Unexpected Desert

Matt 4v1-2:
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 

If Jesus had been anyone else, I'm sure everyone could agree that the trip to the desert would've been extremely UNEXPECTED. There are times in our lives where we all of a sudden arrive in a desert and it completely throws us; we ask ourselves, 'How did this happen?' 'Where are we going?' 'What is God doing?' 'Where is God?' 'Where is His goodness? 'Why does nothing make sense in the natural?' 'Where are the outward signs of hope and purpose?'- mainly because we haven't been aware of the Spirit's dealings with us at those times, and have been unaware that it has been God's will in leading us to those places. Those times are also times we usually fight against and try and do everything in our power to get out of. I know I'm that guy that keeps giving bad news, but unfortunately the reality is that there is a time coming where for so many of God's people what happens next will be completely unexpected. This isn't because God's Spirit hasn't been leading, or speaking or guiding, but because we have been unaware, and usually unwilling to accept His will and His leading because we don't want to suffer. And so it is now- no one wants to read or accept what God is speaking about the future, simply because people don't want to accept that it is God's will that we be led to such a place of suffering. It's God will that none of His people be unaware about what He is choosing to reveal about the coming storm, because part of how He keeps His people is to prepare them spiritually in order that they be able to face what comes.

What wasn't an unexpected journey for the Lord, would've been for most of us, but that's not where it would've ended. What happens next and will happen next will shock most of us to our core. This will be the case because it won't just be ONE trial, but MANY, VARIOUS and ONE AFTER THE OTHER. Jesus experienced three types of trials in the desert, and so will we. The first one was a trial to the stomach of the flesh (worldly loves and comforts which we feed on often). In response to Jesus' hunger in the wilderness, the enemy tempted him with providing food for himself. Jesus didn't though because to do so would've been to use His power for His own stomach, and Jesus knew that it wasn't God's will that He do so. So with us, whatever ordinary, earthly desire, strength and wisdom (which really is no wisdom at all) we have been given, we MUST NOT use in the future in order to satisfy our fleshly stomachs if it in any way means disobeying the Lord and His Word. When we are driven to tough times which really start to take a toll on the body, we must not let that drive us to gain earthly bread or comforts via means and ways which are unbiblical, rather we must trust that God will feed us with what we need. God may let us suffer in this area, so that we are deprived of what we have been used to in the past, but instead of trying to fill ourselves in a way He doesn't desire, we must run to God and feed on spiritual food: Matt 4v4: Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'

The second trial and temptation that we'll be faced with, will be the urge to live recklessly in the grace of God. Matt 4v5:
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "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.'" Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" We must act wisely in the time to come, and although we should be trusting to His protection, we must also realise that His protection does not mean that we'll have a licence to live as though there will be no consequences and no harm come to those that are not living by THE WORD of God, both by eating it and being directed and comforted by it. We will not be able to live as though there is no enemy, for the enemy will be revealed in the days to come as 'a roaring lion,' seeking those that he desires to devour. There are times when the Lord chooses to allow the enemy to SEEMINGLY have sway over our lives and be present to confront us in a very real and immediate manner. This will also mean that who and what the enemy is in the coming time will also be made extremely plain to us, so we must continue to watch. We must be aware that such a time like this is coming, and we must be very wise in how close we are to the Word of God in that time, so that we will not think that we can simply live idly in the grace of God, not knowing the dangers that will be surrounding us. God has given His Word so that we will know how to defend ourselves in the days to come. We will not be able to live and survive in the coming time if we are not holding His Word close to us. To simply believe that God will do it all and that we'll be able to be ignorant sheep is extremely foolish, because God has called us to STAND and GIRD OURSELVES with His Word. What we may be able to get away with today, living in a time of peace and prosperity, we very likely will not be able to get away with tomorrow. Again, for many this will be extremely UNEXPECTED, but it needn't be.