Wilderness Leading

I. EXORDIUM:

Have you seen the wilderness? Will you enjoy being in the wilderness?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

General believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that the LORD is victorious in the wilderness, we can be too.

IV. TEXT:

Mark 1:12 The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness

Pray that GOD will give us strength as we enjoy the wilderness with the LORD JESUS.

V. THESIS:

The HOLY SPIRIT will lead us into the wilderness.

VI. TITLE:

Wilderness Leading

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Mark or John Mark, companion of Peter, son of Mary of Jerusalem, relative of Barnabbas (Acts 12:12, Acts 12:25, Colossians 4:10, Acts 13:5, 2 Timothy 4:11)

Acts 12:12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.

Acts 12:25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, taking John Mark with them.

Colossians 4:10 Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way.

Acts 13:5 There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant.

2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.

B. Keyword: Immediately

C. Audience or recipients: Gentile Christians

D. Main Theme: CHRIST, the tireless Servant of GOD and man

E. Distinctive Features: Shortest of the 4 gospels.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. What is wilderness?

1. Wilderness - desert, state of dryness in a Christians life.

2. The HOLY SPIRIT will lead us immediately - away from our comfort zone.

3. The HOLY SPIRIT "compelled" the LORD to go into the wilderness.

a. If GOD knows that the devil is in the wilderness, why would He compel JESUS?

4. Ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT:

a. compels us (Acts 20:22)

Acts 20:22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me.

- sends us out to places we don't know. Example: Sitio Visaya, Villa Luisa

- compels us to preach (1 Corinthians 9:16, Job 32:18)

1 Corinthians 9:16 Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

Job 32:18 For I am full of pent-up words, and the spirit within me urges me on.

- His love compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14)

2 Corinthians 5:14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.

B. The LORD JESUS submitted Himself to the works and ministry of the HOLY SPIRIT:

1. The LORD obeyed the HOLY SPIRIT.

2. Wilderness - is a place of isolation from our comfort zone.

3. Submit ourselves to dryness and trial - Just keep on eating and drinking GOD'S Presence thru His Words. (Acts 2:28, 1 Thessalonians 3:9,13, 1 John 3:19, Hebrews 9:24)

Acts 2:28 You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence

1 Thessalonians 3:9,13

9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.

13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

1 John 3:19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God.

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf.

IX. CONCLUSION:

Keep soaked in GOD's Presence