Introduction
So we meet again. And you are full aware of the topic we are preaching about. We have spent the last 3 messages investigating this thing of being “carried away in the Spirit.” We’ve been trying to acquaint ourselves with the “Things of the Spirit”; the things of the Holy Ghost. I’m interested in the things of the Spirit. Paul said that they that walk after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit. I want to set my mind on those things. That’s one way to get to know someone and have fellowship with someone; to take an interest in the things that interest that person?
John 14:16,17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
YE KNOW HIM… Let me ask you this: Do you know him? Do you know the Holy Spirit of truth? Or are we like those disciples in Ephesus when Paul asked them about the Holy Spirit? Do you remember what they said? “We have not heard whether there be any Holy Ghost!” That’s where most Christians are today. Oprah Whinfrey and Pentecostals have ripped off the doctrine of the Holy Ghost. They have hijacked the Holy Spirit. No, the world does not know the Spirit. The world cannot receive him. The world cannot see him. But, YE KNOW HIM. God’s people know the Holy Ghost; or at least they should…
I want to say this: We ought to desire to be carried away in the Spirit like Ezekiel. We ought to desire to be driven by the Spirit like Jesus Was. John the apostle said, “And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain; and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.”
Song of Songs 2:10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Song of Songs 2:13 …Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
I want to linger here in our study. I don’t want to miss what god has for us. Ah! Must we be carried away in the Spirit? Brother Wayne Henderson said, “Don’t ever let anyone tell you that there isn’t more!” There is more. There was more for Ezekiel. There was more for John. There was more for Paul. Paul said, “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. NOT as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:” Do you know what Paul is saying? He’s saying, “Don’t let anyone tell you that there isn’t more!” Paul, in his admission that he’s not there yet, is declaring loud and clear that there’s more! “But I follow after, if that may apprehend that which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus…” Paul is saying that God has apprehended me so that I may apprehend what God has for me. I’m telling you God has MORE for us!
God did not save us… Jesus did not die on a cross for us to just remain the same, and sit on a church pew and rot; to learn a few Christian doctrines and say a few prayers. No, he came that we might have LIFE and have it more more more more more MORE abundantly. When I got save, God opened my eyes and let me see that I had EVERYTHING wrong. Everything about me was wrong. Everything inside me was wrong. Everything we wrong. And God, in his amazing grace, wants to change every bit of that. God wants to dramatically change your life, so much that he died on a cross, he took our sin upon him, and paid the wages of sin in order to achieve that in us.
God has MORE for us! The world is saying that there isn’t more. The devil is telling you that there isn’t more. The flesh is telling you that there isn’t more. Even the brethren, in the way they live their life, are telling you that there isn’t more. Your own sluggish heart and mind are telling you that there isn’t more. But I want to tell you today as an ambassador to the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the authority of the Word of God, that God has more for you! Who told you that he didn’t? What right do we have to limit the power and ability of God? What right do we have to put God in in a little box and restrict him from doing his work? Death couldn’t hold him. The gates of hell did not prevail against him. The grave couldn’t hold him. Who has bewitched us into thinking and believing that there’s not MORE for God’s people.
God has more for you, that’s a fact. The question is: Do we want more of God? The bible says, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they SHALL be filled…” Filled with what? With God. On that great day of Pentecost, Peter stood up and said, “This is that which is spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days saith God, I will pour out of MY spirit upon all flesh…”
Ephesians 5:17,18 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
God has more for us! He said they SHALL be filled! Filled with God! He told Abraham, “I am thy exceeding great reward!” In Paul’s letter to the Colossians talked about the “mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations.” He says it’s “NOW made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; WHICH IS Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
I want to linger here in the “things of the Spirit.” What more God has for you will not be found outside these things of the Spirit. What more God has for you will not be found apart from his Holy Spirit. Don’t ever let anyone one tell you that there’s not MORE to this thing. Don’t ever be content in your walk with God. You are what you believe. If you believe that can’t go any further with God, guess what? You won’t go any further with God. If you believe that you’ve had enough of God, then guess what? You’ve had enough of God. But if you believe there’s more, it’s because it’s so. He that believeth God must believe that he is and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. How many of you can honestly say that your are not where you were in your understanding of God when you first got saved? When you 1st got save, your condition, your faith, your understanding.. Are you at the same point today? What about 5 years ago? What about 2 years ago? What about 1? If what you have is more, more powerful, more amazing, more intimate, more trustworthy, more beautiful, more sweet that it was before, then what makes us think that God is not capable of giving us more and more and more of himself in the days to come?
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
God has more for his people… Paul said:
Philippians 3:13,14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 12:1,2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;…
That’s what I want us to do now. Let’s look unto Jesus in this matter of being carried away in the Spirit. We looked unto Ezekiel for three messages. Let’s look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
- In Matthew 4:1 the bible says that, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”
- In Mark 1:12 the bible says that, “And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.”
- in Luke 4:1 the bible says, “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,”
- In John, the bible says nothing about the matter
I want you to take Mark’s words to heart in the message: “the spirit DRIVETH him into the wilderness.” I know others say “led”, but Mark gives us a better understanding: DRIVETH HIM. Let me ask it this way: What is driving you? Some are driven by money. Some are driven by survival; driven by hunger and want. Some are driven by greed. Some are driven by their career; by success. Some are driven by drugs; by beer. Some are driven by fear; by anxiety. What is it, that’s driving you? I tell you this: It was the Holy Ghost that drove Jesus into the wilderness. They didn’t have cars back then to drive, but a car is a pretty good example. If you were a car, then who’s driving that car? Listen, a car CANNOT drive itself! It needs a driver. It needs someone who knows how to drive; someone who’s got eyes to see the road; someone who can get us safely from point A to point B; one that can swerve around all the dangers on the road; one that know where we’re going; one that knows the law and obeys it. Amen?
