Matthew 4:1-4: Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'"
Ephesians 5:17-21: Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.
SOMETIMES, when we're in the wilderness, when we're in the storm, we as believers feel empty, depleted, weary and worn, alone and seriously lacking in spiritual nutrients. These are the times we're tested and tempted, when we're weak and hungry, when we're thirsty and in a desert, often on our own, when our spiritual tank is empty, when GOD is with us, but we can't hear Him; we can't see Him, we can't feel His Presence. These are the times we've got to trust GOD and have faith; these are the times we've got to remember GOD's promise to never leave us or forsake us; these are the times we've got to believe we're victors, not victims; these are the times we've got to trust we're more than conquerors through Him who loved us; and we can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens us.
GOD is our Hope, our Source, our Strength; JESUS is our Bread of Life, our Way, our Truth; and HOLY SPIRIT is our Comforter, our Living Water, our Divine Fuel. Without GOD, we could do nothing; without GOD, we cannot live; without GOD, we have no compass; without GOD, we're lost in the dark, in the wilderness. GOD is our LIGHT and our LIFE, and His WORDS are spirit and life, and they revive us, encourage us, instruct us, guide us, correct us, build us, and fill us. In them we know we are hard-pressed on every side yet we're not crushed, we're perplexed but not in despair, we're persecuted but not forsaken, we're struck down but not destroyed. In them we know that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, for GOD knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not harm us, plans to give us hope and a future.
When we're empty, GOD fills us with His Spirit.
When we're weary, GOD restores us with His WORD.
When we're weak, GOD strengthens us with His Son.
The KINGDOM of GOD is within us, because JESUS, the KING of kings, abides in us, and where the KING is, there is the KINGDOM. So, we are not alone: GOD is with us. Always. And He is the FUEL that drives us--even when we can't hear Him, see Him, touch Him, or feel Him. Like the wind, GOD is there, unseen but present.
When we're in the wilderness, GOD is the still, small voice, whispering in our ears, 'This is the Way; walk in it.'
When we're in the storm, GOD is our Prince of Peace who commands the wind and waves, 'Be still.'
GOD fuels and fills us, with His Son, His WORD, and His Spirit, for GOD is GOOD, GOD is JUST, and GOD is LOVE.
All we've got to do is have faith and believe, accept and receive, so GOD can fill every empty place in our lives and we can be made whole and complete in Him through JESUS CHRIST.
