And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing…And when the devil had ended all the temptation…Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee…”
I must’ve read the first verse at least six times before moving on this morning. That word “full” literally means that Jesus was completely saturated and permeated in His soul with the Holy Spirit’s presence. The Spirit then led the Son straight into the wilderness. I’m not a Bible scholar, but the Word doesn’t say that the chief or sole purpose was to be tested by the devil.The wilderness was a place where David often found refuge and quietness from his enemy, while Israel fell in sin to the temptations that lie there. According to the scriptures it’s not an easy place to live.
But in that difficult place, when a soul remains steadfast in God, resists temptations from flesh and enemy, spiritual strength and power is granted by the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t say Jesus had power to resist first. He had the fulness of the Spirit’s presence. Yet, in His weakness He swung the weapon He was given and emerged fully equipped with the Spirit’s power for the ministry that lie ahead of Him.
His resistance to Satan came with His declaration of what the Word of God was in His life, Who His heart worshiped, and the wisdom He lived by under His Father’s authority. If you find yourself in a spiritual wilderness, not led there from sin in your life, be assured that the Lord is with you. And in your weakness, use the same weapon Jesus did. Jam.4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Make sure that His declarations are in harmony with your own. There is the key to victory and insight into true “strength training.”
