Luke 4:1  And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,  2  Being forty days tempted of the devil
 
 Luke 4:14  And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went  
 out a fame of him through all the region round about.
 
One day while reading this familiar passage of scripture, I saw the reality that Jesus “returned” in the power of the spirit.  He returned after being led by the Spirit of God into the desert to be tempted of the devil for 40 days and nights.  I believe God is calling us aside so we can return to a place of more effective service.

Today, the Church is facing situations that a large part of its membership is not so familiar with.  Standing at a crossroad where the Spirit is trying to lead, are we really listening?  We are so preoccupied with life and circumstances that are loud and very hard to shut down.  In our lives personally and in our churches, it seems that God has been directing us to come away with Him, so we can be led by the Spirit into a place where we can focus and prepare for the next phase of life.  It is a challenging phase but one that will be productive, helpful for the Kingdom, and bring us to a place of protection in our own lives.  
 
Luke 4:1 says Jesus, being full of the Spirit, was led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil for forty days. 

If the Spirit led us in this manner, most of us would say that this is an attempt of the enemy to keep us down or defeated.  God led His own son into a wilderness so that He might stand His ground and prove the power of God.  It was actually part of a plan to defeat the enemy and simultaneously prepare Jesus for what was about to happen in his life and ministry.  Are we willing to do the same?  As I take a personal evaluation of my own life I see that even though I spend quality time in the Word and with God, it is not enough.  Am I willing to spend days fasting, praying, seeking God with such desperation that all of heaven has to take notice of my cries?  Or will I just settle with my confessions of faith and promise but not really put any action to that confession? 
 
To encourage you, I want to remind you of the two key parts of the Bible's "faith message";  confessing with your mouth and believing with your heart.  Faith without works is dead.  If I really believe it I will put actions to it.  We need to be a people who are filled with the Spirit, not to show off or to be “somebody” in this world, but to be like Jesus and do what He did.  His fame spread throughout all the land after he had been in the presence of the Lord and overcome the temptations of Satan.  Now He could speak to them about God with a reputation.  When we spend time with God and face our adversities, the “fame” of Christ can also work for us to bring the good news with authority to the lost.
 
One more point.  After the devil had tempted Jesus and been rejected, he departed for a season.  Just remember, no matter how severe your  temptation, if you stand your ground according to the Word of God, the enemy WILL eventually leave.   We must resolve to stand no matter how hard it is or how many times we feel the pressure of the enemy.  A new season is coming for God's people.  We are being prepared for a time like never before; will we take the challenge to come away with God, to be strengthened even in the midst of a storm?  God is calling you!

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Pastor Bobbi Veach