Moses, David, Elijah, John the Baptist, Paul, and John the Beloved could and would, I think, say amen to this truth
Many, untaught in the Word, believe it is because of God's displeasure that a child of God finds himself or herself in these barren and parched situations. But this is not so when it has to do with the surrendered saint. On the contrary, just a short time before Jesus was led of the Spirit into the wilderness a voice from heaven came saying, " Thou art my Beloved son; in thee I am well pleased."
Our Lord entered this dry and seemingly fruitless time filled with the Spirit, and He returned the way He went in. This testing time was not to see if Christ would turn on God, but to show the devil and the world He would not be a turncoat. The lesson we take away from this account is the importance of being Spirit filled at all times, not just for special occasions.
I heard a well-known preacher years ago give this personal illustration. He had just finished preaching and was getting into his car. A young man came from behind him to ask a question: "Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?" To which the preacher replied, "You heard me preach."
The inquisitor answered, "I don't mean when you were preaching, I MEAN ARE YOU FILLED NOW?" Can we answer in the affirmative, my friend? I mean right now, at this exact time. WELL? What is our answer?
An old Disciple
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Praise God for clear, helpful insight. The circles I grew up in, the leading and filling of the Spirit was more mystical than biblical. Feelings and emotions drove truth rather than reading, thinking through the text letting God speak by listening to his Son.