Title: Leaning on yesterday’s Blessings
Theme: To show the importance of being prepared after revival
Text: Matthew 3:15-4:1
And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (Matthew 3:16-4:1 AV)
"It would be safe to say that everything Jesus did-His preaching, His healing, His suffering, His victory over sin-He did by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Jesus knew the importance of the spirit in his life and in his ministry. This is shown throughout his work. It was prophesied in Is 62 that the Messaih would come and would have the spirit of the Lord upon him. It would be his director and his guide.
Jesus used this same verse at the beginning of his ministry.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:18 AV)
We see the spirit mentioned many times in the Old Testament. guiding the Israelites (Neh 9:20), inspiring the prophets (Num 11:29; 1 Sam 10:5-6,10 etc FLB pp 1302), Moses, seventy elders, Jousha, samson, Gideon. But there was a difference there.on these there was just a measure that came on then. We read of Jesus it was different.
For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (John 3:34 AV)
Sometimes that is the difference between Christians some have the full measure and some only have a portion.
But as we see in John 1:16 and Col 1:19 that the fulness was upon Jesus. The fulness of the trinity.
Peter even recognized the working of the Spirit in the life of Christ when he said to Cornelius and the believers with him
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38 AV)
The importance of the Spirit can be seen and it all began here with the ministry of Jesus Christ. Oh, this must have been camp meeting. Here we have represented the father, son and the Holy Spirit. Those watching Jesus being baptized did not even know what was going on but one of the greatest event to come was about to happen.
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. (Luke 3:22 AV)
But then we notice what happened in the next chapter. After the greatest meeting of the spirit we see that Jesus was led in the the wilderness. Luke puts it this way.
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, (Luke 4:1 AV)
Which leads us to the next part of the story.
Jesus being filled with the Holy Ghost. Being led by the spirit was led into the wilderness and was tempted.
1. Great privileges, and special tokens of divine favor, will not secure us from being tempted.
2. After great honors put upon us, we must expect something that is humbling.
3. God usually prepares his people for temptation before he calls them to it
4. The assurance of our sonship is the best preparative for temptation
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. (Matthew 4:2 AV)
Jesus was preparing Himself for the work of the Lord. He was getting ready to minister and he was fasting. Then he was tempted and because of his previous preparation he was ready to be tempted. Three temptations: I. Stones to bread
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (Matthew 4:3 AV)
Notice he does not say pray to the father and ask him to turn them into bread.
Tempting the goodness of God
It is better to go hungry than to fill ourselves on sin.
Some people depend on their blessing from yesterday. Attending church from yesterday, paying tithes, reading scripture.
II. Cast off the temple
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. (Matthew 4:6 AV)
Notice the devil could not cast him but told him to cast himself
Temptation to test God and see if he was really in it. Maybe healing or blessings. Just in case to make sure.
To presume upon the power and protection of God
III. Worship Satan
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (Matthew 4:9 AV)
Temptation to have all the world. Maybe by the gift that Christ has given us. Maybe we get tired of being good and see that those who are not seem to be just as happy and content as we are.
This could be at a time when we are remembering the experience that we had. It will not always be a high
Conclusion
I remember reading the story of Samson. Each and everytime he would get up and the spirit would come upon him and he would do the mighty works of strength. Then finally after many moral failures and a lapsed relationship between God and him we see it says
And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. (Judges 16:20 AV)
1. stay in the word
2. stay on our knees
3. stay in the church
4. stay in fellowship with God.
5. stay in the memory of the past to build the future
6. Grow and hunger
