Welcome Back & Group Life Plug

SPEAKER_03 0:18

What's up, Life House family?

SPEAKER_04 0:20

Welcome back to the Life Talk Podcast, and we are blessed to have you all with us each and every week and uh coming to you with more great content, more discussion on God's word, and journeying through Luke. And man, I've got the three amigos with me again. It's like awesome. You guys haven't forsaken me. I just feel like we're we're bonding. You know, this is like got the campfire going and just talking scripture. It's amazing. So for the listeners, you'll you'll recognize. Well, Jeremy got to go first last time. Rico, man, I feel like you've been last. So I'll just go first. How are you? How is Rico today, man?

SPEAKER_03 0:58

It's been doing it's been a week, you know. It's it's all all rolling along, good with you. Absolutely. Well, well, welcome back. Good, good to have you, my friends. It's good to have you. Too long on a break. That's right. A week is just too long. We didn't get daily, but who doesn't, you know, we'll get some listener demand.

SPEAKER_04 1:18

Maybe we'll do this every day. Jonathan Bush, what's going on, man?

SPEAKER_02 1:22

Glad to be here.

SPEAKER_04 1:23

Looking forward to uh getting into chapter four. That's right. We are moving ahead, and the man of this episode. That's why I had to make you go last. We had to set you up. You know, you gotta lead the conversation, drive it today. So I figured I'd give you a little slow intro. But Jeremy Ulrich is with us today.

SPEAKER_01 1:38

Hey, once again, the thanks for having me on. Hey, how is your connect group? You know, you just did it twice, and yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:44

I was like, well, let's just go ahead and uh, you know, something in your connect group. What are you guys talking about these days?

SPEAKER_01 1:49

Well, we're still going through, you know, it's a long, long, long uh journey through 2 Samuel, but we're we're we're enjoying it. And I will uh put in a plug for Kinect groups as always. If you can't, if you're not in a Connect group, like or if you're not connecting in a small, in a small uh small group, just do that. Like I would encourage you to do that. Um, you know, as the church grows larger, we have to grow smaller, like, and that is just so key for us to be able to develop those relationships. The guys in my group, uh, you know, we've developed that that brotherhood, and um, you know, we're just like we come together, encourage one another, pray for one another. It's it's one of the highlights of my week.

Setting Up Luke 4:1–15

SPEAKER_04 2:30

Uh I know I give you that shameless plug there. But really, truly, we are in the month of February, and uh groups are really getting off the ground. So definitely if you're here in the MOT area, part of Lifehouse Church, if you're not doing something like this, chatting scripture with people, listening, uh, we just highly encourage you to get engaged, uh, be part of that discussion. So appreciate you giving that. But on to the important matters of the episode today. We are moving to Luke chapter four, and we're gonna slow down a little bit. We won't do the whole chapter. We're going to really focus on the temptation of Christ. This is really a huge, huge thing that I think we need to focus on. And so today we're going to uh what's the verses? Jeremy's gonna correct me. He's my my QA QC guy.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

One through I mentioned it one time, and now hey, see, this is don't don't bring it up on the podcast because it'll uh you can tell we have fun here on the live zone, but we are going through Luke 4, 1 to 15 today. So that's a good segue.

SPEAKER_03 3:31

Take it away on one to fifteen.

SPEAKER_01 3:33

So in this passage, uh we we see the temptation of Jesus um in the wilderness by Satan. Um, and we as we were talking a little bit in our in our prep time, like this is a little bit the order is a bit different than what we see in the other gospels. Um, and you know, it's just like it each of the gospel writers was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the way that they wrote. Um, you know, Luke is in is looking at Jesus' humanity and how he's the savior for all mankind. So that may have been one of the reasons why the Holy Spirit led him to write it in this way versus Matthew, who had the order a little different. Um, but they did I you you had some comments about that too.

