Morning, Noon, And Night – Man-Made Wilderness

MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT – 2

MAN-MADE WILDERNESS

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;[d] with you I am well pleased.”  Mark 1:9-11 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.  Mark 1:12-13 ESV

Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”;[a] the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.  1 Corinthians 15:45 ESV

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.  Mark 1:35 ESV

And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,  Matthew 14:23 ESV]

And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place.  Luke 4:42 ESV

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.  Luke 6:12 ESV

And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.  Mark 6:46 ESV

…great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.  Luke 5:15-16 ESV

Jesus overcoming temptation wasn’t made more difficult by his time in the wilderness…

it was possible because of his time in the wilderness.

“Disciplined people who engage in disciplined thought and who take disciplined action… this is the cornerstone of a culture that creates greatness”
Jim Collins, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t

IN MOTION
IN NATURE
IN SILENCE

And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.  And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  1 Kings 19:11-13 ESV

My mind remains a bad neighborhood that I try not to go into alone.  Anne Lamont

 …I did not immediately consult with anyone; nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years…. Galatians 1:16-18 ESV