Episode 4: The Path to Power Luke 4   A long time ago, in a land far away Jesus turned to face the desert. He squinted his soft brown eyes and shielded his face with a hand as he peered into the wasteland. He licked his parched lips as his stomach growled. His vision blurred, and Jesus shook his head and blinked hard.    40 days, he thought. I’ve been out here in the desert for 40 days.    Jesus remembered the cool, refreshing waters of the Jordan river. The strong hands of John as he lowered him into the water. The voice of the Father that had boomed over the crowd. The shining dove. Then the Spirit’s call to come to the desert.    Jesus knew His time in the wilderness would solidify his heart and mind. It would connect Him even closer to His Father, but He also knew that the battle would come. They always come after the spiritual mountaintop experience.   It had been forty days of deep communion with His Father. Forty days of little sleep, no food, no water, just an indescribable intense spiritual experience.   Now it was fading. Now the hunger was growing. Now Jesus felt his human weakness like he had never felt it before.    Jesus heard footsteps and knew it was time. He grimaced in pain as he stood to face the enemy.   Hours later, Jesus’ voice boldly spoke, “It is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”    The arch-angle of darkness shook with rage. His powerful fists clenched in hatred.    “This isn’t over,” satan growled as he turned away.   Jesus’ last bit of strength kept him on his feet until the devil had disappeared, then He collapsed.    “Thank you, Father,” he breathed.   Luke 4:14 says that after the temptations in the wilderness, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit…”   Luke 4:1 says “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was led by the Spirit into the desert.”   Jesus begins His journey full of the Spirit and after the 40 days of fasting, the epic battle with satan, He emerges with the POWER of the Spirit.    Jesus grew through the temptation experience and came out more powerful than when He started.    says, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame.”   The principle of Growth starts with suffering which leads to endurance which leads to character which leads to hope which leads to no shame and no disappointment.   James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials bc you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work that you may be mature and complete.    God’s will for men is for them to be full of Holy Spirit: fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.   He knows we will grow through trials. God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear, but He will provide a way of escape. It’s like having a personal trainer at the gym. They are always there, pushing us hard but never to the point of breaking or injury.   We will emerge from battle with power. The power to preach the good news, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, to bust into satan’s dungeons and set his prisoners free.    The sins of our society lay at the feet of men. Sex trafficking, pornography, prostitution is fueled by lustful men.  Abortions happen when men fail to take responsibility and protect their unborn children. Child abuse, domestic violence, teen suicides, eating disorders, gang violence, rape, violent crimes, and even riots in the streets all happen bc of the sins of men.    These issues are not social problems. They are male problems. They happen when men let evil conquer their hearts. These crimes must stop. And for that to happen Godly men need supernatural power to conquer these bastions of darkness    It’s not God’s will for you to become a good little man, an emasculated weakling who follows all the rules, tucks in your shirt, makes ev