To serve in the power of the Spirit…

Luke 4 reflects the amazing journey that Jesus took from baptism to anointed ministry. I’ve read verse 32 often and thought “I want to minister with authority like Jesus did”—and that’s a healthy desire, because He calls us to serve with that same grace (John 14:12).

But how do we get there? There is a progression that I discover as I read this chapter:

1. Jesus was baptized. In each of the four gospels, Jesus’ baptism comes before his public ministry. There was an obedience and example happening here; Jesus didn’t need to repent like we do, but he set the pattern for all His followers to engage this practice as a starting point to a baptized life, identifying with Christ and preparing to walk in ministry anointing.
2. Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit”. Though the Spirit is clearly given to us at Salvation, there is a baptism of the Spirit and fullness to overflowing that repeatedly happens as we open our lives to be continually filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18, Acts 4:31, etc.).
3. Jesus was “led by the Spirit”. He knew how to listen to the Spirit’s guidance. Even though the Spirit led Him into the wilderness, He didn’t detour. Sensitive to the Spirit’s voice, He would go anywhere and do anything He heard.
4. Jesus was “tempted of the Devil”. This is where the Spirit led Him. These were not ‘easy’ temptations (if it’s easy, it’s not really a temptation), but the enemy was throwing things at Jesus that were hgh spray human growth hormone hghfreeinfoexchangenet actually temptations for Him. The way Jesus did not fall was by deeply knowing and properly handling the written Word of God.
5. “Jesus returned…in the power of the Spirit”. Over and over in chapter 4 you see it—“they were amazed at His words…they were amazed at His teaching…What is this teaching with authority?…” The impact and authority did not come only because of the fullness of the Spirit or the following of the Spirit, but this authority was fully manifest after withstanding temptation.

I think there are a lot of baptized, Spirit-filled, and Spirit-led believers who are not ministering in the authority provided for them. They get stuck at temptation, keep falling, and then never quite walk in all that God has designed them for. I’ve talked with many christians who struggle with effectively serving in their churches, communities or families because of their continued falling into temptation. It’s like the enemy keeps the upper hand on them, even though they are redeemed, empowered, and directed children of God.

If you are struggling with temptation, and don’t know how to get beyond it so you can feel free to serve with full authority, do what Jesus did: The Word of God provides a way through whatever the Devil or our flesh wants to throw at us. Let your life be steeped in and transformed by the Word, and get alone daily to fill back up and be ready for whatever ministry opportunity or personal temptation you might face (vs 42).