SPEAKER_04 4:16

Yeah, I think too. This is, and we talked about the genealogy last time with Jonathan, how people like to poke holes in the gospel, and skeptics will say because there's some differences that well, we can't trust the Bible, and this is a reason it's not true. But as you just pointed out, each writer is writing from a different perspective and for a different purpose and reaching different people. And so I think as you note, and and we'll go through it, Luke's focus is Jesus the man, his humanity, how he identifies with us, which we see so much in this chapter. And so he's gonna really emphasize you know the final temptation where I don't want to steal any thunder, but you know, self-preservation, you know, we all are about ourselves, we all have a lot of pride that we can just you know do whatever we want and preserve, but Luke's gonna show us that's not the case, and so that's kind of his really, I think, pinnacle in this. Whereas Matthew's talking, Jesus is the king, you know, and so the the real pinnacle of of what Matthew was showing was when Satan tempted him or all of the power in the world, but Jesus like he is the king. So I think that's important to draw out and and what we as Christians should know so that when we're questioned about these things, we have good answers for them.

Why Luke’s Order Differs From Matthew

SPEAKER_02 5:30

Yeah. And to realize too that just the perspective for each of the writers is uh they're the uh when they highlight this, it's not that they were there. You know, he was he was interviewing, you know, in the case of Luke, he was interviewing others and probably secondhand. And so it was what Jesus told them. And so, you know, when you tell something, it's not always just, well, I told you at eight, eight o'clock what I did, and then what I did at nine o'clock or what I did at 11 o'clock. It's probably like over the day, this is what I've done. And so then to try to repeat, recreate that is, you know, isn't necessarily what's trying to be communicated. What's trying to be communicated is is what I wanted you to know. Like today, uh, you know, I was doing a check ride, and so I had to train some guys, and and that process, I didn't tell you exactly the whole process from A to B from one, two, three, four, but I just told you the main, you know, those main points. And and at least for me, it just gives me a lot of encouragement when I see this because it just increases my faith in the authenticity of what the Bible is and what it communicates, and that it truly is the word of God.

SPEAKER_01 6:31

Right. Well, today we are stepping into one of the most intense moments in Jesus' life when he's tempted in the wilderness. Before Jesus ever preached a sermon or healed a sick person or called a disciple, the Bible records him being taken into the wilderness by the Spirit for a private battle before his public minute. So we're gonna dive in, we're gonna we're gonna read a few verses and then we're gonna stop and stop and reflect and talk. But we're gonna start with uh start in Luke 4 when it starts when Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for 40 days he was tempted by the devil, he ate nothing during those days, and at the end he was hungry. So Jesus he's being he had just been baptized, he had this spiritual high moment, right? Like we we often have those uh our ourselves, and then this and the spirit disp descends on him, the father affirms him. It's just this like this this great high moment, and then immediately, Mark even says in his gospel, he likes to use the word immediately, the spirit leads him into the wilderness. Um and we talked about last week how the how wilderness moments are like are are sometimes formation moments, and the wilderness is not a mistake. This was God initiating this um before Jesus could publicly minister, he must uh triumph privately. And the things that we do in private are um are just as important as the things that we do, if not more important than what we do than and how we act publicly.

SPEAKER_00 8:12

Um I think looking at this uh initiation in chapter four, it gives us uh security in the trust of the word of God. Uh as we look at John, what happened to him before he started proclamation of the repentance. Now we're looking at the one who took his spot. Well, let me rephrase that. He didn't take his spot, he just completed the prophecy that was happening. Right. So before he even started his ministry, in isolation, we see that with John. You need to go back by uh by yourself, we see that with John, right? So what we're gonna see here is so amazingly how leading by the Spirit you're gonna get that affirmation of your identity.

Led By The Spirit Into Wilderness

SPEAKER_04 9:10

Yeah, and I think too, you mentioned the wilderness, which we know we talked about last time with John the Baptist, you know, being in the wilderness. We talked about exit the wilderness. So I like what you pointed out, you know, how we have to often endure those things for those private battles. You know, those are the kind of things where if you haven't, and we've talked about this on the episodes, you know, being before doing, you know, before you can go out and do, you know, have you really been sanctified internally? And I think that's going to pour out. Have you taken every thought captive? And we're gonna get more into the temptation side and what that looks like. But if you haven't gone through those battles and really proven yourself, then how are you ready to go out and and do those other battles, you know, when you haven't been through it? So Christ, as we've consistently said and throughout Luke, you know, Christ sets the example for us. And we talked about Jesus as a child being baptized, it's been a consistent theme. Hopefully everybody picks up that the gospels have themes. You know, there's really so much where continues to draw out, you know, continuing to see these consistent things that it doesn't change about what we know at Christ. So I think you're leading into that really well.

