REFINED BY THE SPIRIT

Luke 4:1-13 The Spirit led Jesus into the desert. Wherever you are today, the Spirit has led you there, or you are there because you have resisted the Spirit.

We sometimes listen to our past, our experience, etc instead of listening to the Spirit of God.

Q. Do you listen to the Spirit?


1. REFINED BY TEMPTATION

Jesus was tempted three times in this passage.

Q. When you are tempted, what do you do? How do you react? Do you turn to emotion, unbiblibal advice, defeatism?

If you do not master the discipline to wake up early and have great time with God, then you will not have the depth and quality of Bible knowledge necessary to overcome temptation.

Jesus was tempted with compromise of spiritual values for the sake of acquiring material gain. There is nothing wrong with gaining materially, but the problem is that we sometimes feel like we'll get happiness and fulfillment from getting a new car, new clothes, new electronics, etc.

Satan tempts Jesus with carelessness and giving up. Don't be careless, but be particular about knowing the word of God. Don't give up in your Christianity.

We must learn from both victory and setbacks. Learn to have victory without getting arrogant or self-reliant, and learn to face setbacks without getting discouraged or depressed.


2. REFINED BY THE WORD

Ephesians 6:17,18
The sword is an offensive weapon. You must use it as long as go into battle against Satan.

Q. Do you use the Bible to fight Satan in your life and in the lives of others?
Q. Do you do battle with Satan at all or give up quickly in your struggle against sin?
We are losing spiritual battles, not because we cannot win, but because we are not using the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Jesus used it to great effect when tempted in the desert.

Christianity is not a science. It is not complicated. Walk in step with the Spirit and let him lead you. Then, you will grow spiritually.

John 8:31,32
The key to growing is to hold to the Scriptures.

Q. Is it your habit and lifestyle to hold to the teachings of the Bible?

Let us be refined by temptation, refined by the Word, and by so doing, be refined by the Holy Spirit of God.