A LIFE PRINCIPLE

LUKE 4:1-14

PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY

LUKE 4: 1-14

4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[b]”

5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’[c]”

9 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. 10 For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you

    to guard you carefully;

11 they will lift you up in their hands,

   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[d]”

12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[e]”

13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

Hi, dear child of the Great God of wonders. Welcome to The Stable Sanctuary. We highly value and esteem you. Today, we embrace you and request you to follow us on this great idea of A LIFE PRINCIPLE. The English dictionary defines a principle as a fundamental guiding belief; a moral rule or aspect meant to produce a given quality. Hence, we may say that a LIFE PRINCIPLE is a fundamental guiding belief for ones life and actions including ones behaviour and character that aims at producing better life outcomes.

The Holy Bible text illustrated above is a narrative based on temptations of Jesus Christ, which were subtly grafted by the enemy. Jesus Christ at this point had received the Holy Spirit without measure “…..God, giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him”. John 3.34. This means Jesus Christ was full of the Holy Spirit after he had been baptised . In the wilderness; for forty days, he was being tempted. Forty is God’s number for Probation. Jesus Christ was fasting for forty days and nights. After the forty days, He was hungry, tired and physically weak. The enemy [ Isaiah 14:12-15 and Ezekiel 28:12-15] came to tempt Jesus Christ. Lucifer served God before he fell from grace. Jesus Christ overcame all the three temptations.

The first temptation was based on the desire to satisfy the physical need of the body; turn stones into bread. Yes. Jesus Christ as the son of God was able to do anything. Yet He refused to subscribe to the will of the enemy. In simple words, Jesus told the enemy that He could not live for the pleasure of self -satisfaction or self – gratification. The Lord of Glory refused to gratify the desires of the flesh. Period. The second temptation was based on power, wealth and fame. Verse seven records ,”If you therefore will worship me all shall be yours” Here, upon a high mountain, Jesus was shown all the Kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. Jesus Christ refused to subscribe to the power and glory promised by the enemy. In essence, He was telling the enemy that He could not live for Power and glory courtesy of the enemies intrigues. Jesus Christ knew well that He and Him alone had power in Heaven, earth and the entire universe. He knew that the enemy was a liar. Jesus Christ cannot be tricked to lay aside His greatness. And now the third temptation; tricky as it was because the enemy tried to misuse the written word of God. Actually, the enemy misquoted the Holy scripture psalm 91:11,12. Sample what the enemy said in Luke 4:11 “For it is written, He shall give His angels charge over you ,to keep you in all your ways .” In the same style, subtly adds the words, “at any time” onto psalm 91:12 ; and the meaning now changes. Hey, always have the correct word of God at your finger tips ; lest the enemy trick you to do his will. In this temptation, Jesus Christ refused to comply. He told the enemy,“ it is said You shall not tempt the Lord your God” Period. The temptations were done. Here ,Jesus Christ was precisely telling the enemy that; I cannot avoid responsibility for my life and actions.

From the foregoing dear reader, it is our desire and prayer that you shall be able to access correct information based on God’s word so as to live a victorious life now, in future and that your generation shall take from you that which shall guide them to live successful lives for many more years to come. The victory of Jesus Christ over the temptations He experienced translated into His victory on the cross; to the extend that even the grave could not contain Him. He triumphantly came out of death after going down into Hell and took the keys of Life from the domain of Lucifer. By the power of His blood, He overcame all the powers of the enemy in hell; where he set prisoners free; and made them to access the Heavenly Kingdom of God . The enemy trembles at the word of God; Jesus Christ.

In essence; Jesus Christ said:

• I shall not live for pleasure.
• I shall not live for Power
• I shall not avoid responsibility for my life and actions.

This was indeed the LIFE PRINCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST. You and I may not do less.

#Follow the example of Jesus Christ.

#Overcome trials and temptations.

#Access your good dreams.

# Attain your good dreams.

#Enjoy desirable outcomes in Life.