SPEAKER_01 10:23

Yeah. And the the one of the things we can pull out of this is that Jesus was tempted, right? Temptation, and we know that Jesus was was without sin. So temptation itself is not sin. That's good. Jesus experiences temptation without uh internal sinfulness. And you know, Hebrews, the author of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 4 15 that we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness. But he but we have one who in every way, in every respect, has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

SPEAKER_02 10:56

Just temptation a lot. I think sometimes we just in the in our minds it's like, well, if I'm just not tempted, then I won't sin. But I think to some level that that is well, one, it's not uh it's not realistic, but you know, we got our flesh, we got to combat every day. But two, at the same time, I mean, it's it talks here that you know the purpose, Jesus knew his purpose, he knew his identity, like we we've talked in previous weeks. But it then the Holy Spirit, he was fulfilling his role by taking Jesus to where he needed to be, which was in the wilderness, which was to face the devil, which was to stand up to the devil. And so for us, we should on a daily basis be anticipating that we're gonna have temptation, we're gonna have challenges for today. And it's Lord, you know, hopefully the prayer is is Lord help me to be ready for and a lot of times we know what it is, because it's probably something I was struggling with yesterday. So what is it that that I am battling with? And um, you know, praying that for for the spirit to help me and for Christ to to allow me to have victory and overcome that.

SPEAKER_04 11:57

And I would say not even temptation, but temptation and weakness, you know, the 40 days, the hungry. When are we at our low? Usually when we're tired, we're hungry, or you know, we're angry and frustrated about something. So, you know, I have to think that's like could be all of these things in Christ. He's hungry, he's tired, he's probably kind of frustrated with you know, not having those things. So those are when we are extremely susceptible. And so it's not like Christ was you know at his peak and you know, well fed and you know, physically, yeah, no big deal. These temptations were real because of you know that that state. So we had to be in that position where this was very real temptation.

unknown 12:38

Right.

Temptation Is Not Sin

SPEAKER_01 12:38

Yeah. So what before we move on, I wanted to like a lot of these temptations, and as we again, as we were talking in our pre-meeting about here, we were uh talking about the that a lot of temptations kind of boil down to what John talked about in 1 John 2, 16. That uh, and I'll just read that verse, for all that is in the world, the desires of the flesh, and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world. And we can actually see those three, the like the other other versions would say the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Um we could see those three exampled out here in in the temptation that we see. But we're let's let's read verses three and four, and then we'll and we'll we'll we'll pause again. And the devil said to him, If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread. And Jesus answered, It is written, man shall not live on bread alone. And so what we see here, first thing I want to highlight is that the the small word, I talked about being a little bit of a word nerd before, but like the word if here is also could also be translated since. Like he wasn't saying, Hey, I'm questioning whether or not you're the son of God. He's like, Since you're the son of God, you have this prerogative to do these things, which is even more of a temptation for Jesus because he has these, he has this, he he could command the stones to become bread, and uh, you know, and but then what happens to G to the to Jesus and his ministry if he actually fails in one in one of these temptations? Um that's a whole deep conversation. I don't know if we'll be have time to get into, but um so Satan is actually is tempting on a legitimate need. You Nate, you just hit on it about like a lot of times we're at our weak, a weak point, you know, we're hungry, or and then we're tempted, or like, and that's what's happening here. Like Satan is tempting us by appealing to or tempting Jesus, excuse me, by appealing to a legitimate need, and he's urging him to satisfy that in an illegitimate way. So, and how does Jesus respond? We're gonna see this over and over again. It's an example for us. He responds with scripture, he fights the he fights the the uh devil and the temptation with scriptures.

