Have you ever been studying the Bible and suddenly you read something that makes you want to leap from your chair and shout out loud?
Maybe even do an undignified spin or twirl.
That happened to me this week. I was reading about how Jesus was led in to the wilderness.
I’ve got to be honest.
A bleak, lonely wilderness where satan pesters you and pokes at you with temptation seems like the last place I’d want to be, but as I read verse 14, it stopped me in my tracks. It said this:
Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power.
How is that even possible?
So I went back to the beginning of the story and I found this:
Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. (Luke 4:1)
There it was. A bookend of sorts. Jesus went into the wilderness full of the Holy Spirit. After 40 agonizing hungry, wearisome days, he left the wilderness filled with the Holy Spirit’s power.
The wilderness was real. Bleak. Lonely. Dark. Tangible and big.
But what was inside of Jesus was just as real and more powerful.
When people talk about temptation they often talk about it as if it’s a fault. We’re told that we shouldn’t be tempted. That if we were more spiritual, more tuned in, more “you fill in the blank,” that we wouldn’t be tempted at all.
Not true. Not true. Not true.
Jesus was tempted.
I don’t understand fully why the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness where the enemy taunted our Savior, jabbed at Him, and tried to influence Him to do what was unwise and against God’s plan for His Son.
But what I do know is that Jesus turned that around each time and put the emphasis on the truth of God’s Word.
This is who God is.
This is who I am in Him.
He showed the enemy what was inside of Him.
Are you struggling with temptation?
Let the enemy know the truth of who God is, and who you are to Him.
And we’ll celebrate together as you walk away from that battle filled.
Suzie
I hope you’ll join me in today’s #livefreeThursday link up!
The prompt is: Filled.
Filled with His Spirit. Filled with joy. Filled with strength. Filled with Him.
1. Link up your inspiring post with the button below.
2. Feel free to grab the #livefree button (on the right) to display on your blog.
3. If you don’t have a blog, talk to me in the comments. I’m reading everyone of them.
4. Then, and this is the only thing I ask of you. Leave a comment on the post linked up right before yours. Tell her that her words matter. ♥
Suzie, fabulous words as always. This post gets me thinking. Did the Spirit lead Christ into the wilderness so Christ could draw on the strength of the Spirit more and more? Sometimes, I know that I most am aware and reliant on the Spirit and workings of the Lord when I am going through a trial and through temptation. However, I could counter this by saying that Jesus would already be completely in tune to the Spirit. Anyway, it gets me thinking (and I love thinking!). Lord, let us fall on the power of your truth when everything comes to pull me off track. Thanks Suzie.
I don’t know the answer to that, but it’s a good question. The main thing that I saw was that the wilderness wasn’t bigger than what was on the inside of Jesus, and that’s something I can trust to #livefree!
Good morning, Suzie! What a great word – FILLED. I honestly don’t know how I ever made it without His precious spirit helping, guiding, and comforting me through the ups and downs of life. So thankful for Him today:) Blessings!
Suzie– I love this. I love that the prompt filled goes along with the word God is teaching me– MORE. I so often am tempted to be filled with other things besides God. And He has more then I can ask or imagine. Thank you so much for these beautiful words. Live filled today Suzie!
Your words matter. Yes, our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think. To Him be the glory!
I loved your blog post on this topic, Jenn. Empty me so that I can be filled. What a powerful message.
Blessed by this message. Family going through a dark time having lost our precious daughter in law last Wed. She went so quickly. We are in shock. Our son devastated. But still God is good. We will trust in His goodness and come through this trial stronger by the power of His Holy Spirit. Jesus fill us with your Spirit take such control that as we live each day others may see Your Glory.
i can’t imagine the depth of your loss. I pray your are filled with comfort today and tomorrow and every day after. I am truly sorry.
Good morning, Suzie! I love this idea of your #livefree linkup. What motivation for me to write. Even just a small post like today, at least I’m writing and sharing. Love you! Kim Stewart
Jump in, Kim, every Thursday! Love seeing your beautiful face here.
Wow, Suzie! I love learning new things about the Word and I never noticed this before either. He was filled with the Spirit, led by the Spirit and filled with the Spirit when he left. How powerful. Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. Thank you for sharing. I will surely be remembering these truths the next time temptation strikes.
Abby, I love seeing your smiling face in this community. So thankful for you.
Suzie- Last night when I quietly considered the word “filled”, I wondered what you would write, what I would learn, what it meant to me to be filled and why it was important! You have added strength to my heart today! It’s strength that comes from the word of God being stored in my heart. And I’m praying every woman struggling with temptation is armed and ready to “Let the enemy know the truth of who God is, and who they are to Him!”
