An Intense Moment in the Desert (Matthew 4:1-11)

I find this Scripture passage fascinating because of the struggle between Christ and satan. So often we find ourselves out in our own desert, facing temptations just as real as Christ’s. The interesting point to be noted here is that Christ was led into the desert by the Spirit. Likewise, God allows our time in the desert to strengthen us, to show His faithfulness, to conform us more to His image, to teach us endurance, dependence upon Him, to test us on whether or not we will obey Him, and the list can go on.

We all know that satan attacks when we are at our weakest. He was no different with our Lord. Satan’s plan was to thwart God’s plan for man’s redemption by disqualifying the Savior. God had a purpose in leading Jesus out to the desert. One thing which was proven was Christ was without sin.

The interaction between the two is very intriguing to me. Obviously satan knows Scripture. He quotes it to Christ. But, he did not quote it accurately, for he omitted a phrase which just didn’t quite suit his purposes. But notice verse 4 where Jesus says “every word…” The only offensive weapon we have at our disposal is the Word of God. We are to use “every word” of it. Not only are we to use Scripture but we are to obey it.

Satan’s temptations focused on three areas. The first was on Christ’s physical needs and desires. He was ending His 40 day fast. He would have been extremely hungry. Second, satan focused on possessions and power. And the third focus was on pride. Satan continues to attack us in these very same areas. He can be very subtle. He may try to lure us into committing a sin to satisfy a completely normal desire in a wrong way. God has given us desires but we should only satisfy them in the right way and at the right time. This way we bring honor and glory to Him.

I loved how it states the angels came and ministered to Christ. What a beautiful picture that is in my mind. The Lord may send angels to minister to us or He may send friends to be ministering angels. Either way He doesn’t just leave us to suffer.

The passage of Scripture from Habakkuk 3:17-19 is one of my favorites. I especially like verse 18, “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Even in the darkest, most difficult times we can experience joy as we lean on the Lord to strengthen and enable us. May we always thirst for His Word as a deer pants after the water. He alone is able to satisfy us.
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This just in....When I opened my Streams in the Desert Devotional by Mrs. Cowman, I found she was covering the exact thing which we were reading....Christ in the desert. Her Scripture reference is Mark. You know I don't believe in co-incidences but rather, Godincidences, so I thought I would add the devotional to what I had written. Enjoy!

Title: Suddenness of Change
Author: Mrs. Charles E. Cowman
Source: Streams in the DesertScripture
Reference: Mark 1:12-12

"And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness" (Mark 1:12).
It seemed a strange proof of Divine favor. "Immediately." Immediately after what? After the opened heavens and the dove-like peace and the voice of the Father's blessing, "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." It is no abnormal experience. Thou, too, hast passed through it, O my soul. Are not the times of thy deepest depression just the moments that follow thy loftiest flight? Yesterday thou wert soaring far in the firmament, and singing in the radiance of the morn; today thy wings are folded and thy song silent. At noon thou wert basking in the sunshine of a Father's smile; at eve thou art saying in the wilderness, "My way is hid from the Lord."

Nay, but, my soul, the very suddenness of the change is a proof that it is not revolutionary.
Hast thou weighed the comfort of that word "immediately"? Why does it come so soon after the blessing? Just to show that it is the sequel to the blessing. God shines on thee to make thee fit for life's desert-places--for its Gethsemanes, for its Calvaries. He lifts thee up that He may give thee strength to go further down; He illuminates thee that He may send thee into the night, that He may make thee a help to the helpless.

Not at all times art thou worthy of the wilderness; thou art only worthy of the wilderness after the splendors of Jordan. Nothing but the Son's vision can fit thee for the Spirit's burden; only the glory of the baptism can support the hunger of the desert. --George Matheson
After benediction comes battle.

The time of testing that marks and mightily enriches a soul's spiritual career is no ordinary one, but a period when all hell seems let loose, a period when we realize our souls are brought into a net, when we know that God is permitting us to be in the devil's hand. But it is a period which always ends in certain triumph for those who have committed the keeping of their souls to Him, a period of marvelous "nevertheless afterward" of abundant usefulness, the sixty-fold that surely follows. --Aphra White