You say, I don’t like the sound of that: “the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness…” You say, I don’t want anybody driving me! It sound like the Spirit is a slave driver. I don’t know about you, but I don’t get very far trying to drive myself… Most people don’t. And you know I’m telling the truth. Why does everybody scatter when the boss comes around? Everybody at work is having a great conversation, but when the boss comes around and wants to get in on it, suddenly nobody wants to talk anymore. Why is it we find it a lot harder to day dream when the supervisor comes into the room? Most people don’t DRIVE themselves. It’ll get done when it gets done. They may DRIVE to work, but I guarantee if anything is going to be accomplished, somebody better get in the driver’s seat!
So I want to look at this experience that Jesus had in the wilderness under the understanding that it’s the SPIRIT that driveth him into that wilderness. Jesus didn’t just wander into the wilderness by accident. He was driven there. He was piloted there by the Holy Ghost. He was led there by the Spirit. Jesus was walking AFTER the Spirit. Jesus was filled with the Spirit and then walked after the Spirit and this wilderness is where Almighty God in the person of the Holy Ghost had Jesus to come. Why is this so important? Because whatever happens in this wilderness we must remember it was the Holy Spirit’s idea to bring Jesus in there. Whatever happens and whatever is accomplished is the purpose and design of the Holy Ghost. That’s a lesson that God taught Ezekiel when he was carried away in the Spirit. He said:
Ezekiel 14:23 And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.
The Spirit may drive us into a wilderness someday, but it’s not without cause. If the Spirit brings us to a place or a time, whatever is accomplished is of the Spirit’s cause; of his design and his purpose. So I want to go over a few lessons that the Holy Ghost gives in the wilderness.
#1 The Difference Between the Word of God and Your Necessary Food
Matthew 4:3,4 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
I want to say this: Some things are just more important than others. Jesus made that very clear to Martha.
Luke 10:38-42 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Mary chose that good part, to hear his word. Something are just more important than others. I believe Jesus was telling Martha the same thing that he told the old devil in the wilderness, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. That’s a lesson Job learned for he said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food…” I cannot live on bread alone! There’s more to life than food. Man SHALL NOT LIVE by bread alone, but by every word of that proceedeth from the mouth of God SHALL HE LIVE! That word live… I want to remind us where we’re at in Roman’s: chapter 8. “For the law of the Spirit OF LIFE in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death…” Remember the bible says that to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is what? Life. Life and peace. Can I say this: The life giving power of the Holy Ghost no doubt comes from or IS the word of God. The life giving power of the Holy Ghost IS the word of God!
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart
Ephesians 6:13-17 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
You notice the very last thing that Paul speaks about is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The life giving power of the Holy Ghost is his sword, the word of God. That’s is the Spirit’s instrument of life and liberty. If we want life, we are going to have to have the word of God.
Psalm 19:7-10 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
The word of God is more to be desired than gold, and sweeter than honey. Some things are just more important than others.
Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. Jesus said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He believeth on me, as the scripture saith, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water…” Rivers of living water! The bible says, “But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given…” I’m just going to say this: The rivers of water in Psalm 1 is the power of the Holy Ghost. We want to live for God. We want to serve God. We want the Holy Ghost to use us for the glory of God. We’re going to have to put our delight in the Word of God. Some things are just more important than others. Jesus was filled with the Spirit of God, and was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness and fasted 40 days and 40 night and said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God…”
You can trust God’s word. You can live by the word of God. I love the word of god. It’s a comfort to my soul. It’s a lamp unto my fee, a light unto my path. It’s my hope for the future. It’s my history teacher of the lessons of the past. The word of God is the thrill of my soul. The word of God is the mind and heart of God and in it he demonstrates his love and care for me. In it, he tells me of his thoughts toward me. “Jesus love me, this I know, for the bible tells me so.”
John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God…
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The Word of God, it tells me of his grace: God’s riches at Christ’s expense. It tells me the truth. The Word of God is honest with me. Let God be true and every man a liar. The Berean Christians: They received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. The word of God is truth, or trustworth. You can trust the word of God. We got a lot on the line. Our lives, our children’s lives, our souls, our loved ones… We can trust the word of God. Some things are just more important than others.
Fitbit? (explain)
How about my bible reading? My spiritual health is more necessary than my physical health.
Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Lester Roloff said, “There’s only one thing that sheep eat. And that’s sheep food. Nothing will satisfy us like the word of God. Nothing will sustain us like the word of God. Nothing will nourish us like the word of God. Nothing will strengthen us like the word of God. Nothing will heal us like the word of God. Nothing will restore us like the word of God. I love the word of God. It’s been a friend and companion these many years already. Paul said to Timothy, “The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments..” Timothy, bring the old scriptures. Bring the old bible.
Prepping? (explain)
Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of god.
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
#2 The Difference Between Tempting God and Trusting God
I don’t think this would be recorded if it wasn’t important; if it wasn’t necessary.. And I think this applies well to the “once saved always saved” crowd. That’s us, Baptists!
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