![]() ![]() I for one think the opposite because apart from Enoch (whom we don’t know much about) Everyone I can think of who had deep intimacy with God had to struggle one way or another – including His own son, Jesus Christ! I have also found that this experience is one that can cause contention and strife with other believers bc they want to believe that the very sign that God has ordained a thing means that it must be easy. I have found that a deep intimacy with Him is the only thing that can suspend the pain that comes from the wilderness experience. It is not easy at first and I think it only gets better with relationship with Him. The way of the wilderness is what the Lord has been teaching me of recent. ![]() Michael, I can’t agree more with all you have said in this post. These types of people speak out of selfish motives and do not recognize what God is trying to accomplish by His Spirit. Sometimes we must hold steady and resist the devil who speaks from the mouths of well-meaning souls. Be careful to spiritually discern who is really talking. They even rebuke you, as Peter did to Jesus, trying to persuade you not to go up to Jerusalem and die. They advise taking the way of the Philistines, for it is the safest and easiest route. Many come to you when you are being led by the Spirit into the wilderness, telling you it is not God’s will. Yet, in His wisdom, this was the path God chose. To say the least, such hard sayings were not the way to win scribes and influence Pharisees. He shows how, rather than bringing the people closer to God, they both separate themselves and their followers from the Father. Jesus reveals them to be sons of the devil, whitewashed sepulchers, a brood of snakes, and blind leaders of the blind. In front of many, the Son of God shames those who trust in the righteousness of the Law. ![]() His Father led Him to be in direct opposition to the established religious leadership of the day.Ĭhrist exposes the legalism and hypocrisy of the Pharisees when He preaches forgiveness and liberty to the common man. Instead, God’s plan for Jesus was just the opposite of the devil’s plan for popularity. Yet, Jesus knew by the Spirit this was not His Father’s will. To the natural man, the devil’s plan of action seemed the best and easiest way to gain the kingdom. The accuser of the brethren even used scripture to assure Jesus that no physical harm would come to Him should He do so. Jesus could have then gained the throne of David in one magnificent act and fulfilled His destiny. All who would see Him descend from heaven would immediately accept Him as their Savior and King. The Devil suggested that Jesus cast Himself off the top of the temple building and declare Himself to be the Messiah. “And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:” Satan had already tempted Christ to take the way that seemed right to man. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples (examples): and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” What seemed so hopeless in the natural realm was turned into victory by God’s Spirit. God held the armies of Pharaoh at bay all night while a strong east wind parted the waters, providing a way of escape for the Israelites. God spoke to Moses saying, “Lift up your rod and stretch it out over the sea and divide it.” Then, the great pillar of fire which had led the people into the wilderness moved from before them and set itself between them and the Egyptian armies. Out of despair, they accused Moses saying, “Were there no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?” Seeing Pharaoh’s armies drawing near, God’s chosen were greatly afraid. His military mind knew that the Israelites, if attacked, were vulnerable and would have nowhere to flee. It was brought to the attention of Pharaoh that his former slaves made the foolish mistake of setting their tents near the Red Sea.
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