SPEAKER_02 15:06

Yeah, the uh the with that trusting, or like I think a lot of times people go, What well what's the big deal with with the bread? You know, like you're hungry, why can't you just eat? Well, what do we see in the verse just prior to that? Was the Holy Spirit led him out to the wilderness? What was the purpose? To fast, not not to eat. So, in eating, part of that is he would be in disobedience to what God had him there for. And so Satan himself, I I agree, I I I like your how you highlighted that. It wasn't saying that, oh, you're not God, but he tried to, oh, since you are God, you know what, why not just, you know, I know God the Father, you know, has you out here, but just go ahead and eat. Yeah, you know, and it's that subtle lie. I mean, because that's the lie we saw back in Genesis with Eve. He didn't come out and just say, just sin against God, because then Eve would have been like, oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, no, I can't do that. But he goes, Well, what did God say? And then he twisted it and he and he and he changed it just enough, and then he gets you thinking, well, that does look pretty good. You know what, what what harm does it do that I eat this bread? You know, and it's those questions that that that we have to be on our guard against because that is where we take, like you were saying earlier, Nate, is that's where you take the thought captive and realize, whoa, okay, this is disobedience, I need to step back from this, and and and to some level I need to repent and like God help me because I'm under attack.

Temptation One: Bread And Obedience

SPEAKER_00 16:28

This just opened my eyes to something very, very important. And if you're listening right now, I want you to focus on how Jesus responded, He responded with the word of God, and this is what's so important for us to study scripture, not just to read scripture, not just to listen to scripture, but to study scripture. Why? Because when you're tempted, it's gonna be when you least expect it. As you mentioned earlier, you're gonna be tempted when you're weak, when you're tired, when you're hungry, when nobody's there. So when you turn to, if you are not connected to the source, if you're not connected to the spirit, when you feel that temptation, when you see that temptation, you we can see it coming. It's not when, no, it's not if it's when it comes. So he responded with scripture. I know he knows scripture, but I am the scripture. So that that's very clever to see there.

SPEAKER_01 17:36

Yeah, 100%.

SPEAKER_04 17:37

That's good, and frankly, too. We're pretty spoiled in the US, you know. I'll just be honest, I got like eight Bibles, and we got apps on our phone, and we have so much access. But what would you do if you were on a desert island, you know, and or you get thrown in prison unjustly and you don't have your Bible? Have you brought it into your heart? Has it truly become again? We repeat the identity and who you are, does it say who you are? So I think building on what you were saying there, Rico, it's really good that it needs to be in our heart, you know. That's what needs to be written in our heart, not just, well, I know where to find my Bible if I need to go look something up, but truly, do you know it? Has it impacted you? Do you have those verses that you live by and that you can go to, you know, in those tough times that when Satan comes, where do you go? You know, what are the verses that encourage you, empower you, invoke that spirit?

SPEAKER_02 18:30

So and to that point, Nate, I think, you know, at least for me in my life, like I have key verses I have memorized because it's what I can come back to. Because as we'll see, there's only three attacks here. You know, that you can take each of those and Satan will come in at different angles, but there's really just three main ones here. But if you just have a number of verses, it's not like you and I think some people sometimes get like Rico frustrated because they think, well, do I have to know the whole Bible? Well, other than Christ, probably you know, there's no one that that that can I mean there may be out there, I maybe stand corrected, but you should at least have a few verses that you can go to that are that you can uh that solidify and and really can direct you in the direction you need to go and and how to respond when that attack comes.

SPEAKER_00 19:18

I can agree to that and 30 seconds on this is that uh for myself coming to Christ, I had to find scriptures that battle my sin. So to your point, if you truly if you truly want to grow on his will, you must know what scripture said that you already be delivered from when he died for us. So by me going back into scripture and knowing what the scripture said to battle my own sin, that was huge for me. I can always come back.

SPEAKER_02 19:53

Yeah, so like for instance, if I was, you know, if I I was I'm fearful, say, say fear is something I have because I can't control what I see as a threat. But I know like Philippians 4, 6 and 7, don't be anxious about anything, but in everything with prayer and petition, present your request to God, and the peace of God will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. That is a promise that when I'm in the midst of the thick of things, I I just go, okay, God, I know this is your truth, make it real.

