Tested In The Wilderness

Tested in the wilderness

Luke 4:1-13

Introduction

This morning we will look at the wilderness experience of our Lord Jesus Christ just before He went to the cross for each one of us. We will see the ways that He fought off temptation to do what He knew God the father would be pleased with.

I don’t think any of us think to be God, but we can learn the lessons that Jesus gave us to successfully get victory over temptation.

It is cute to think that we have an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other and that whoever wins is what we do but that is not scriptural.

The biggest enemy of temptation that we fight is ourselves, our own flesh and blood and our own right or bad decisions.

To do what our moral compasses say to do or say back to God, I do not care what you say I will do my own thing.

Unlike the skit of Flip Wilson, the devil cannot make you do anything because he is not all powerful, he is a fallen angel that tries to influence us with our own bad habits and weaknesses, and we will stand before almighty God for our actions… so we had better get this right.

Prayer

The text this morning marks the beginning of Jesus ministry.

Jesus shows us that no ministry will accomplish all that it was intended without the Holy Spirit of God leading us and guiding us.

The beginning of Jesus earthly ministry must be traced back to Mark chapter one where John the Baptist is in the Jordan river baptizing believers, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

I am the forerunner, after me comes the more powerful one, one who I am not worthy to even tie his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit of God.

John is baptizing Jesus, and just as Jesus is coming up out of the water, he saw heaven open up the spirit of God descend on Jesus like a dove. And a voice came from heaven; “you are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Don’t get in a hurry with this text-

What would it be like to baptize Jesus and be in the presence of Almighty God?

The creator of the universe standing in front of you and you are trying to get out words like I am not worthy to even tie his sandals. He is the one I have been talking about.

Mark chapter one- “The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it Is written in Isaiah the prophet “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare the way- a voice of one calling in the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”

The Good News has come, and the Good News is anointed and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God and you are there witnessing it .

Jesus makes a statement later in His ministry that should be an encouragement for all that desire to do great things for God-

“He says greater things shall you do because I go to the Father so that the comforter may come to you. “Amen and Amen.

Do you think the church universal falls short of its potential when you hear Jesus say greater things will you do because each one of us are filled with the Holy Spirit of God

Luke chapter 4:1-13

Jesus is in the Jordan River, John has witnessed Jesus being baptized not only with water (John) but baptized in the Holy Spirit of God (God moment)

Jesus full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit of God into the wilderness.

Let’s stop there a minute!

What Spirit is leading Jesus out of the Jordan? The Holy Spirit of God! Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit-

He is ready to do some devil stomping and accomplish everything that God the Father intended for Him to do.

This is the beginning of Jesus ministry - The Spirit of God leads him into the wilderness-

If you are to go into the wilderness, you had better full of the Holy Spirit and you had better been led by the Spirit.

You do not want to go into the wilderness to fight the devil in your own strength and power and you had better not wonder off into the wilderness on your own.

The wilderness is a tough place without God- Amen?

Anyone know what I am talking about?

The language of our text shows us the power of the Holy Spirit working.

Jesus did not decide to go into the wilderness.