Returning In The Power Of The Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21,22; 4:1-14)

Returning from where in the power of the Holy Spirit? The wilderness. At the age of 30 years, Jesus Christ was baptized by John and the Holy Spirit descended like a dove upon Him. The Father then said, "You are my beloved Son; in You I am well pleased"."  Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him, If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread. But Jesus answered him, saying, 'It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' "


Is it apparent to you that Jesus would have fallen short if He had provided for Himself in that situation? It is not necessary to explain how important eating is to the physical body, yet Jesus seems to understand that for Him, to indulge at that time would have been wrong. Certainly, He would multiply loaves and fishes to feed thousands on at least two occasions.  He was able to turn stones to bread. He was just unwilling. He knew He must continue the fast until His Father released Him from it. Satan, of course, wanted Him to give in to the physical hunger. Jesus did not. He lived by the Word His Father gave Him: the Bread of Life. The concern for how we will be sustained in this life is a powerful mover against the soul. I am convinced that in order walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, we also must learn how to walk just as He walked in matters of sustenance.


"Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, 'All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if you will worship before me, all will be Yours. And Jesus answered and said to him, 'Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.'  "  This "all" that Satan had was authority over the world system. He had it because of Adam's fall: Adam ceded that authority when he obeyed the serpent's temptation instead of the Father's truth. Jesus told us that His authority is from His Father and far exceeded Satan's limited rule. Again, Jesus chose to adhere Himself to the Word of the Father. We see men who seem to rule over vast financial systems, nations, states, municipalities. Men are looking to find righteousness in their actions. Yet Jesus says, "if you want to be great among men, let (that one who wants to be great) him become a servant."


"Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, 'If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here, for it is written: He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you, and, in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.' And Jesus answered and said to him, It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.' " I am still trying to understand how Satan thought this would be a temptation to Jesus after the first and second temptation. What foolishness! But what about us? Are we willing to test God's intent to protect with foolishness and abandon?


After failing to entice Jesus, Satan departed. He would return later. Jesus learned obedience through the temptations. Then, He returned in the power of the Spirit! We will also if we arm ourselves with the same mind. The same Spirit that empowered Jesus in His wilderness will do so in ours as we dwell in the secret place of the Most High!