There are three temptations that we must overcome in order to be entrusted with God’s ministry and prove ourselves faithful in it. We may see these temptations as originating with Satan, but if we are able to see with eyes of Wisdom, it is the *Holy Spirit *that leads us into an isolated place, seemingly without God’s provision to meet our needs and desires, in order to see what we will choose.
“I am the Lord who searches the heart, who tests the inner depths to give to each person according to what he deserves, according to the fruit of his deeds.”—Jeremiah 17:10 (ISV)
“Then Jesus was led (guided) by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness (desert) to be tempted (tested and tried) by the devil.”—Matthew 4:1 (AMPC)
“God left him alone only to test him, in order to know everything that was in his heart.”—2 Chronicles 32:31 (AMP)
Entering Into God’s Purpose for Your Life
You were born with a great purpose and destiny to fulfill, just as Jesus was!
You have a unique purpose in life that God designed specifically for you that no one else can accomplish. It is the reason you were born, and it is the reason you are living now.
You are called by God to enter into this great purpose, but in order to be fully trusted with God’s great purpose for your life, and continue in it faithfully, you must overcome three great temptations, just as Jesus did.
Jesus had a glorious entrance into His purpose in life. After years of preparation and waiting, it was finally time for Jesus to enter into His great purpose at the age of 30. He came to John the Baptist to fulfill the requirements of righteousness by being baptized. (See Matthew 3:15).
As Jesus emerged from the water, “the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:16-17 NKJV).
It seemed that things couldn’t have been going any better for Jesus after receiving a personal endorsement from Father God Himself, but then, instead of proceeding directly into a glorious ministry, there was an immediate detour.
“Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.”—Mark 1:12 (NKJV)
There was no time to bask in the glorious experience of His baptism. There was urgent business that needed his attention and participation. The future success of His ministry was riding on what happened in the next 40 days.
I believe that one of the reasons that Jesus was driven into a wilderness setting was so that He could be free from distractions. It was vital that Jesus overcome these three temptations. This was the most important task in His life at that point. Overcoming these three temptations was going to require His single-minded focus for the next 40 days.
It is the same for you. Everyone must face these three temptations. It will require concentrated focus, without distractions, for a time, in order for you to gain complete victory over all three temptations.
If Jesus needed to be separated from distractions and give focused attention to overcoming these three temptations, how much more do we need to do the same?
Also, I believe Jesus was driven into the wilderness to show us that this is a personal, private victory that must be won individually. No one can do this for you. You must face this alone with God. People may be praying for you and offering their support, but ultimately, you will overcome, or be overcome, on your own. But we can take comfort in the fact that God does not leave us or forsake us. In times of extreme trial and testing, God empowers us with more grace to enable us to overcome.
“Yet where sin was powerful, God’s gift of undeserved grace was even more powerful.”—Romans 5:20 (CEV)
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”—Philippians 2:12-13 (NKJV)
Jesus was prepared for this time of testing by being filled with the Holy Spirit.
“Now Jesus, full of [and in perfect communication with] the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness”—Luke 4:1 (AMP)
It was vital for Jesus, and it will also be vital for us to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God in order to overcome and live victoriously over these three great temptations.
Before the children of Israel could enter into the Promised Land of their inheritance, they had to first endure a time of testing in the wilderness. It was the same for Jesus, who is our model. It will be the same for you.
“Then Jesus was led by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”— Matthew 4:1 (AMP)
It may feel like a dark time in your life. It may feel like you are fighting battles with powers that are stronger than you are. But God never leaves you or forsakes you in the midst of the battles. You may not feel it, but all of Heaven is on your side! Angels were with Jesus during His time of temptations, and angels will be ministering to you as well!
“And He stayed in the wilderness (desert) forty days, being tempted [all the while] by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to Him [continually].”—Mark 1:13 (AMPC)
After Jesus overcame these three great temptations, He returned from the wilderness with great authority and the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region.”—Luke 4:14 (NLT)
It can be the same for you if you give the necessary, focused priority to overcoming these three great temptations.
If you do not overcome them, they will overcome you and take you down, as they have taken down so many at the height of their ministry success, and your life’s purpose will never be fulfilled. The wonderful plan that God had for you will be cut short or diminished. You will never enter into all that you could have been.
You must overcome, or you will be overcome.
