Our Lord, led by the Spirit into forty days of fasting and prayer, was accompanied throughout the entire ordeal by the same Holy Spirit. The Spirit who guided Jesus into the wilderness sustained Him in the testing and trying days. Journeying with Jesus in life’s tests, we discover the Spirit who is with Him is also with us. The follower of Jesus is never alone.
The devil sought to use Jesus’ strengths against Him. “Misuse your miraculous power. Turn your greatness in on yourself and meet your hunger needs by morphing these stones into bread. I know you can. You know you can. Just do it, Jesus. Misuse your power.” The devil suggests.
Jesus, led and empowered by the Holy Spirit replied with the eternal word of God.
“If you won’t misuse your power, let me invite you to abuse your authority. We all know that all creation, angels included, are compelled to align with your authority. Just say the word and all creation responds.” The devil surmised.
Jesus, led and empowered by the Holy Spirit replies again with the eternal word of God.
“Since you won’t misuse your power nor abuse your authority, let me encourage you to manipulate worship. You are the Son of God worthy of all worship and glory. Let’s simply manipulate the equation just a bit and I’ll help you with fame and fortune. All it requires is for you, Jesus, to fall down and worship me.”
A third time Jesus, led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, replies with the eternal word of God.
In your desert journeying with Jesus, expect the enemy to urge you to misuse your power, abuse your authority and manipulate worship. That’s his standard operating procedure.
Led and empowered by the Holy Spirit in your journey with Jesus in life’s tests, you also reply with the eternal word of God.
“Be gone, Satan! For it is written…” Matthew 4:10