SPEAKER_01 20:17

Yeah. Well, let's move forward and we'll read uh the next temptation, uh, verses five through eight. The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, I will give you all their authority and splendor. It is given to me to give, and I can give it to anyone I want. If you will if you worship me, it will all be yours. And Jesus answered, It is written, Worship the Lord your God and serve him only. Um So what we see here is that in this temptation, we the first temptation we saw uh the desire is of the flesh. Uh we see in this temptation we see the the lust or the desires of the eyes. Jesus is seeing all the kingdoms of the world that and the the and we know that they are the devils to give, um, because we we we know that Jesus called Satan the ruler of this world, and you know, in Ephesians it talks about him being the prince of the prince of the air. Um but what we see him temp his temptation here is that uh it's a temptation of shortcuts, like it's the glor getting the glory without the cross. It's the reward without the obedience, it's in it's influence without sacrifice. Um and so you know, once again, you know, Satan's saying, Look, you're the son of God, just like you can have all this, but but you just have to worship me. Like so it's like all this, it's a short, it's the shortcuts, and the things that we need to be aware of in our own lives is is you know, bypassing God's timing obedience to God to be uh to get to where we we and I'm using quotes right now though you you can't hear it you can't see those quotes but we um we think we need to be like I agree in a huge point too like the authority here like the power you know we talk about and you know first John bringing that in and and a lot of times can be you know you know pride power and pleasure you know are are a ways to you know just say the same thing but differently and we definitely live in a society where gaining power gaining influence we got influencers on social media you know it's all about how many likes you can get which feels like it gives you authority to influence people and that's what Satan's offering him you know he's offering him this power this authority that can be very tempting when we are not careful like why servant leadership and what Christ did and his example not just in this temptation but over his whole walk and and really being represented here is really critical.

Fighting Back With Scripture

SPEAKER_04 23:04

Like make sure that authority is not something that tempts you because God is the ultimate authority and Jesus knows he's here to glorify the Father authority and this is so huge when they jump out of the pace for me we can see the identity of Christ at the same time we do not see Jesus denying the enemy's authority because right there in that same verse we're like hey you I know you I created you you have authority but it's not my time yet it's not is is what I'm holding from is not even from you because you already defeated so the authority that we already know who is the ruler of this world not knowing that his time is short you speak volume to why again is the need to know scripture and that was powerful for me.

SPEAKER_02 24:08

With with that authority I think at least in my mind it's like if I was Jesus like to me this would seem like you're the son of God you're God like this this seems to be a weak attack like I like I think it's more so for us as an example because it's for us a lot more of a challenge than for it would be God the creator of the universe who can look at Satan and go dude I created you like you know it it seems like it would be but he goes to scripture he he challenges with us and he gives us the example to realize even in his answer though I mean to me I guess if I was you know king for a day type of thing that's like that's like the where you come off the top rope and you just go okay I'm gonna show my authority here and just like okay you're gone like like you know take out but at the same time he shows I think there's a level of uh obviously wisdom to some level but just how he responds in a way because it's really not I don't think in this case it's for him it's it's for us to see an example of how to respond in a way because we aren't God we aren't king uh we we we barely can take care of ourselves some days right but that is that is for us to see as an example and to realize to come back to the word of God and realize who is on the throne is the King of kings and the Lord of Lord is Christ Jesus.

SPEAKER_01 25:25

Yeah and if you as a listener haven't uh probably caught it yet one of the applications at the end if you've been been you know been following along is like how do we combat temptation it's the word of God and Jesus must have been doing his devotions in Deuteronomy but every time during this during these uh this temptation episode he quotes Deuteronomy um we if you go back and just do the study you can find him there it's uh this last one was in Deuteronomy uh six verse thirteen um but moving on we'll see the third temptation so we saw the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and then starting in verse nine we'll see the next 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 for it is written He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. And Jesus answered and said Do not put your Lord do not put the Lord your God to the test. And when the devil had finished all this tempting he left him for an opportune time. So we see the uh you know the pride of life here um the you know it's what basically the devil was saying he knows scripture you this is a proof that the devil himself knows scripture again he's but he's twisting it right it's like scripture with with the wrong intent and sometimes we can see that uh in today's day and age actually oftentimes we can see that in today's day and age where somebody will quote a verse but it's completely out of context and it's not and so knowing and knowing the scripture again reinforcing that knowing the word and knowing the context of the word um and being led by the Spirit is so vitally important. So the devil says throw yourself down and the angels will catch you.

