God’s Mission

Matthew 4:1-11

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “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.’”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

One week from today is Shrove Tuesday, better known to many as “Fat Tuesday.” That means one week from tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, kicking off 40 days of Lent (excluding Sundays). Those 40 days parallel Jesus’ time spent in the desert immediately after His baptism, where He fasted from both food and water.

Why did He do this? We are told in Scripture that He was led there by the Holy Spirit prior to beginning His public ministry.

The same Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus in His baptism used this time away from others – and this time of testing – to prepare Him. The fasting was part of that preparation. As a discipleship pastor, I have no doubt that we all play a part in God’s mission, and that the Holy Spirit wants to lead us in that ministry. I wonder how he wants to prepare you.

Prayer Prompt

Ask the Holy Spirit how He wants to train and prepare you? Who might He use to assist Him in this? Look at your weekly schedule and ponder it with the Spirit; ask if you’re giving Him ample time, space, and energy to train you?

Pray, or journal or discuss with your micro-group the best time, space and energy in my schedule for training.