INTERESTING FACTS : Samuel Adams - born Sept. 27 [Sept. 16, Old Style], 1722, Boston died Oct. 2, 1803, Boston politician of the American Revolution, leader of the Massachusetts "radicals," who was a delegate to the Continental Congress (1774-81) and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He was later lieutenant governor (1789-93) and governor (1794-97) of Massachusetts[1]

 

"Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual - or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country." [2]

 

Daily Reading : LUKE 4 - 5

 

TEXT : Luke  4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,  4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.  4:3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.  4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.  4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  4:6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.  4:7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.  4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.  4:9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:  4:10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:  4:11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.  4:12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.  4:13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.  4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.  4:40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.  4:41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

 

THEME : The Holy Spirit

 

Luke 4 

 

We left Christ newly baptized, and owned by a voice from heaven and the descent of the Holy Ghost upon him. Now, in this chapter, we have,  I. A further preparation of him for his public ministry by his being tempted in the wilderness, of which we had the same account before in Matthew as we have here (Luk_4:1-13).  II. His entrance upon his public work in Galilee (Luk_4:14, Luk_4:15), particularly,  1. At Nazareth, the city where he had been bred up (Luk_4:16-30), which we had no account of before in Matthew.  2. At Capernaum, where, having preached to admiration (Luk_4:31-32), he cast the devil out of a man that was possessed (Luk_4:33-37), cured Peter's mother-in-law of a fever (Luk_4:38, Luk_4:39), and many others that were sick and possessed (Luk_4:40, Luk_4:41), and then went and did the same in other cities of Galilee (Luk_4:42-44). [Matthew Henry][3]

 

Luke 5 

 

The miraculous draught of fishes at the lake of Gennesaret, Luk_5:1-11. Christ heals a leper, Luk_5:12-14. His fame being published abroad, he withdraws to the desert, Luk_5:15, Luk_5:16. He heals a paralytic person, at which the scribes and Pharisees murmur, but the people glorify God, Luk_5:17-26. He calls the publican Levi, who makes a feast for Christ, to which he invites a great number of publicans and others, at which the scribes and Pharisees murmur, and our Lord vindicates his conduct, Luk_5:27-32. The question about fasting answered, Luk_5:33-35. The parable of the new piece of cloth put on the old garment, and the new wine in old bottles, Luk_5:36-39. [ Adam Clarke][4]

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "TRIALS PRECEDE TRIUMPH."

 

In our text, we see Jesus full of the Holy Spirit.  Over 30 years have passed since the announcement made to Mary by the angel Gabriel that she would be "with child" by the (same) Holy Spirit.  It would be interesting to know what took place in the life of Jesus during those three decades.  Yet, God did not see fit to include this in the New Testament.  We do know though, one event that occurred when he was 12 years old - that He questioned and confounded the doctors of the Law of God with both his inquiries and His answers.  Beyond that, we do not know anything of the life of Jesus Christ for the first 30 years.  However, we do know this - his birth and his ministry began by the power of the third person of the Holy Trinity - namely, the Holy Spirit.

 

It is interesting to note that immediately after Jesus is filled with the Holy Spirit, He is led into the wilderness by the same Holy Spirit to be tempted by Satan.  Theologically, this does not fit well with modern (or postmodern) teachings you hear from the pulpit today.  Although the Holy Spirit is indeed a Comforter, it is He also who leads a Christian into fiery trials as well.  Again, this seems strange and foreign to the minds and hearts of many American Christians.  Yet, the fact remains - the Holy Spirit led Jesus Christ into the wilderness where he would be tempted of Satan.  You see this in the text itself.  Nothing could be plainer.

 

However, please note the result of Jesus' testing.  The text states - "...Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee." From the life of the Master, we glean this truth - trials precede triumph.  For this reason, it is encouraging to know if the Holy Spirit Himself is leading you into a trial - even if it is to meet  Satan face to face - you will eventually triumph!  Again, you see this in the Scriptures.

 

Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  

 

Now, as you have seen before in the Gospel according to Matthew, when Jesus meets Satan his weapon of choice is the Holy Scriptures.  The salient phrase "it is written" is the one you should pay close attention to.  The power contained in the Holy Scriptures is inestimable.  That is, in the 31,102 verses of the Bible there is - energy, confidence, guidance, deliverance, wisdom, and so forth.  There is no way to give a precise or complete estimation of what God's Word gives you.  What a tragedy so many people - including professing Christians, neglect to read, study, and memorize it. 

 

When a Christian cannot say to Satan "it is written" concerning any particular trial in their life, they are subject to the Devil's worst torments.  In the phrase "it is written" followed by an appropriate verse from the Holy Scriptures to combat the temptations, insinuations, and slander of Satan - you have perpetual triumph.  There is no end of victory for the Christian who is able to say like the LORD - "get thee behind me Satan." As noted, the ability and confidence that Satan will flee from you is found by submitting yourself to God through the Holy Scriptures.

 

Satan offered Jesus all that pertains to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.  Jesus refused them all.  Therefore,  you see Jesus living a life without sin.  You also see Jesus always gaining the victory over Satan and his cohorts.  Devils are cast out of many people, sicknesses are healed, impossible cases - where Man could not help his fellow man, become possible as Jesus comes along with power.  This power came from the Holy Spirit.  Yet, the power of God did not come without a cost.  Again, as you read, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of Satan and of course, to overcome him.  This is the truth and balance found in the Bible.  Trials and triumphs run like the railroad - on parallel tracks.

 

You would have it only one way.  Namely, triumph without trials.  However, this life, and particularly, life in Christ, does not function that way.  First, there is the trial, the temptation.  Then, once the LORD has accomplished what He desires in you, there is triumph.  Almighty God is able to perform and achieve many purposes in a single act.  As Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tempted, he also triumphs at the same time.  You might say, He goes into the wilderness in the weakness of the flesh, and returns in the power of the Spirit.  Like the alabaster jar broken by Mary in her home, the perfume and power of Christ in you cannot come forth for others to benefit by until the jar is broken.

 

Yet, the encouraging news is that you will triumph if your faith does not fail. The Apostle Paul was tested and tempted more than many of the other disciples and Apostles.  Still, he was able to say that Christ always caused him to triumph.

 

2Co 2:14  Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

 

Therefore, take heart.  For the fiery trial that has come to test you is no strange matter.  Everyone, specifically the LORD Jesus Christ, is led by the Holy Spirit to be tempted of Satan, evil men, enemies of the Gospel, etc. et al, along with a variety of other difficulties and tests.  Yet, in the end, you will be triumphant - just like Jesus!