You’ll quickly recognize the three words I am referring to in this month’s title when you reflect for a moment on the wilderness experience of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s take a look.
‘Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. After fasting 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the Devil took him to the Holy City and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the Devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Then the Devil left him, and angels came and attended him ‘(Matthew 4:1-11).
Three Words Are the Magic Number
Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to do battle against the Devil. After fasting 40 days and nights, Jesus was in a most weakened state. Then the Devil showed up to tempt Jesus. Not once, but three times, Jesus used the three words to live by in his battle against the evil one: IT IS WRITTEN!
To be sure, Jesus in his divinity could have defeated the devil in an instant. But instead he fought against Satan’s temptations in his humanity, and the weapon he used was the Word of God. When Jesus was battling against the Devil he turned in complete dependence to the Word of God and said, “It is written!”
And that is instructive to us today! In verse 11 we read that “the Devil left him,” because the Enemy is no match for the living, active, Word of God.
In second Timothy 3:16 we read, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” In other words, the Word of God is all we need to fight against the attacks of the Devil. Regardless of the temptations, challenges, and difficulties we are facing today, God has a word for us in the Bible.
Rocky Marriage… IT IS WRITTEN!
Prodigal Child… IT IS WRITTEN!
Office Wars… IT IS WRITTEN!
Academic Anxiety… IT IS WRITTEN!
Paralyzing Past… IT IS WRITTEN!
Worry, Doubt, Fear… IT IS WRITTEN!
Stinging Shame… IT IS WRITTEN!
Struggling with Addiction… IT IS WRITTEN!
Agonizing Aloneness… IT IS WRITTEN!
Unforgiveness… IT IS WRITTEN!
Selfish Ambition… IT IS WRITTEN!
Sexual Immorality… IT IS WRITTEN!
Too much month at the end of the money… IT IS WRITTEN!
The list of course it endless! The Word of God strengthens us. The Word of God shepherds us. The Word of God shields us. The Word of God sustains us. The Word of God sobers us. The Word of God saves us from every attack that comes our way. And there is even more good news to add to the good news: when we stumble in our fight against the temptations, challenges, and difficulties of this world, the Word of God sets us back up on our feet, dusts us off, and empowers us to continue in our walk with Christ.
Regardless of where this finds you today and whatever struggles you are currently facing, turn to the Word of God and listen to the only one who can give you victory over whatever it is you are facing… and GUARANTEES your forgiveness when you stumble and fall.
Jesus turned to the Word of God. May we follow the leading of our Lord each day and turn in complete dependence to the three words to live by: IT IS WRITTEN!
This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Tommy Boland is the Senior Pastor of Cross Community Church in Deerfield Beach. Worship services are held on Saturdays at 6pm and Sundays at 10:30am., at 841 S.E 2nd Ct., Deerfield Beach. Check us out at: thecrosscc.org. For more articles by Dr. Tommy Boland, visit goodnewsfl.org/tommy-boland.
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