Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
January 05, 2024: SOAP #5146: Genesis 9-11; Luke 4 (skipped yesterday so doing today.) 

SCRIPTURE:  Luke (NIV) 4:1 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….
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

OBSERVATION:  The important role of the Holy Spirit continues in chapter four. Jesus had been filled with the Holy Spirit at His baptism in Jordan by John.  Now he returned “full” of the Holy Spirit.  There was a fresh, new, empowering relationship with the Holy Spirit as Jesus steps out into the ministry for which He was sent.

Now that the Sinless Man is walking in the anointing of the Third Person of the Godhead, one might expect the beginning of a fantastic ministry, one for which the world had long waited.

But the preparation was still lacking.  There needed to be an encounter with the one who tempted Eve in the garden.  This Sinless Man would have to demonstrate His power to resist the evil one. NOTE:  it was not the devil who trapped Jesus in the wilderness, but the Spirit who led Jesus into the wilderness.

The timing was right.  The anointing was present.  The battle was engaged….  Jesus won!

APPLICATION:  We each have our encounters with evil and with Satan.  Temptation is all around.  But for those who have invited Jesus to forgive their sin and become their Lord, there is a greater power within than the power of Satan’s temptation!  Jesus has already been victorious over temptation!   And Jesus lives within me!  When I am fighting temptation, Jesus does not stand beside me and give me words of encouragement, NO, He does much more.  He actively confronts Satan’s attacks on me.  As I yield to Jesus, Satan soon discovers that he is not fighting Leon, but Jesus, dressed as Leon. 

PRAYER:  Lord, Your presence ensures my victory!   Amen

Pastor Leon  
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