March 5, 2017

Lenten Series: Shadowing Jesus

Lenten Series: Shadowing Jesus

Lenten Series:  Shadowing Jesus


Sunday, March 05, 2017

Woodstream Church

Mark 1:12

Mark 1:12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.  The Holy Spirit led Christ to go into the wilderness immediately following His baptism by John.  The same Holy Spirit who led, guided and compelled Christ is the same person who leads, guides and compels Christians.  Just as professional shadowing programs are wonderful opportunities for students to go into a workplace to follow the daily tasks of a professional in their discipline, Lent is our unique opportunity to shadow Jesus on His journey to the Cross.  In this Lenten Season, are you increasingly sensing you are being led by the Spirit of God to shadow Jesus?

Undesirable Places Are Sometimes God’s Desired Place For Us. If you are willing to go and endure the desert, then when you return you will have the mindset to willingly go to other undesirable places and meet with undesirable people under undesirable conditions.  Note that when we shadow Jesus, we are under His protection.  When you shadow Jesus in the desert, you will lose your fears about going where God leads.

The Lenten Season Reveals How Strong Or Weak You May Be. Shadowing Jesus means sacrifice, sanctification and surrender.  There will be temptations to derail, deter or distract you, but fasting and praying heightens your spiritual discernment.

Shadowing Jesus Overshadows Everything Else.  Focusing on Jesus allows you to tune into the more important things in life, gaining intimate knowledge, experience and confidence to do what and go where He calls you.  Many of God’s servants, like Jesus, spent time in the wilderness: Moses, Joshua, David, Elijah and John the Baptist.  Lenten Season is in some ways God’s Boot Camp, instilling discipline through demands and rigors, but providing delight if we endure.