“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.”  (Luke 4:1)

 And so begins the story of the Temptation of Jesus.  This is an absolutely rich teaching and there is a remarkable life lesson woven in the powerful words of the text.  Note, it begins:  “And Jesus, full of the Holy Ghost, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil.”  And now dear ones, take note what the Holy Writ tells us thirteen verses later:  “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee…”

 Do you see it?  Jesus went into the wilderness full of the Spirit.  He came out of the wilderness still in the Spirit.  Jesus remained in the Spirit, no matter what happened.  To stay in the Spirit was the real issue Jesus faced in the wilderness.  The wilderness did not offer three different temptations as we might have thought.  It offered one.  A single temptation:  in the shape of different problems, to be sure, but a single testing nonetheless.  The problems were in the area of His physical body (when He was hungry after a prolonged fast); in the area of His soul—His mind, emotions, will (in questions involving His work); and in the area of His Spirit (when He was offered a spiritual shortcut).  For Jesus, the problems were all temptations.  Each had a common denominator.  Each tried, with its particular pressures, to lure Him away from the Spirit. 

 What does it mean to be “in the Spirit”?  We must come to grips with this term.  Paul says, we should “Walk in the Spirit”…(Galatians 5:16).  John said that he was “in the Spirit” on the Lord’s day (Revelations 1:10).  To be “in the Spirit” is to be in the flow of His vital life and power.  To be “in the Spirit” is to become conscious, for a higher percentage of time, of God’s continuing presence in our lives.  To be “in the Spirit” involves a quality of living, because the Fruit of the Spirit is growing: (Galatians 5:22, 23).  To be “in the Spirit” is to exist in a different realm where blessings are not a surprise.  No wonder Satan wanted to seduce Jesus away from being “in the Spirit.”  All of the temptations he threw at Jesus were aimed at that same goal.  It is the ultimate goal of Satan to ensure we do not remain “in the Spirit.”

 Be blessed as you “walk in the Spirit.”

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

“For This Cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”  (Ephesians 3:14, 15).  “This Cause” is really variegated or multifaceted (in the way that many facets of a diamond reflect and enhance its beauty).

 First of all, we thank and praise our Heavenly Father for His divine protection.  We have been, as the Houston Chronicle states, “Swamped By Harvey.”  Hurricane Harvey has been the greatest rainmaker this nation has seen and its results have been devastating.  Some members of the FMBC family were victims of the destructive flooding and they are certainly in our prayers, as are all those who have suffered the effects of this destructive storm.  However, through it all, God has been faithful!  How awesome is our God!  Our Heavenly Father has a covenant relationship with His creation.  Hear Him in Genesis 9:15:  “And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall NO more become a flood to destroy all flesh.”  Flood yes, but we will survive.  “This Cause.”  Hurricane Harvey has produced a spirit of compassion, of caring and a real commitment to service.

 Hear the Psalmist in Psalm 133:1-3 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard:  That went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion:  For there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”  “For there”:  Where there is unity, there is focus, where there is unity, there is caring and compassion.  Where there is unity, the emphasis is love, caring and compassion and not hate, bitterness and rancor.  I bow my knee to the Father who can quickly change the social conversation with a destructive storm called Harvey.

 Be blessed as you enjoy His divine protection.

 Pastor J. Amos Jones

 “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.”  (Luke 4:1)

 And so begins the story of the Temptation of Jesus.  This is an absolutely rich teaching and there is a remarkable life lesson woven in the powerful words of the text.  Note, it begins:  “And Jesus, full of the Holy Ghost, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil.”  And now dear ones, take note what the Holy Writ tells us thirteen verses later:  “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee…”

 Do you see it?  Jesus went into the wilderness full of the Spirit.  He came out of the wilderness still in the Spirit.  Jesus remained in the Spirit, no matter what happened.  To stay in the Spirit was the real issue Jesus faced in the wilderness.  The wilderness did not offer three different temptations as we might have thought.  It offered one.  A single temptation:  in the shape of different problems, to be sure, but a single testing nonetheless.  The problems were in the area of His physical body (when He was hungry after a prolonged fast); in the area of His soul—His mind, emotions, will (in questions involving His work); and in the area of His Spirit (when He was offered a spiritual shortcut).  For Jesus, the problems were all temptations.  Each had a common denominator.  Each tried, with its particular pressures, to lure Him away from the Spirit. 

 What does it mean to be “in the Spirit”?  We must come to grips with this term.  Paul says, we should “Walk in the Spirit”…(Galatians 5:16).  John said that he was “in the Spirit” on the Lord’s day (Revelations 1:10).  To be “in the Spirit” is to be in the flow of His vital life and power.  To be “in the Spirit” is to become conscious, for a higher percentage of time, of God’s continuing presence in our lives.  To be “in the Spirit” involves a quality of living, because the Fruit of the Spirit is growing: (Galatians 5:22, 23).  To be “in the Spirit” is to exist in a different realm where blessings are not a surprise.  No wonder Satan wanted to seduce Jesus away from being “in the Spirit.”  All of the temptations he threw at Jesus were aimed at that same goal.  It is the ultimate goal of Satan to ensure we do not remain “in the Spirit.”

 Be blessed as you “walk in the Spirit.”

 Pastor J. Amos Jones