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What on Earth Am I Here For?
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Friday, October 3, 2003
My Prayer Today
Dear God, I thank you for saving me from my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life through you Son Jesus. You have given my life purpose and hope. In response to your love, I want to be able to love others by sharing with them what you have done for me so that they too can be saved. Help me to see the lost around me. I pray that your Spirit would guide me in the things I say and do. May my life be a testimony to someone today. Lead me at all times, and help me to be bold for you. I need you help in all of this! I love you Lord and I pray this in your name, Amen.
Bible Verses
Luke 4:1-14
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'" 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 So if you will worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against the stone.'" 12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Reflecting on Jesus' Life
God never intended that anyone should wrestle with the evil without the power of the Holy Spirit! Because we as human beings were born into sin, it is impossible for us to overcome the devil's temptations on our own ability or strength. We need as Savior who can give us that power. God promises those who have experienced a "new life" in Jesus, and know Him as their personal Savior, that they have the Holy Spirit living within them. Just as Jesus relied upon the Spirit during his temptation in the wilderness for forty days and came away victorious, so we as Christians can also have that same victory as we rely upon the Holy Spirit. The same Spirit that was leading and empowering Jesus during times of trial and difficulty, is the same Spirit that is within us as we also face temptation.
Exploring the Scriptures
Read Luke 4:1-14 again:
1. What is the significance of the Holy Spirit throughout this narrative?
2. Why did Jesus quote God's Word when the devil tempted him?
3. Is it wrong to be tempted? (No -- Jesus was, and he was perfect! But it is wrong to give in to the evil desires the devil offers when we are tempted).
Understanding How I Can Learn and Grow from Jesus' Life
It always seems like during the "wilderness" times of our lives that the enemy likes to come in and destroy us. The devil often seeks to take advantage of our weaknesses and vulnerabilities and exploit them. When Jesus was lead into the wilderness for forty days by the Holy Spirit, he was physically hungry from fasting. It was during this time of physical weakness in Jesus where the devil tempted him in order to destroy him. Jesus responds to the devil in Luke 4:4 by revealing that real strength comes not from physical food, bur rather by "real" spiritual food which comes from God's Word. Unfortunately, many Christians spend more time thinking about "natural" food for strength, rather than the spiritual. God knows that we need physical food to give us strength for each day, however, the true essence of strength comes from God and his word. It is truly his word that sustains us! If one goes a long period of time without eating any food they get physically weak. Likewise, if one goes a long period of time without eating any spiritual food they get spiritually weak. It is during the times of spiritual weakness where we find the greatest vulnerability to the enemy's attack. And those who deny the enemy's potential for destruction are often the most vulnerable to it. It is truly the word of God which sustains us. If we want to be strong and obtain the victory Jesus had over the devil, we must be rooted in God's word and be able to stand firm in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Applying Evangelism to My Daily Life
What is one area where the devil obtains victory in your life through temptation? (Examples: eating, lust, gossip, jealousy, pride, anger?)
Have you prayed today for victory in that area?
What are you planning to do when the devil temps you in that area?
Do you know several verses that you can stand upon that deals with you particular struggle? (If not, why not seek several verses out?)
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