Identifying with Jesus:
The servant is not greater than the master! What Jesus experienced with regards to overcoming sin, while here on earth, as a human, so we will also experience. Was there a battle? Yes! Was there victory? Yes there was! Jesus was able to say, I have overcome the world . (Jn.16:33) What He was referring to is described in 1 Jn. 2:15-17, Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever. Jesus major victory over the world came during His exposure to Satan's temptation while in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. Jesus had received a special anointing of the Holy Spirit while in the Jordan River when being water baptized. (Lk.3:22). At this point we need to be reminded that Jesus came to break the power of Satan and sin. (Heb. 2:14; 1 Jn. 3:8)

Having received the special anointing of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is then directed by the Spirit into the wilderness to confront the powers of darkness. Jesus wins the victory over the temptations and its written of Him in Heb 4:15, "This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin." Jesus has as it were, hands on experience when it comes to temptation. Hes personally been through it, so we have a God who understands exactly what it takes to say no to sin and yes to obedience.

Jesus' Suffering:
Suffering is often relegated to physical pain! It's very true that there can be great suffering through pain but that is not the only kind of suffering spoken of in Scripture. Resisting the temptation to sin is also an area where great suffering occurs. Hebrews 2:18 - Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. The severity of Jesus' "temptation suffers suffering" can be clearly seen in the garden of Gethsemane. Luke 22:44 - He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. This was not an easy time for Jesus. Overcoming the temptation to sin is never an easy time for any of Gods people. It can be fierce spiritual warfare!

The Cost of Obedience:
Jesus paid the ultimate price to remain obedient to the Father! It cost Him his physical life. The results brought His resurrection and salvation for all who would believe. Through the suffering He endured while being tempted Jesus learned what it takes for a human being to overcome temptation. Jesus knows what it takes! Hebrews 5:8 - So even though Jesus was Gods Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. Suffering didn't teach Jesus how to obey it taught him what it takes to obey. This is important for Him to know and understand if Hes to be an effective High Priest. Heb.2:18 - Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted. Jesus knows exactly how we are feeling when being tempted. He knows exactly how much grace we need to overcome. Because Hes been there he can be compassionate and gracious to help us in our time of need.

Limited Temptation:
When talking about obedience in the Kingdom of God you're talking about the nuts and bolts of New Covenant Christianity and when you talk about Jesus your talking about the wrench that keeps the nuts and bolts tight. Jesus so understands, from first hand experience, what it takes to overcome sin that He has so arranged things that His people are never allowed, by Satan to tempted beyond their God given ability to overcome. 1Cor. 10:13 But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it. I don't know about you but I'm personally very impressed with Gods commitment to His people! He is so much for us that He has the devil on a leash and will only alone him to go so far. God is faithfully committed to our wellbeing and He has promised that with every temptation He provides away through it and will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear.

We Have The Divine Calling:
Most of us graciously accept that we've been called of God to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to continue that believing for our everyday living. What is not so glamorous is the calling to suffer as Jesus did in resisting the temptation to sin. It is however a major part of our life in Christ. Ph. 1:29 says, For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but ALSO the privilege of suffering for him. Its very interesting to read what the Holy Sprit inspired Peter to write in 1 P. 4:1,2. For if you are willing to suffer for Christ, you have decided to stop sinning. And you won't spend the rest of your life chasing after evil desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. This New Life is the same kind of life Jesus has. It wouldn't be wrong to call it the "Jesus Life"! Thats exactly what it is! This being the case, we should be prepared to experience Gods power enabling to overcome the temptations to sin as Jesus did! Jesus is with us at all times and as we call out to Him in our time of need He will help us. We're told in Heb. 4:16 - Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Gods vision for His people is nothing less than total victory through the power of the resurrected Christ. Jesus is the forerunner and now we follow in His footsteps and share in His victory. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside Gods throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. (Heb 12:2-4) Let's be encouraged to live "This New Life" by the power of the indwelling Jesus and the anointing of the Holy Spirit!

Prayer Suggestion: Heavenly Father I thank you for Jesus who has been here before me. Thank you that He learned what it took as a human be remain obedient to the Word and will of God. Thank you that in my trial and temptations I can count on your faithfulness and I know that I will receive from you the grace I need to be an overcome as Jesus is. Encourage me to always want to be an overcomer for Jesus sake. In Jesus name! Amen