His temptation and ours

His temptation and ours
+ The Lord’s temptation:
Saint Luke the Evangelist tells us that after Jesus Christ was baptized in Jordan He” Returned from
Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those
days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered” ( Luke 4:1-2). Here my
beloved, we can correlate between baptism and being led by the Spirit, then the wilderness and the forty
days then also fasting and lastly hunger.
We have to realize that whoever believe in Jesus Christ And come to Him as the incarnate Son of God,
Who died for our salvation and rose up for our justification and ascended into the heavens to prepare us a
place; so He can come again and take us with Him to His eternal heavenly glory. Whoever accept this
and is baptized and buried with him in baptism and accept the Holy Spirit Who consecrates all his life and
organs with The Holy Mayroun becoming a temple for God in which the Holy Spirit dwells, all those who
walk in the heavenly path, has to be led by the Spirit, submitting all their will, yearnings, and life to the
Spirit of the Holy God.
Jesus Christ was a full human resembling us in everything except Sin, A perfect example of a human that
has God’s image. When He was baptized as a human, being led by the Spirit” And Jesus being full of the
Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness” ( Luke 4:1). This is a
normal outcome for anyone who is baptized and led by the Spirit” I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s
day” ( Revelation 1:10). Also” And immediately I was in the spirit” ( Revelation 4:2). The Spirit in us is
ready to command our lives and lead as soon as we submit to Him in all life aspects. And when the Spirit
leads, our human mind becomes enlightened, distinguishing between what’s false and what’s true,
between what’s real and what’s deceitful, because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, Who teaches and
guides us to all truth, therefore we do not marvel when we read the Word of God that says” But the
natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he
know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself
is judged of no man” ( 1 Corinthians 2:14-15). And the more we submit our intellect and will to the lead of
the Spirit, the more will He lead us smoothly in the wilderness of this world which leith in wickedness. The
more biased we become to the guidance of the Spirit within us in calling us to pray, being nourished
through the word of God, not inclined to the lusts of the flesh but obedient to the commandments of the
Lord, quickly repenting, whether in thought , words, actions or any of other senses, the more we do this,
the more the hand of the Spirit will clearly lead our lives in the most precise details. Here it is necessary to
emphasize the importance of prayer, so that our requests might reach the Lord and then take the answers
and guidance from the Bible. It is also important for us to sharpen our sight and listen, to submit our
hearts to what the Spirit lead us to, going back to our father in confession from time to time, lest we do not
get lost, for two is better than one.
+ Our temptation
We have to be tempted if we accepted to be born from above to become the children of God. We are
strangers in this world which is the devil’s kingdom. This is what John the beloved saw in his revelation,
that the devil, who is called the dragon, was angered by the church who gives birth to the Lord’s offspring
by the water and the Spirit” And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the
remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ” ( Revelation 12:17). Hence, since our Lord was tempted in the wilderness, we as his children have
to be tempted in the wilderness of this world as well. And as the Lord had been tempted for forty days,
and the number forty symbolizes completeness , satan won’t stop tempting us until our lives are
completed on this earth. Therefore, the Lord command us to watch and pray so we do not fall into
temptations” Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
weak” ( Matthew 26:41). ”
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of
the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. ( Ephesians 6:12). Yet, ” In all
these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us” ( Romans 8:37). For when the Lord
fasted, He fasted with our human body and conquered all diabolical temptations, giving us the victory
over the devil, for if we are in Him, He is in us. ” Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you”. ( Luke 10:19).
Therefore, we do not fear anything, no matter what persecutions and temptations the world test us with,
because the the Lord is with us, and if the Lord is with us then who is against us?! We cry out victoriously
with David and say” Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for
thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” ( Psalm 23:4). Perhaps the word ( with me) fit the
Old Testament, but for us who are in the grace of the New Testament, the Lord is in us and us in Him,
didn’t He declare this in His last intercessory prayer” I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made
perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast
loved me” ( John 17:23). Giving us His Body and Blood” He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood,
dwelleth in me, and I in him” ( John 6:56). And since the Lord shared our humanity, facing and conquering
pain” For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are
tempted” ( Hebrews 2:18).
Dear reader, no matter how much your sufferings and temptations from the devil were, or from the flesh or
the old man, know that the Lord shares your pain and sorrow, not out of sympathy but to give you His
victory that conquered the devil on the mountain of temptation. Just put your distress in front of the Lord
in your prayers and He will take care of you. And know that fasting and prayer kick demons out of your
life, home, family and work, if they were sincere from The heart and were humble before God. The Lord
be with you.