40 Days In The Wilderness

As I woke up today knowing it was the start of a 34 day seeking of the Lord, I couldn't help but to wonder as to what I am supposed to do next. I have to pack, check the car to make sure it's in the "driving mood", fill it up with gas and get ready to hit the road. Yet on the other hand, my mind and heart were running "100 miles a minute" just thinking about what God has done at the Fellowship and what God is going to do next. After all the talk and preperations for this sabbatical for the past few months, it finally hit me this morning while I was on the treadmill. This sabbatical was not the plan of pastor Sammy Lopez, however it was ordained by the Holy Spirit for a time as this. Think about it; what pastor would leave his church during a crucial building campaign? After all, these next few weeks are crucial to the body of Christ! Than I was reminded ever so gently by the Holy Spirit, "Sammy, this is My church. My Son died and shed His blood for her. I need time with my people as I also need time alone with you." When we think this may not be a wise time to seperate, the Holy Spirit reminds us that this is the best time! I read today in Matthew 4:1-11, that Jesus went away alone in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. Yet, what this story doesn't tell us is what were the disciples doing while Jesus was away? As Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days, I'm sure the disciples had battles of their own. In the same way, these next 34 days can be a blessing to all of us, but "all of us" need a desire to seek God for a move of God! You may not be on a 34 day "spiritual pilgrimage" as I am, yet you can seek the Lord in the same way these next 34 days. I want to encourage you to challenge yourselves in 3 ways for the next 34 days as Jesus was also challenged in the wilderness. (You'll need your Bibles or click on Matthew 4:1-11 for the link to see the Scripture.)

(vs.3-4)
I.) Destroy Your Pride:
Notice how satan tempted Jesus. He attacked His "person." "If you are the Son of God..." Satan knew full well who Jesus was, yet he attacked His "person" while He was weak. Don't allow the enemy to attack your "person." The word "person" is also meaning your integrity/character. Destroy those things and hinderances in your life that keeps you from being a man or woman of integrity. Integrity and character is what seperates us towards a life of holy living.

(vs.5-7)
II.) Destroy Your Attitudes:
Satan at this point tried to tempt Jesus to follow his "dare" by jumping off the pinnacle of the temple. One of the ways that the enemy wants to devour you is by tempting you to "give in" to his commands. Don't give in! When he wants you to react a certain way with your spouse, don"t give in! When you have an opportunity to fall into a situation that is not good for you or your marriage, don't give in! When you can have an attitude towards a brother or sister at church or an employee at work, don't give in! Let us not "test" God by the attitude of being "testy."

(vs.8-11)
III.) Destroy Your "gods":
Notice what Jesus said. "...For it is written, YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY." What are those things that you have put before the Lord? Relationships? Career? School? Sports? Friends? Money? Family? Children? Pride? The "right" to feel angry? You name it. Allow these next 34 days be a "spring cleaning" for your heart as well as your spirit. May Psalm 51:10-17 be your prayer.

In conclusion, I pray that as Moses walked down from the mountain after meeting with God and his face was beaming with the "Glory of God", I desire the same thing! Yet, not on my face but in my spirit and heart. I pray the same for you as well.