Title: The Leading Spirit (Matthew 4:1-11)
Contents
When you go on an unfamiliar road, you need a map and a compass. Nowadays, navigation is also very convenient. And you need your own sharp judgment. But with the help of a guide who knows the way, there is no better way than that. Our life is a journey we have never traveled before. No one knows our sure path ahead. You are the most ignorant of yourself. Therefore, the surest way to go in life is to be led by the Spirit of Wisdom.
This is the result of ignoring, despising, and failing to obey the guidance of the Indian guide who led them.
A few years ago, when I went to America, a Korean guide guiding me through the desert introduced me to a great Korean who owns a lake in the middle of the desert and opens a Naxiter. However, after a while, a lake appeared in the middle of the desert, and there were people fishing here and there. That's why there are so many great Koreans. It's amazing that there are Koreans who own a lake the size of the sea and make a fishing spot for it. It was just a mirage. It looked like that, but it wasn't real. I thought that once again in this world, I should not be distracted by such a mirage because the mirage was the same mirage that the Easterners who were digging for gold in the old days thought it was a lake and eventually annihilated them while pursuing them.
At least two decisions are necessary for us to live a life of faith. First, we must accept Jesus as our Lord and decide to believe in Him. And second, you must decide how to believe in Jesus. You are people who have already made up your mind to believe in Jesus as your Savior. The important thing is that we must now make a new decision on how to live by believing in Jesus. How would you like to believe in Jesus? In what form, in what mood, in what process and what result would you believe it would bring?
All you have to do is decide to live a life of faith that believes in and follows Jesus as the Holy Spirit leads you. Only we must decide to obey and live according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In today's text, it says that the Lord also went to be tempted by the Holy Spirit. The Lord was led by the Holy Spirit. If we say that the Lord did that, we who have accepted Jesus as our Savior should naturally live as the Holy Spirit leads us.
People are driven by something. What is driving you now?
We must remember that if we live a life that is led by worldly things like a mirage, it will ultimately lead to death and destruction. A life that is led by the flesh and led by all kinds of evil spirits, idols, and demons can never be happy.
In Korea, sexual violence against children is increasing day by day. However, it is said that those who perpetrate child sexual abuse lead young girls to places where they can satisfy their cravings, mostly with candy, gifts and a few bucks. You must be able to firmly refuse to lead in this way.
In today's text, the devil set Jesus before material things, before honor, and before authority. And I tried to succumb to it. But Jesus did not do as the devil led him, but as the Spirit led him. So I was able to win the test.
If Jesus had been tested like this, our life would be often tempted.
2 Peter 3:17 “Therefore, beloved, since you have known this beforehand, do not beware that you will fall from your steadfastness, being led away by the delusions of the lawless.” You should not ignore this warning.
People of our faith are not people who are led by the delusions of lawless people. They are not people who live led by the devil and demons. We are not led by material things, money, honor, power, or people. We believers are people who live only led by the Holy Spirit. If there are people who have failed and fell by living according to my will, I hope that you will now cast away your will of foolishness, leave it to the will of the Holy Spirit, and live a life led by the Holy Spirit.
If the Holy Spirit leads you, even in the moment of trial, you can surely overcome. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you can break through even the mighty storm and reach the port of peace. If the Holy Spirit leads you, no matter how persistent and strong Satan's temptations are, you will surely be victorious. We believe that the leading of the Holy Spirit is the leading that gives us more than enough victory.
The secret to living without being led by sin and all kinds of unclean things again is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit is a personal God, once filled, it is not maintained until death. If we offend the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will depart from our hearts, and if we neglect and distance ourselves from it, it will become farther and farther away. You can blaspheme, destroy, or limit the Holy Spirit. I hope that doesn't happen. Welcome, respect, adore, and praise the Holy Spirit.
The alcoholic repented and turned to God to stop drinking. It was never easy for him to quit drinking. One day as he passed by the bar, he saw the bottles displayed in the windows and couldn't help but crave a drink. But just then, I read the sign of the milk shop across the street reflected in the window. "There is milk that you can drink freely for only 1,000 won." He immediately ran into the milk shop and drank until he was full. When he left the milk shop and passed the bar, he was not even moved by the bottles on display. I was no longer tempted by a bottle of wine. It was because he drank so much milk that there was no room for alcohol.
If our hearts are filled with the Holy Spirit and God's things, even if the things of the world tempt us in various ways, there will be no room for us to enter our hearts and lives. Before Satan can use it for his purpose, we must fill our void with the Holy Spirit's.
Hebrews 13:20-21 “The God of peace, who brought our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, from the dead by the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you in every good work to do his will, and to bring you joy in his sight, Jesus Christ May it be accomplished among us through him. Glory be to him for ever and ever, Amen."
The Holy Spirit, the guide of our lives, of our faith, of our souls, never leads us down a path to shame. The Holy Spirit will never lead us down the path of downfall, nor will he lead us down the path of weakness. “He has perfected you in every good work to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ.”
I hope that you will completely entrust yourself to the Holy Spirit so that the Holy Spirit will lead you.