"Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil," MAT 4:1.

God's Word tells us in EPH 5:1, "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children." This word "followers" comes from the Greek word "minetes" which means "an imitator, or follower." This also tells us that we are to look unto Christ, not only as our example, but also as our Forerunner, as the Captain of our Salvation.

As we consider this very important subject we need to notice the most extraordinary combat that our Saviour submitted Himself unto in our behalf, that was decreed from the beginning. In pronouncing the curse upon Satan for his lies in the Garden of Eden, this combat between Christ and His infernal foe was foretold.

"And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel," GEN 3:14-15.

This prophecy is fulfilled as the Prince of Peace goes to battle against the prince of darkness. The great architect of all wickedness goes to combat against the Prince of life and righteousness. The devil ruined the creation of God with disobedience, and Christ restored it with obedience.

ROM 5:18-19 says, "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

It is most important to rightly understand that Christ was not brought into temptation by any lust within His heart, so what was it that brought Him into combat with Satan? Our text says, "Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil."

At His baptism the Holy Ghost descended upon the Lord Jesus Christ like a dove-and "Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." LUK 4:1 says, "And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,"

Our Saviour (who is our example) did not place Himself in temptation's way. By the Father's consent, Satan was given license to tempt Jesus as he did Job. Satan has no power to tempt without consent from the Lord. He is "...reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day," JUD 1:6.

See how the Lord restrained the devil by setting his bounds in JOB 1:12, "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD."

What we learn from our Forerunner is that until the Lord gives Satan license, he has no power to tempt, trouble, or touch us. Our Saviour reveals this so clearly in LUK 22:31-32. "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."

Satan could not even enter into the herd of swine without consent from our loving Lord. MAT 8:31 says, "So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine." This ugly monster which is the devil, is confined to those chains of God's eternal decrees, and cannot go beyond God's restraint. This is a great source of comfort to Christ's bride.

Therefore, He teaches us to pray, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen," MAT 6:13. Any time the Lord puts us (like Job) in Satan's hands, it is a great consolation to know he is still restrained in the Lord's hands.

Even as the Spirit led our Saviour into the battlefield with Satan, so we must fix the eye of faith on the Captain of our Salvation in every trial and temptation of Satan. The Spirit did not only lead our blessed Forerunner into the wilderness, but also unto victory. "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all."

There is a perfect likeness between the Spirit's leadings with Christ as our Forerunner, and His bride as His imitators. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God," ROM 8:14. Amen.