Victory or Defeat

Friday, February 7th
Victory or Defeat
Pastor Todd Crofford

Luke 3:23-4:13

Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit as he left the Jordan River. The Spirit led him while he was in the desert, 2 where he was tempted by the devil for 40 days.
-Luke 4:1-2 GW

Some temptations are fleeting, but others are long. Jesus’ time of temptation didn’t last forty seconds or forty minutes - it was 40 DAYS. Forty difficult days.  He was hungry, exhausted, and maybe even nearing delirium- but he still wasn’t defeated. 

His secret is no secret at all.  Luke clearly states that Jesus was “filled with the Holy Spirit.”His energy may have been depleted and his appetites raging, but his spirit was full and that made all the difference.

The devil will choose different times to tempt us.  Sometimes when things are crashing and other times when we are soaring. Our victory or defeat in temptation is never going to be based on our circumstances, but always in whether or not we are filled with and reliant on the Holy Spirit. Ask the Spirit of God to fill you today so that you will not fall into temptation.

23 Jesus was about 30 years old when he began his ministry.

The Ancestors of Jesus
Jesus, so people thought, was the son of Joseph, son of Eli,

24 son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph,

25 son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai,

26 son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda,

27 son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,

28 son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er,

29 son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi,

30 son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim,

31 son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,

32 son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon,

33 son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah,

34 son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor,

35 son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah,

36 son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech,

37 son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan,

38 son of Enos, son of Seth,

son of Adam,

son of God.

The Devil Tempts Jesus
4 Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit as he left the Jordan River. The Spirit led him while he was in the desert, 2 where he was tempted by the devil for 40 days. During those days Jesus ate nothing, so when they were over, he was hungry.

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.”

4 Jesus answered him, “Scripture says, ‘A person cannot live on bread alone.’ ” [a]

5 The devil took him to a high place and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. 6 The devil said to him, “I will give you all the power and glory of these kingdoms. All of it has been given to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 So if you will worship me, all this will be yours.”

8 Jesus answered him, “Scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ”

9 Then the devil took him into Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest part of the temple. He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, jump from here! 10 Scripture says, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you to watch over you carefully. 11 They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock.’ ”

12 Jesus answered him, “It has been said, ‘Never tempt the Lord your God.’ ” [b]

13 After the devil had finished tempting Jesus in every possible way, the devil left him until another time.