From Evernote:

Bishop Jakes - In the Presence of Beasts

Mark 1:10-13

(KJV) Mark 1:13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Do I wait for he context to get better, or do I move forward in the presence of beasts?

This is the first time that Jesus rely steps into the full mantle of what he was called for. It is at he end of his baptism that the roller paddy ride begins.

Peaks and valleys, highs and lows... No matter what happens, once you strap yourself in, you have got to deal with it. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. If you wait long enough it will switch again.

Never again do you see father, son, and holy spirit come together. The Cristos comes upon him. A name changing moment. He got the validation of the father and he holy spirit in front of the crowd. Before he van enjoy he opiate of the experience, the spirit drove him into the wilderness.

Drive is an angry word. How can a comforting spirit turn and drive him... The implication is that there was some resistance. Life is mercurial. You don't know what the next moment will bring.

The same spirit that blessed him, pushed him unto a dry place where he was tempted by the devil.

The fast is not the temptation- it is the prep for he temptation. Preparation is never time wasted. We want him to deliver us from temptation, but if he did that it wouldn't be temptation. You can pray that he delivers you from evil, and that he leads you not into temptation.

God is not your mama.

We don't understand the difference between denial and deliverance. Just say no! Temptation we have to face.

You have to deny yourself.

At the end of 40 days, Satan begins to tempt him. There is a difference between natural cravings and tempting. Where is God? When you're really hungry and really lonely? What do you do when God says nothing at all?

This is the season when you prepare- when you get enough word in you to sustain when God is quiet. God said, I will not give you any more until you learn to live on what I already gave you.

Though he slay me, yet will I praise him... Because I remember what he did before. Its a test- to see what you remember. Close the book and see what you remember.

If you can be hungry and still praise him... Lonely and still praise him... Under attack and still praise him...

Satan tries to get Jesus to violate his own law by worshiping him. That would prevent him from going to the cross. Whereas at Getheseme, Jesus prays to bypass the bitter cup. Temptation an only occur when you eat something. So you have to know me in order to tempt me.

Satan knows the word. He tries the pride of life. It is written hat the angels will save you. Show yourself. "you don't know who I am."

Those three tests are all he has: lust f eye, lust of flesh, pride of life. These were the same three tests he used on eve. Jesus rebuked him each tome with word. You have to know the word in order to be able to fight.

To beat the devil you have to whip that word on his head...

When you go through this level of fight, you don't have any energy to shout afterwards. You're empty, you're drained... You don't have anything Kelsey to live off of.

You're drained and you're tired, and you're afraid to admit to anyone bc you're everybody's hero. You're up against the ropes and you're gas has run out.  Stop being ashamed. God said that season in your life is over. The angels are coming.

Thank God for angels on the way.

When the angels came to minister, the wild beasts came too. There are no wild beasts in the desert. The beasts represent all those things that are standing up in front of your face right now. Things that don't make any sense. They don't even fit in the story. Christ received the creatures ministry in the presence of beasts.

You've been waiting for he beasts to leave- but you're going to have to do it in the presence if beasts. You have to go on jn the presence of beasts.

He has prepared a table before thine enemies. Take your life dreams and expectations off of hold and do it anyway. There is nothing that the beasts have that can compare to he angels. Change your attitude- lift up your head and smile in the presence of beasts. Don't fight them.