Scripture: Luke 4:1–2, NLT
“Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days.” (Luke 4:1–2, NLT)
Without Son Power, we are helpless to counter the deceitfulness of Satan. Notice in the above verses that Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit.” Son Power gives us the wisdom we need to counter the various temptations of the evil one.
The entire story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness is found in Luke 1:1–13. Jesus was filled with the Spirit and led into the wilderness by the Spirit. He was tempted by Satan when he was at a point of human weakness. It was only through the power of the Holy Spirit that he was able to overcome Satan’s temptations.
Satan tempted Jesus in areas of physical comfort, material blessings, and the allure of power and fame. With each attempt to tempt him, Jesus countered with the use of the Word of God.
Like Jesus, we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Spirit in our daily lives. Satan will approach us in our weak moments. We must be empowered by the Holy Spirit to have the living and powerful Word of God operating in us in order to be effective in countering the attacks of the evil one.
What Satan had to offer Jesus was merely temporary and perishable in nature. If Jesus had accepted any Satan’s offers, Satan would have been successful in thwarting God’s plan of salvation for mankind. Jesus had his eyes focused on God’s plan for his life and for the world.
When Satan offers us something that is of a perishable nature, there will almost always be a cost from an eternal standpoint. Satan never offers us a “good deal.” There is not a benefit when we accept something of a temporary nature in exchange for something of eternal value.
We need to be sensitive to the differences between the perishable and the imperishable. Remember, Satan is a great deceiver.
Talk to God
Heavenly Father, please give me the spiritual insight to reject perishable and temporal benefits that will cost me from an eternal standpoint. I do not want to be controlled by the perishable, indirectly worshiping the things of Satan. Fill me and lead me by your Holy Spirit always and empower me to pursue what is imperishable and eternal. Amen.
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