SPEAKER_02 27:31

Yeah that's from Psalm 91.

Hide God’s Word In Your Heart

SPEAKER_01 27:33

Exactly he was using a psalm at at you you know it's like yeah and so I mean this is a temptation of pride like it's essentially spiritual presumption he's trying you know basically saying uh God's got you so just do it like forcing God's hand or demanding a miracle to show something that's in a public display to show um the worthiness of Jesus' worthiness um is is not the you know and Jesus responds by saying you shall not put your Lord to your God to your test essentially act responding in humility and being an example of humility uh you know that we're gonna wait on the Lord's timing for uh the for his plan to come come to fruition I think this can also be I know Rico and John that you're talking about having some verses you don't have to know the whole Bible word for word but you need to know the message of the Bible.

SPEAKER_04 28:29

You need to know what the Bible overall says where you're really susceptible to this. You're really susceptible to maybe a verse you don't know but hey that's scripture so that must be true. And if you don't know what the totality of what God's doing from beginning to end, you know, you can fall victim to some of those kind of things. That's why I think it's super faithful know what God's word is all about. Yes get some of those verses memorize all you can but continue to read it so you get that broad picture of hey if that's a verse from the minor prophets or the major prophets or the gospels like I know what's going on in the Bible at that time. So you don't take oh no they're in exile so that's doesn't you know apply the same way so we can fall victim if we don't kind of get that big big picture view a lot of times as well. And that's what Satan's trying to do. He's trying to just pull those little things like you said earlier Jonathan in the garden like did God really say it's like well in this case he's trying to well God really said this so you should believe it but it's one verse you know I mean we could all come up with examples. I think one I always hear is the I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me period which makes it sound like I can do whatever I want and so God has to give me rather than the verse before that says I know how to deal with good things and I know how to deal with bad things. You know so it's really laying out that you're going to deal with tough times but you can do it in Christ you know those kind of things. So something that I see important based on how you're kind of laying that out Jeremy.

SPEAKER_02 29:59

Yeah I think Rico was mentioning earlier just about studying it's it's important to you know have your own time where you're able to study God's word and and really get into you know kind of like you know when we go and we prepare for this you know we're going through and reading the Bible itself but then also you know as questions come up I'm gonna search for answers and then be like well what you know for instance why why was the different gospels have the different orders you know what what why you know what's out there what have other smart men that have come before and research looked at it and and prayed about and stuff but then also just in my own heart as I'm praying through it is what God reveals too you know and and helps me to have the conviction of okay here's here's what my word says this is so important for us.

SPEAKER_00 30:44

I think we the new age are some of us and and I'm speaking to the body of Christ we spoil because we have scripture we can read and we can listen we can study and if again it might sound repetitive but if we're not digging in into where our identity comes from clearly in verse 10 it tells us how he knows scripture and he recites scripture he sounds good so the challenge to all the listeners like who are you listening to that he might validate your next move or sureness or your repentance because you compromising and you validating somebody else quote unquote truth when it's not that's huge for me.

Temptation Two: Power Without The Cross

SPEAKER_01 31:39

Yeah and we see um in verse 13 when the devil left him for an opportune time so so and one of the things we were talking about beforehand also is that this was 40 days of temptation right it wasn't just these what these three things that happened right like these were like sort of like the capstone or maybe even the summary of the temptations but but Jesus was tempted for 40 days and then the devil leaves him for an opportune time meaning there's more temptation to come right so what does that teach us that temptation is not a one time event as we all know that like it's it it can be cyclical and the the the devil um waits for like Nate as you said like these moments in our life when we're exhausted when we're discouraged when we're prideful or when we're isolated um and so we need to be on guard during those times.

SPEAKER_02 32:32

But let's when God does have the victory it's praising him but then be ready for round the next round right you know and and just okay God thank you for sanctifying me I'm looking forward to the time when your kingdom comes but until then help me keep fighting.

