“LED UP BY THE SPIRIT!”

Matthew 3:13-4:3                                                              (ESV)

"13 Then JESUS came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by HIM.

14 John would have prevented HIM, saying, "I need to be baptized by YOU, and do YOU come to me?"

15 But JESUS  answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.

16 And when JESUS was baptized, immediately HE went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to HIM, and HE saw the SPIRIT of GOD descending like a dove and coming to rest on HIM;

17 and behold, a VOICE from heaven said, "This is my beloved SON, with WHOM I am well pleased."

1 Then JESUS was “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT” into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, HE was hungry.

3 And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the SON of GOD, command these stones to become loaves of bread."”

John baptizing JESUS was monumental in my book.  Having the SON OF GOD display HIS humility before the entire world was a testimony of how we all should live our lives.  Being “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT” means so much more than doing what we “feel” is the right thing to do.  

First of all, when we are “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT” we are listening to what ALMIGHTY GOD is saying to do in our decisions as we progress through this life.  Most people are aware that Psalms 46:10 is the verse that causes me to slow my life down and listen.  But BEING STILL doesn’t indicate that we are listening to GOD.  JESUS was “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT”, and it was evidenced by the enemy attacking HIM, and AFTER A FORTY DAY FAST and Sabbatical!  Now JESUS could have turned stones into bread, but listening to the enemy is NEVER what we need to do when seeking the right way to go.  

JESUS had just been baptized by John (Matthew 3:16) when HE was “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT” into the wilderness TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL!  However, the devil didn’t hit HIM while HE was at the top of HIS game, the devil waited until JESUS was famished after not eating food for forty days!  JESUS has just been baptized and had yet to even choose HIS disciples and the devil was tempting HIM?  At a time when humans would have been at their weakest, JESUS was at HIS strongest because HE had just spent 40 days alone with the FATHER!

When we are “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT”, following what we want to do fades into insignificance.  Doing what we are “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT” to do becomes paramount in our lives.  While it is true that we are not JESUS, we are still capable of following GOD’s PLAN for our lives by being “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT”!  Is that your desire to slow down your life and listen for GOD’s direction?  Or do you prefer doing what this world approves??  Being “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT” will cost you.  Are you willing pay the cost???