To continue the thought on being tempted I would like to look again at just how Jesus defeated the devil and his temptations. So begin with me by looking at this verse:
Mat 4:4 NKJV 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.' "
Jesus said that we cannot live by bread, but by every "word" that comes from the mouth of God. That "word" which Jesus used here is in Greek is "Rhema." Which literally means the "spoken word." So Jesus is saying here that we cannot live and bread alone by the "spoken words" of God.
Now what I find interesting is that here in the midst’s of an attack from the devil Jesus begins with the foundation of what He used to defeat the devil and his attacks. Jesus began with speaking the "Logos" or "written word" of God. Jesus is showing the pattern for defense, faith, and victory in this use of His words!
First let us look at how we stand strong in Jesus during an attack of temptations from the enemy. This would lead us to Ephesians Chapter 6. where we see our fight is not with flesh and blood, but is with our spiritual enemy. In this chapter (which I encourage you to read for yourself) we are shown the armor of God, and then we are shown our weapon to use in offence. Let us look at that here:
Eph 6:17 NKJV And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Our weapon in defense and offence is the "word" of God! Now interestingly enough this "word" again is the Greek word "Rhema." For our offence/defensive to be effective we must SPEAK the word of God!!! In Heb_4:12 we see that the "logos" written word of God is in fact our weapon and is able to be used in all situations . Let's take a look:
Heb 4:12 NKJV For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
This is the example Jesus gave us! He spoke the Logos word of God making it again the Rhema word in the time of temptation! That is what we too must do! In the times of temptations we must speak the written word of God out loud (at least in an audible voice)!!! What does this do? When we speak out loud the Logos word of God we are in fact proclaiming His truths! In these proclamations we are squelching the lies of the enemy and standing firm in the truth of Jesus Christ! The truth is He has already obtained the victory over temptations, sin, and death! He has already secured us in salvation through His finished work on the cross!!!
So when Jesus said in Mat_4:4 that we cannot "live by bread alone" it was more than just eating. He was literally in a life or death fight. His life, and our lives were on the line. Just as this was the beginning and launching of His ministry it was also a turning point. If He had fallen then we too would be without "life" for we would die in our sins... So when we are tempted we too are in a life or death situation. For we know that sin leads to death, and temptations are the door way to sin... That is why Jesus said we "live by the 'word' of God." If we walked in defeat at every temptation, we would be walking in a life of active sin. That is a life of bondage Rom_6:16-23 and not a life in Christ! For we are truly set free from all sin and death when we live in Jesus! Therefore, for us to walk in life, and live through temptations we must rely on the Rhema word of God!!! For us to know the word (Logos) God we must study the word (Logos) of God. For us to "speak" the word (Rhema) of God we must know the word (Logos) of God!
This is why it is so important that we feast on God's word daily! Pop shots of reading here and there just doesn’t cut it. Let me encourage you here and now to set a deep resolve to read/study God's written word (the Bible) daily. Walking with Jesus (being a Christian) is more than a casual approach to life. NO! It is a new life!!! let us put aside the old ways, our old man, and put on Jesus! He is our new life! And if this is true then we must devote all of our ways unto Him! And if that is also true then taking the time to feast on His word will not be a burden to us but a joy. For Jesus said Mat 11:30 NKJV For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."! We must give our all to Him and in return He gives His all to us!
Look at what Jesus says here in Matthew:
Mat 7:14 NKJV Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
The message version says it even better:
Mat 7:14 MSG The way to life--to God!--is vigorous and requires total attention.
So let us begin to walk our life in total devotion to Jesus! For His way truly requires our total attention!!! And when attacks or temptations come we can stand firm (Isa_40:3-4 Isa_42:16Isa_45:2) in faith knowing we are victorious in Jesus!!
Your Brother in Christ
Grace and Peace be with you
Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member
www.SettingCaptivesFree.com
And Jesus said to me:
Eze 3:10b-11a "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."