SPEAKER_01 32:47

Amen well let's read uh verses 14 and 15 and we'll we'll we'll we'll round out this this episode Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the spirit and news about him spread through the whole countryside he was teaching in their synagogues and everyone praised him uh so the the historian uh one of the Jewish historians Josephus talked about how there were probably about two million people in Galilee at this time so Jesus went through all of the countryside he had a mission to teach and and to preach the gospel the the new kingdom that that was coming to the earth through his ministry um after the will and but we see that he'd he returned in the power of the spirit and that's a that's an example for us as well that we uh not only should we be in the word but we can only conquer temptation through the power of the spirit uh so I I think that's absolutely true that and I know we'll get to some application as we round out in fighting temptation you know sin starts in the mind you know are you prepared for that temptation or is it going to catch you off guard in those tough times and that really leans into how much are you walking Galatians walk by the spirit you know so as soon as you start trying to walk in your own power and not by the spirit and you are in trouble.

SPEAKER_04 34:16

I think we all probably know that could probably testify to that could probably share examples of that so you know I think seeing that even for Christ in the power of the spirit we see that in the Trinity you know it was all God creating and ordaining and Christ doing the work and then you know we know the Holy Spirit applies and accomplishes so I think seeing that as well and and learning from that is is very critical that you're not going to consistently win against temptation. It was a fascinating thing a guy I talked to I think he worked at like the VA and he had an affiliation where it was guys who would come in with addiction issues you know and he said those that found Christ and the spirit he never saw them again. Those who tried to do it in their own power kept coming back over and over and over again because they kept losing the battle because they were not fighting the spiritual battle with the spirit and sin is a spiritual battle. A lot of times we look at the physical thing you know that it is maybe the money or the sex or the power or whatever that tangible thing is but it's all got like you said with Satan as the ruler and and having that ability it's all a spiritual level and we talk about so many different sins people want to say my sin's different than your sin. No it's not you know it's all comes down to a sin issue in a different form.

SPEAKER_00 35:35

It's not it's all spiritual so I think just building on what you were saying there just to to to to put some input in here um before we we we close down the chapter is how the devil after all his schemes three schemes that we see here but Jonathan you mentioned hey it's three forms only one two three but that one to three can become hundreds of ways because either we don't know better or he caught us out of surprise. And the scripture said that he left did he left forever no he said hey to the next time what does that tell us that just because we had a victory in where we glorify God for sustain us going through that trial or tribulation through that sin it doesn't necessarily mean that hey you might be tempted the next minute and you will it's not if it's like when so that speaks so much volume to us the reader if you listen when you when he mentioned when Luke mentioned he departed from him onto the next opportunity that's so huge for us I I mean for me that speaks volume because one minute I can be good and the next minute if I'm spiritually empty I know exactly what's going to happen.

SPEAKER_02 37:06

I think it's sometimes you can look at it's hard because you look at it you can take the negative the the pessimistic viewpoint to where you're like ah it just means I got to keep fighting. But I think the the better way the more optimistic way to look at that though is realize I just got another opportunity to serve my God and and to fall in line with what he he is doing and to realize in life I'm gonna have a lot of mess ups but he is a merciful God and and I just got to keep turning back to him and keep fighting to to honor Christ in all things.

Authority, Shortcuts, And True Worship

SPEAKER_01 37:39

Yeah we should think you know the application here is as we've I think we've kind of hit it throughout the entire episode here was like be in the word know the know the word and then and walk in the spirit um you know and in in this in in this passage Jesus shows us that temptation is real it's it's persistent and it's strategic but there's also that victory is possible. Amen heavy yeah it's not because we're strong it's because God's word is strong right like it's not because we're perfect it's because God's grace is sufficient for us. It's not because we're invincible and like that we can do it all on our own but that God's spirit empowers us and that the wilderness the wilderness without you know when we walk through those wilderness moments it's it's not the end but it's it's preparation for what God wants to do next for us.

SPEAKER_04 38:36

The path to victory is through humility right through understanding our dependence and need. So that's why God's word is so great. We touch on lots of topics and as we journey through Luke we really get to focus on temptation all of it especially while we love doing a gospel right we see what Christ gives us in all these so awesome discussion guys thanks for joining me Lifehouse family thanks for taking the time for us today again we hope this encourages you and we very much looking forward to finishing chapter four next week and we will see you all then comment subscribe and leave a review so others can find this content as well and we'll look forward to seeing you next Monday for another great episode