I want to share what I learnt from studying Luke 4:1-13 in my quiet time.

“Jesus filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the spirit in the wilderness” (Luke 4:1)

This is significant because the Holy Spirit was the one that led Jesus into the wilderness, away from people and into spending time with Lord through prayer and fasting for forty days. But what makes this significant? It’s because, Jesus was graced by the Spirit of God to fast for such a long time. Before we even try to do something for God, fast, manifest the kingdom of God, host an atmosphere of Heaven, outwork His vision or operate in the spiritual realm – we must be led by Holy Spirit. It’s through the Holy Spirit there is revelation, knowledge, wisdom, guidance, strength, teaching, empowerment, discernment and so forth.

“If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25)

While Jesus was in the wilderness fasting, the devil came to tempt. This is important because whenever we are trying to grow in the spirit, the enemy comes to tempt our flesh. Our flesh represents carnality, the physical things that can defile our temple, our human inclinations, habits, desires and all these are opposite to the fruits of the Spirit (Read Galatians 5:16-24) What you feed will ultimately grow. As you allow your flesh to be stroked or even tickled, the spirit slowly die which blinds you, dulls your discernment and makes it harder to flee from sin.

“If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit” Galatians 6:8

1. Satan tried to tempt Jesus physically

Satan questioned Jesus’ authority and said “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread” (Luke 4:3). Though Jesus was famished (verse 2) he was still fervent. It’s in these moments especially when we’re fasting, there’s a chance that the enemy will try to tempt you with physical food, or spiritual junk food. Even though your stomach will growl and the pangs of starvation begin to kick in, we must remind ourselves that we “do not live by bread along but by the words that proceed from the mouth of God” (Luke 4:4; Matthew 4:4)

The word of God is your daily diet, it will always fulfil and satisfy you and in the midst of temptations, fight back with the Word of God.

2. Satan tried to tempt Jesus with “human desires”

Jesus was shown the kingdoms of the world and was given a bargain. If he was to bow down and worship the devil, all of these riches will become his. But remember, Jesus is the Son of God and all of these are already his. He not only is seated on the heavenly throne but also is a descendant of King David to which he also earthly throne.

However, for some of us, we might give into and sacrifice who we are to get what we want. Ask yourself, if I were to swap places with Jesus and was offered my deepest desire, would I get on my knees and worship Satan?

The enemy will always use our weakness and lay traps before you so that you will stumble. What does that mean for me as a Christian? With the desires of my heart, lusts, unclean heart, idolatry, soul ties, emotional bondages and other things done in secret – I need to make myself right with God so that the devil doesn’t have any ammunition thrown at me. The bible says, not to give the enemy a foothold because once he has something to use against you, he will try to pull you down.

You may not realise this, but what you desire becomes what you worship. Though this was not Jesus’ desire to claim kingdoms of the earth, Satan wanted to be worshiped.

3. Satan tried to tempt Jesus spiritually

The devil tried to test Jesus and said “throw yourself down from here” (Luke 4:9) and tried to quote scripture to back his idea. Jesus answered back with scripture also. When I read the verses that Satan used, it struck me because that is exactly the same verse found in Psalm 91:11-12

¹¹“He will command his angels
concerning you,

and

¹²On their hands they will bear you
up,
so that you will not dash your
foot against a stone”

If you have read Psalm 91, then you know it talks about abiding in God and when you dwell in His presence and walk with Him, He shall protect you. However, Satan tried to twist scripture to suit his intentions. This is alarming because that means, if we don’t understand the Bible, the devil can steer us in the wrong direction.

In the world today, people try to use scripture out of context to manipulate others or support their own doctrine. There are false prophets and leaders of the Church who lead the sheep astray by interpreting the Word of God in their own way. That’s why one of Paul’s prayers for the Church of Philippi, in Philippians 1:9-10 says,

“And this is my prayer, that you love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight (discernment) to help you determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless”

That’s why it’s crucial for us as Christians to be word-full to be God-filled. So that, in the moments of trials and the enemy questions us, we can lean on the Word of God and fight back like Jesus did.

Sometimes we can even find ourselves trying to justify our actions or use the scripture to do our own will by using bible verses out of context. Look at Jonah when God called him to speak to the people of Nineveh and let them know that their wickedness has angered the Lord. But Jonah decided to flee from the will of God and hide from His presence (I find this funny because God is omnipresent but anyways) Jonah was disobedient and hopped on board a ship stationed at Joppa in order to go to Tarshish.

Even when God redeemed him after Jonah prayed to God in the belly of a whale, he got upset because God showed mercy on the people of Nineveh. Though Jonah did what he was instructed to do, he was frustrated that he did all this only for God to show grace. In the moment of anger, Jonah tried to reason with God and explain why he felt his actions were rational.

¹But this was displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. ²He prayed “O LORD! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love….”

The reason why I highlighted this verse, is because this verse is found in Psalm 103:8, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding steadfast love”

Continuing on with Luke chapter 4,  Satan’s attempt to tempt Jesus failed and after “the devil had finished every test, he departed from until an opportune time.” (Luke 4:13)

The bible says in James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

The devil won’t give and though Jesus won that battle, Luke 4:13 that he departed until an opportune time. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy and will not rest. He attacks when we are most vulnerable and though he failed with Jesus in the wilderness, he will try again.

These were my notes from when I was studying Luke 4:1-13 alone and the revelation that God gave me. I hope this encouraged you.

God bless,

Susan xx