Daily Worship, Spirit and Word Aug. 26, 2024
When Jesus was challenged by the devil and tempted, Jesus responded withThe Word of God.
“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4, NKJV)
“So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3, NKJV)
Jesus had been raised in Egypt just as many of the Israelite children had been raised in Egypt prior to Moses leading them out. Jesus was led by The Spirit into the wilderness just as the Israelites had been when they left Egypt. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness just as the children of Israel had been. However, Jesus did not sin, and thus entered into the commission of God to bring the deliverance that mankind needed.
When the temptation came, Jesus responded with The Word of God. He quoted Scripture. He did not use a word that had not already been used by God. What does that mean? He was God, all of His words were The Word of God. Yet, He did not use just any words. He did not make up any new words. He simply used the previously revealed word of God. By doing this, Jesus showed the power of The Word of God. Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” If God has said it, we can use it to resist the devil.
Many people focus on receiving fresh words from God that have not been heard before. However, Jesus focused on the powerful previously revealed Word of God to resist the devil, because every Word of God is powerful. This why The LORD tells Joshua in Joshua 1:8, This book of the law (substitute “the word of God” for “book of the law”) shall not depart out of your mouth but you shall meditate in it day and night that you may observe it and do it. By this, you will make your own way prosperous and you will have good success. Meditate means “mutter”. Keep speaking the revealed word of God to yourself day and night and you will find yourself observing it and doing it and then you will be successful and prosperous. Want another witness? Read Psalm 1.