Into The Wilderness - Mark 1:12-13

Mark 1:12-13 ESV 

The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

A time of testing and trial in the Scriptures is often associated with a period of forty days or years. It rained for forty days and nights during the flood of Noah. The Israelites struggled in the wilderness for forty years and here Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days. 

When our eyes are opened we can see the wilderness around us. It is populated with wild animals and trials previously unseen. It is this sight that allows us to avoid or deal with the world in a way only made possible by walking with the Lord. He will lead us through and to the other side. We have the comfort and presence of the Holy Spirit as our companion along the way. 

In Job we see God allowing Satan to test and afflict a man to teach and confirm a worthy servant. In the end, his righteousness is rewarded and Job has a better understanding of God and himself. This is God's plan for those He loves, to teach and discipline His sons and daughters. 

Satan is still roaming the earth today, going to and fro, accusing and tempting all he can find to stray away from the life of the Father. 

Drink It New - Matthew 26:27-29

Matthew 26:27-29 ESV 

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

He changed the water into wine at the wedding in Canna. He will change the water of man's repentance into the wine of the divine. At the wedding the containers were filled to the brim with water, and we are filled to overflowing with the living waters of the Holy Spirit. We are initially served the wine of this life, but at the wedding to come we will drink the best wine. 

He is the vine and we can do nothing apart from Him. We become the fruit of that vine as we enter His Father's kingdom. The wine of the new kingdom flows to all who would lift the cup to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He drinks from the fruit of the vine in His new body, the bride of Christ. 

The kingdom is here. The new wine has been poured out for many, and that to overflowing. 

Psalms 118:14

The Lord is my strength and my song;

he has become my salvation.

Psalms 118:23

This is the Lord's doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

We sing a new song, for the Lord has done a new thing. 

In Parables - Matthew 13:10-13

Matthew 13:10-13 ESV 

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

We live in creation which serves as a parable to the kingdom of heaven. A parable serves as a doorway into the kingdom of heaven. Those in the body of Christ have access to the kingdom of heaven through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We enter that Holy ground and become that Holy ground when we are joined with Spirit of God. 

Believing God is the key to the secrets of the kingdom of heaven. Not believing God leaves one in the confines of worldly thinking and understanding. It is when we believe that we can rise from the land of the shadow of death to life everlasting. The word is for all who listen. Understanding is for all who believe. Life is for all who then walk with God. 

Who will believe what we have seen and who will listen to what we have heard? Only those who abide in the Spirit. 

Waterless Places - Matthew 12:43

Matthew 12:43 ESV 

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.

The sea of mankind is the home of the unclean spirit who is separated from the life of living water. Its only rest lies in the murky water of an unclean soul which lives in the land of the shadow of death. It takes the rest and peace from another to be its own. 

Like the unclean spirit, we find our rest and peace in the waters of another, that of the living waters of God. Our own unclean spirit is washed by the grace of the Lord. If we leave that grace, we will be the worse off, back to wandering in waterless places. 

Two Trees - Genesis 2:9

Genesis 2:9 ESV 

And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Still working with the dust of the earth, or clay, which God chooses as the raw material in which to work His glory, He fashions a multitude of delights and pleasures that spring from the ground. These trees represent every good thing that God has predestined in the life of those who would believe. Man cannot dream of the things God has prepared for those who love Him. 

There are two trees in the middle of the garden which present an a choice to the man of obeying or disobeying the word of God. 

Man is the only creature on earth given that choice. The only creature in the land made in His image. The only creature given the privilege to say no to God. This is a great and terrible honor bestowed to man. The possibility of glory or death will hinge on that decision. 

Something Greater - Matthew 12:6-8

Matthew 12:6-8 

I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

Yet they did not recognize the time of their visitation. We might be inclined to wonder how that could be given the signs and Scripture. How did they miss that?

The light of Jesus Christ remains on the planet. His Holy Spirit fills the heart of each believer to bring the light of God into the world. This is the true temple of God. One might be inclined to ask how do so many miss that?

Something greater than the temple was there then and now. He is Lord. 

Outer Darkness - Matthew 25:29-30

Matthew 25:29-30 ESV 

For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Where is the outer darkness? Mustn't it be apart from the inner light? God must be at the center of light because He is the light. To be in outer darkness one is removed from the presence of God. 

There is no weeping in the presence of God, for He will dry every tear. There is no gnashing of teeth, for there is no sorrow or despair in the jubilant assembly that gathers around God. Songs of joy will be unending. 

The Lord has invited to a celebration of life beyond our imagination. We must first live this life in this world before we are able to live the life of abundance that awaits. 

So what will we do with the life we've been given? How then shall we live?

Matthew 22:11-14

“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”