LUKE 4:1-13 LED OF THE SPIRIT This is a wonderful account of equals working in fellowship in this account of the temptation of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was full of the Spirit; perfect harmony and union were between these equal Persons. He was "led of the Spirit," willing to be directed by One who was His equal in an area of life He knew was going to be difficult. It is always right to listen to and be willing to follow the leading of those we trust and know have the same objectives as we do. Each of us has a role to fill and each one is able to learn from another, and adapt to another, whose work is quite different.
The leading of the Holy Spirit does not guarantee we will avoid the deep waters of difficulty. Nor does it mean we will not have to endure pain and suffering. It may actually take us into those places we had hoped to escape from. Still, it may mean we will be privileged to walk beside the still waters and feed from green pastures. In public participation in meetings, the leading of the Holy Spirit simply means we are guided to do and say what is appropriate for the situation and the moment. A brother may be led to rise and audibly pray at the same time a sister may be moved in silent prayer to add other thoughts to what he said out loud.
In the four places the leading of the Holy Spirit is mentioned in scripture, two have to do with the Lord Jesus being led of the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days of fasting. In Galatians and Romans where the leading of the Spirit has to do with believers, we are instructed to not act in the interests of the flesh but under the control of the Spirit. Trials may be brought on us by our own fleshly acts and wrong choices. On the other hand, it may be testing times through which the Spirit guides us. When these times of uncertainty come, the Word of God given by the Holy Spirit will enable us to make the right choices for the right reasons.
Forty days of fasting before public preaching was a time of holy fellowship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Satan's attack at the end of the testing time covers every area of appeal to a human being. "The lust of the flesh" was appealed to at the testing of the first Adam when he saw the "tree was good for food." To the second Adam, Christ, the appeal was made when He was hungry and He could easily have made the stones bread but that test found no response in Him. He answered with the Word of God. The trials of life are often the circumstances around our temptation or testing time. A bread-winner wants to have plenty for those he is responsible for. In those circumstances one can easily rationalize a change in what seemed to be the place God wanted us.
"The lust of the eyes" made the beautiful fruit "pleasant to the eyes" to the first Adam. When the devil showed the Lord Jesus all the kingdoms of earth, he hoped to succeed in diverting the second Adam from His mission and get His worship. This was not an argument about who owns the world but a challenge to human ambition. The Lord Jesus Christ had come to earth to undo the failing of the first Adam and never gave any quarter at all to the testing of Satan. Again, the answer given is a quotation from the scripture.
The final test Satan used was a challenge to the Person and power of the Lord. The "pride of life" is a subtle temptation in people as it leads us to a foolish or sensational display of one's self. The first Adam saw the fruit as "desirable to make one wise." He reached for, and took, that which was forbidden. There was no humility on his part as he yielded to the attraction of self-exaltation. Satan's misinterpretation of scripture had no appeal to the Lord Jesus, the second Adam. Again, quoting scriptures accurately and appropriately in contrast to the devil's misapplication of scripture, the Lord silenced the attempt of Satan to usurp authority. The answers the Lord Jesus gave from Deuteronomy 6 and 8 met each kind of temptation.
God allows tests for reasons known to Him in our lives today. These tests of the Lord Jesus Christ were so we know the value and perfections of the Person we have trusted for the salvation of our souls. We may be tempted through our strengths as much or more than through our weaknesses. Pride and self-reliance may keep us from trusting God and that is when Satan can successfully trap us. The guidance of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God is the way our heavenly Father has provided for us to avoid these attempts of our enemy to bring us down in defeat. The Lord defeated Satan by accurate and appropriate application of the scripture. The Holy Spirit can direct us also through the Word of God to those instructions that most suit the present need we have. We will be tempted and tested through our life here. With every temptation God has "provided a way of escape." It is our responsibility to apply that to whatever situation we are in. We are to commit ourselves to God alone to worship, serve and follow in every part of our life no matter how appealing the tempting offer seems.
It comes even when our fellowship with God is at its best. And we have found some time and place for quiet rest. From the most unexpected source it moves intrusively into our view, And we stop and consider what in normal times we would eschew. But at our leisure or even when found lying on a bed of pain That evil one comes as an angel of light seeking victory to gain Over a consecrated life that has as its objective, God's own glory. Then that power of dark temptation comes to change that life-story.
In ourselves we can't avoid the temptations that come from time to time. The temptation itself is not sin as long as I don't yield to it and make it mine. But it can get into the darkest recesses of the mind and take control, As Satan starts his subtle advances in the battle for "Man's-soul." He doesn't usually cease the attack at the end of the very first attempt. Temptation continues until his last sharp fiery dart has been spent. There is no final recourse open to us except, "Resist the devil and he will flee." Then we must in haste "Draw night to God," and He in turn draws nigh to me.
"Father, I am aware of the attraction of flattery and adulation. Even though I am an older man, there still is the subtle appeal when well-meaning people say kind and generous words. May I have the spiritual wisdom and common sense to give Thee all the glory for anything that is accomplished and is of value. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."