Mat 4:4 NKJV 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.' "
Jesus said that we cannot live by bread, but by every "word" that comes from the mouth of God. That "word" which Jesus used here is in Greek is "Rhema." Which literally means the "spoken word." So Jesus is saying here that we cannot live and bread alone by the "spoken words" of God.
Now what I find interesting is that here in the midst’s of an attack from the devil Jesus begins with the foundation of what He used to defeat the devil and his attacks. Jesus began with speaking the "Logos" or "written word" of God. Jesus is showing the pattern for defense, faith, and victory in this use of His words!
First let us look at how we stand strong in Jesus during an attack of temptations from the enemy. This would lead us to Ephesians Chapter 6. where we see our fight is not with flesh and blood, but is with our spiritual enemy. In this chapter (which I encourage you to read for yourself) we are shown the armor of God, and then we are shown our weapon to use in offence. Let us look at that here:
Eph 6:17 NKJV And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Our weapon in defense and offence is the "word" of God! Now interestingly enough this "word" again is the Greek word "Rhema." For our offence/defensive to be effective we must SPEAK the word of God!!! In Heb_4:12 we see that the "logos" written word of God is in fact our weapon and is able to be used in all situations . Let's take a look:
Heb 4:12 NKJV For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
This is the example Jesus gave us! He spoke the Logos word of God making it again the Rhema word in the time of temptation! That is what we too must do! In the times of temptations we must speak the written word of God out loud (at least in an audible voice)!!! What does this do? When we speak out loud the Logos word of God we are in fact proclaiming His truths! In these proclamations we are squelching the lies of the enemy and standing firm in the truth of Jesus Christ! The truth is He has already obtained the victory over temptations, sin, and death! He has already secured us in salvation through His finished work on the cross!!!
So when Jesus said in Mat_4:4 that we cannot "live by bread alone" it was more than just eating. He was literally in a life or death fight. His life, and our lives were on the line. Just as this was the beginning and launching of His ministry it was also a turning point. If He had fallen then we too would be without "life" for we would die in our sins... So when we are tempted we too are in a life or death situation. For we know that sin leads to death, and temptations are the door way to sin... That is why Jesus said we "live by the 'word' of God." If we walked in defeat at every temptation, we would be walking in a life of active sin. That is a life of bondage Rom_6:16-23 and not a life in Christ! For we are truly set free from all sin and death when we live in Jesus! Therefore, for us to walk in life, and live through temptations we must rely on the Rhema word of God!!! For us to know the word (Logos) God we must study the word (Logos) of God. For us to "speak" the word (Rhema) of God we must know the word (Logos) of God!
This is why it is so important that we feast on God's word daily! Pop shots of reading here and there just doesn’t cut it. Let me encourage you here and now to set a deep resolve to read/study God's written word (the Bible) daily. Walking with Jesus (being a Christian) is more than a casual approach to life. NO! It is a new life!!! let us put aside the old ways, our old man, and put on Jesus! He is our new life! And if this is true then we must devote all of our ways unto Him! And if that is also true then taking the time to feast on His word will not be a burden to us but a joy. For Jesus said Mat 11:30 NKJV For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."! We must give our all to Him and in return He gives His all to us!
Look at what Jesus says here in Matthew:
Mat 7:14 NKJV Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
The message version says it even better:
Mat 7:14 MSG The way to life--to God!--is vigorous and requires total attention.
So let us begin to walk our life in total devotion to Jesus! For His way truly requires our total attention!!! And when attacks or temptations come we can stand firm (Isa_40:3-4 Isa_42:16Isa_45:2) in faith knowing we are victorious in Jesus!!
Your Brother in Christ
Grace and Peace be with you
Nate Cook, Setting Captives Free Team Member
www.SettingCaptivesFree.com
And Jesus said to me:
Eze 3:10b-11a "...Receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears, and go, get to the captives..."
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