Thanks, Jodie. I am so excited to read all of these posts. Love you and your heart for ministry!
Wow, I love this site! Every time I read your posts it reaches to something in me that I need to remember or to learn a little better. Thank you.
Thanks, Betty. So glad you dropped by today!
Thanks Suzie. Your words so often speak to my heart. How many times have I read this passage but not really had it register. Thank you too, all of you for sharing. I often am just as blessed by everyone’s posts and gain even more insight.
Wow thank you for highlighting the fact that the reason Jesus returned from His trials “filled with the Holy Spirit’s power” was due to the fact that He entered them “full of the Holy Spirit.” The Lord says we will not be tempted beyond what we can handle and that He will provide a way…through His indwelling power of the Holy Spirit.
Great reminder and encouragement to face today with!
Thank you Suzie 🙂
That was my “leap from the chair” moment. What a powerful glimpse of what our faith offers in the harder places. <3
You preach it, Suzie! What a great message of hope. I’ve noticed before that He was LED by the Spirit, and FILLED with the Spirit’s power, but never noticed how those bookend the passage, and how He was full of the Spirit in the first place, which enabled Him to be empowered to face temptation. I love the way you’re presenting truth here. Love the idea of your linkup, look forward to joining in the future.
Betsy, I’m so glad to stay connected through our blogs!
Thank you Susie! What a wonderful Truth to remind ourselves of when tempted to believe the lies of the enemy. I’m new to your site, and am really enjoying the community God has put together here. Thanks for continually speaking Truth!
Thank you, Meagan. I just visited your blog and your post was powerful! I hope others will check out the message. I know there have been times in my life that it would changed the direction of my thoughts, and therefore my actions. Thank you for sharing!
I so appreciated the opportunity to share! God has been so patient and gracious toward me. The Truths I spoke of in my post were ones that were instrumental in giving me a complete shift in my thinking. I’m grateful to God for the freedom He intends for us not only for eternity, but here in the meantime as well! Your post and the ones linked here are great reminders of that 🙂
Suzie, sorry! I shouldn’t try to post so early in the AM 😉 couldn’t find a way to edit my original comment.
I just read a Psalm this morning that made me want to leap! 🙂 I love this truth you highlighted today, Suzie. I find myself like a sprinter. I like short bursts of accomplishment, but when it comes to marathon-type assignments I’m tempted to quit. This truth of Jesus being filled even through 40 days in the wilderness makes me smile and gives me strength to keep moving!
Suzie, I found your site through the compel website which I joined a number of months ago. The Lord led me to compel while driving one night to complete a late evening errand. I had recently felt God calling me to go out on a limb and started a blog. As I was driving I was praying about the blog and Lysa came on the radio telling about compel. I don’t normally do this but I went right home and signed up. I have gained so much guidance, information, and inspiration from the site. Thank you for your part in that. I am excited God has led me to a community of His writers and I pray He will use us all to spread His message. Thanks so much. Sandy Sheridan
Buenas, gracias por la informacion , me ha sido de gran utilidad,
la compartire !!!Besos!!!!.
Hola, buenísimo el artículo, muy util, lo compartire.
Abrazos a todos
Buenas, gracias por la informacion , me ha sido de gran utilidad, la compartire !!!Abrazos!!!!.
Mil gracias por entregar a todos una fantástica posibilidad como para leer los comentarios críticos de este weblog.
Siempre y en todo momento es muy fantástico y también rellena con un montón de diversión para mí y mis compañeros de oficina los
trabajadores a visitar el weblog más de 3 veces a la r
semana para leer por medio de los nuevos consejos que has conseguido.
Y, en verdad, estoy tan frecuentemente satisfechas con sus
ideas creativas atractivas que sirve.
Ciertas áreas dos de este artículo son indudablemente el
más eficaz todo lo que hemos tenido.
Super-Duper blog Soy cariñoso !! Volveremos más tarde a leer
un poco más. Hago uso de los feeds Asimismo
Yo simplemente no podía salir de su lugar antes de sugerir que me gustó mucho la información habitual
una persona proporcione para sus visitantes?
Hmm es cualquier otra persona teniendo inconvenientes con las imágenes en este blog
carga? Estoy tratando de averiguar si es un inconveniente
en mi final o bien si es el blog.
Cualquier respuesta sería apreciadísima.
Como novato, estoy navegando de manera permanente on line para los artículos que me puede
asistir. Gracias
Temas maravillosos en total, que acaba de ganar un nuevo lector.
¿Qué podría sugerir sobre su publican que acaba de crear un puñado
de días en el pasado?