Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Jesus Christ who Overcomes Temptation
Biblical Passage: Luke 4:1-13
“Then Jesus left the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness” – Luke 4:1
Devotion
“Then Jesus left the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness” – Luke 4:1
Devotion
There is a childhood (or adult) game that is played called “Two Truths and a Lie”. The objective is to figure out which one of the three statements is the lie. I’ll go first. 1) We will have trouble in this world. 2) The devil is the father of lies. 3) Your adversary, the devil, is a sloth. So, which is the lie? The devil is by no means a sloth – he is “prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour” (1 Pet 5:8).
We have a very real enemy whose main agenda is to “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Right after His baptism where God, the Father, declared that He was well-pleased with His beloved Son, Jesus. Jesus was then filled with the Holy Spirit and led into the wilderness with the knowledge He would be tempted by the devil. Jesus walks into this battle with the entire Trinity. And so do we.
How do we prepare for our battles of temptation? We need to be filled up with the Father and His word. Jesus overcame the devil’s attempts with “sword of the Spirit – which is the word of God” (Eph 6:17).
We believe in the resurrection power of Jesus. “Through His death, [Jesus] might destroy the one holding the power of death – that is the devil” (Heb 2:14). When we are weak and susceptible to temptation, we declare the promise that “[His] grace is sufficient for us, for [His] power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). When we are weak, His power makes us strong.
“In Him, [we were] also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Eph 1:13). - the Counselor, the spirit of Truth. Note that Jesus walked into this temptation “full of the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1) But He also left this temptation “in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:13). The Holy Spirit walks with us through our trials and temptations. We are promised that “The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, establish, strengthen and support you after you have suffered a little while” (1 Pet 5:10).
Let’s face each trial, each temptation not with our own confidence but with Who is fighting with us and for us.
We have a very real enemy whose main agenda is to “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Right after His baptism where God, the Father, declared that He was well-pleased with His beloved Son, Jesus. Jesus was then filled with the Holy Spirit and led into the wilderness with the knowledge He would be tempted by the devil. Jesus walks into this battle with the entire Trinity. And so do we.
How do we prepare for our battles of temptation? We need to be filled up with the Father and His word. Jesus overcame the devil’s attempts with “sword of the Spirit – which is the word of God” (Eph 6:17).
We believe in the resurrection power of Jesus. “Through His death, [Jesus] might destroy the one holding the power of death – that is the devil” (Heb 2:14). When we are weak and susceptible to temptation, we declare the promise that “[His] grace is sufficient for us, for [His] power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9). When we are weak, His power makes us strong.
“In Him, [we were] also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Eph 1:13). - the Counselor, the spirit of Truth. Note that Jesus walked into this temptation “full of the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1) But He also left this temptation “in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:13). The Holy Spirit walks with us through our trials and temptations. We are promised that “The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, establish, strengthen and support you after you have suffered a little while” (1 Pet 5:10).
Let’s face each trial, each temptation not with our own confidence but with Who is fighting with us and for us.
Prayer
Father, we thank You for giving us victory over our temptations through Christ’s resurrection power. May we desire to treasure Your word in our hearts that we may not sin against You (Psa 119:105). Help us to use Your word against the enemy’s attacks on our lives – as You modeled for us. Amen.
Thought for the Day
I’m fighting a battle You’ve already won. – “You’ve Already Won” song by Shane & Shane
Anila Thomas
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church
Father, we thank You for giving us victory over our temptations through Christ’s resurrection power. May we desire to treasure Your word in our hearts that we may not sin against You (Psa 119:105). Help us to use Your word against the enemy’s attacks on our lives – as You modeled for us. Amen.
Thought for the Day
I’m fighting a battle You’ve already won. – “You’ve Already Won” song by Shane & Shane
Anila Thomas
Epiphany Mar Thoma Church