Driven into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil ~
And when he (Jesus) came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
The Spirit immediately drove… (Greek: to lead one forth or away somewhere with a force which he cannot resist)…him out into the wilderness.
Mark 1: 10-12 ESV
James wrote in his epistle concerning temptations, “If any lack wisdom let him ask of God.” I’m trying to hold a new perspective about ‘the pressings’ we all face in life. If we only had a new word for temptation, testing, and trials and could then understand that it was all a press upon us spirit, soul and body for a very specific purpose; then maybe we would be better at engaging and counting it all joy.
Let no man say when he is tempted he is tempted of God for God tempts no man with evil. The central thought James highlights is not that God does not test man, rather, he does not test with anything evil. Let us never forget God works all things together for good. Satan works to kill, steal and destroy going about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. We are instructed to resist Him. Submit to God resist the devil and he will flee.
Attitude and activity are required in every moment of temptation. First is the required submission; the humbling of heart and mind to join with His, then the warfare, if you will, to resist. Not a passive stance, but one that is fully clothed in the armour of God voiced in Ephesians Six, fighting to hold our ground and to not be moved away in the trying of our faith.
Jesus’ testing came on the heals of the heavens literally being torn apart. This Greek word is the same word used for the Temple Veil being torn when Jesus was crucified. A divine opening. I’d like for you to consider that event for a moment. In my mind I see a violent activity of the Spirit moving through the principalities, powers, rules of darkness in the heavenlies. With one great blow the Kingdom of Heaven descends to earth. God comes and inhabits this temple He has created. God in Spirit, dwelling in man. Jesus, being the first born of many, is His great plan. The Spirit of God Almighty comes fills and affirms Jesus as the ‘beloved son’. And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness ~ Luke 4:1 emphasis on “being full of the Holy Spirit”
All personal revelation must be tested, tried and found purified. We know from scripture the assailing doubts and the other short cut way Satan offered to Jesus. We learn exactly from Him how to submit and resist. Jesus went into the wilderness ‘full of the spirit’, Luke 4 and he comes out in the power of the Spirit. May every tested opportunity find us so.
Our days ahead hold many opportunities to shine, confident and glorious, not because our world is perfect, but because we are holding fast to the one who is. He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able but with the temptation will provide (Gr: I make, manufacture, construct) the way of escape, 1 Corinthians 10:13.
All things work to fulfill the purposes of God and in every situation God is at work. His incomparable great power is to us who believe. We need His wisdom, offered readily and willingly available when sought, to see and hear what He is working in us that is necessary for our good, so we, when tested, come forth purified and fit for our masters use …. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, Luke 4:14. Emphasis on ‘returned in the power of the Spirit’.
Father, in these days, we cry for your presence and power to be displayed within and through your church. We thank you for the presence of your precious Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. You are the Holy one who leads us as we walk through life yielded to your workings, yielded to your purpose. Let us be a people that are purified, washed and cleansed by your word. You have invited us to be partakers of your holiness so we say come and reign as Lord in your temple.
Amen.