Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Matt 4:1.
Is anything wrong with the above text? Can the Spirit lead an individual into the wilderness? What could be the purpose of this type of experience? Why was he not led into some place different other than the wilderness? Is the wilderness experience necessary in today's materialistic and technologically advanced generation? What is unique about the wilderness?
Remember John the Baptist, he was a voice crying in the wilderness? The wilderness made him a voice and gave him a voice that attracted people from regions beyond.
"Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Matt 3:5-6.
Jesus Came out of the wilderness in the power of the spirit and returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. Lk 4:14.
The ministry of Christ is still inspiring people after 2000 years, likewise the ministry of John the Baptist. They had differences in their ministerial dynamics, but had something in common; they both had a wilderness experience.
Who in today's world or even in history care about Nicodemus? Who is researching anything about the messages or epistles of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Nobody! Why? What is born from the head reaches heads, but what is born from the heart, reaches hearts. "What is born of the flesh is flesh, but what is born of the spirit, is spirit."
We have the choice to make in this generation; we either choose the path of less resistance, become celebrities overnight, while changing nothing or we choose the path of truth, which at times may lead one into the wilderness and impact and change our generation. The ball is in our court!
In my few years on earth, I've experienced a level of fame and material blessings; at the age of 19, I was already impacting lives beyond the borders of my country; at the age of 21, I had my first car, at the age of 28, I was nominated the 3rd most influential anglophone Cameroonian by the well-known Cameroon Post, etc, etc,etc. At this point in my life, I'm not looking for fame or a name; I just want to do the will of God.
I've come to realized that, the wilderness is a process that prepares men and women to change their generation and to impact generations yet unborn. Those looking for mere fantasy, would soon disappear and their works will be forgotten, a decade after their departure. What determines the legacy and durability of the impact of an individual, is the depth of preparation. Watch-out for more insight! DrBenard Etta
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In today's church world, people are not prepared for any real journey with God. God is presented as "Father Christmas." Thus, when the wilderness experience show up, even the mighty fall. God is raising an army in this hour, whose commitment to the will of God, will be in season and out of season. Not seasonal people, who appear when things are good, but disappear when things are tough. God is cutting down the Gideon 32.000 to Gideon 300, who can take the city.