Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
The first requirement that God expects of us is total and complete surrender to Him. The Apostle defines that here as presenting “your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God...” That is where we start! From there, we must allow the Word of God to have its perfect work in us by the power of the Holy Ghost. Be separate from the world and be changed by regeneration in the Holy Ghost. Why is that necessary? So we may discern what is the acceptable and perfect will of God. This transformation can only be performed by the Holy Ghost.
Immediately following His baptism by John the Baptist, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Matthew 4:1, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.” Jesus had just left Jordan where He saw heaven open and the Spirit of God descended like a dove and lighted upon Him. Luke addresses the same event in Luke 4:1, “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.”
Jesus was full of the Holy Ghost and possessed the power to serve God’s purpose. Then came the beginning of the testing. Ryrie states that Satan’s intention was to make Christ sin so as to thwart God’s plan for the redemption of man by disqualifying the Savior. But, this event was not for the benefit of Satan. The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness and God’s purpose was to prove His Son to be sinless and thus a worthy Savior. Ryrie states further that it is clear that Jesus was actually tempted and it is equally clear that He was sinless.
Luke 4:2-13 gives the details of the confrontation of Jesus, the Son of Truth and the Deceiver, Satan. The grueling encounter continued for 40 days and Satan used all his best tactics but he had no power over the Son of Truth. All he could do was to walk away from the battlefield in defeat. But, Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit! Luke 4:14, “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.”
This classic battle has repeated itself every day since that time. The same scenario has played out in our lives. The Truth has prevailed and the deceiver is defeated. That is God’s Plan!
After His departure, Jesus sent the Holy Ghost to lead and guide us into the fullness of our relationship with God. Power to serve God’s purpose only comes in the power of the Holy Ghost. That is why we must experience regeneration and the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. Why is that necessary? So we may discern what is the acceptable and perfect will of God.
This transformation can only be performed by the Holy Ghost. Power to serve God’s purpose is by the power of the Holy Ghost indwelling us. Power In The Holy Ghost To Serve God’s Purpose!
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