Using Your Daily Bread is a Powerful Weapon ~ blog

After Jesus had fasted for 40 days in the wilderness, I am sure He was hungry.  So, stupid satan thinks he has a chance at tempting Jesus. He shows up and says that if Jesus really is the Son of God then make some warm fresh bread out of the rocks.  This act is a temptation on two different levels.

One is for Him to prove He is the Son of God.  I think Jesus was strong in His understanding of who He was and what He could do so, really what a dumb thing to say.  However, underlying the attack on Jesus’s self-esteem was the idea that some warm bread would sure taste good after fasting for 40 days.

Jesus’s reply is priceless;

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out     of the mouth of God.’ “  Matthew 4:4

Now indeed bread or food is essential for our existence.  However, most of us rarely if ever, fast.  We eat probably 2 or 3 times a day and snack in between meals.  On the other hand, we are excellent at fasting from the spiritual nourishment we need from the Word of God.  The words that proceed from the mouth of God have been recorded for us in the Bible, and that is where we are frequently being malnourished.

There are millions of children around the world starving for lack of food.  There are also millions of believers around the world living in spiritual starvation.  It is not for lack of bibles. It is people just not making it a priority to consume the word of God.  It is too easy to think we can get by without it because there does not seem to be any immediate negative consequences.

So, really, what it the Bible or the Word of God.  The words of the Bible are literally the breath of God.  They were communicated by the Holy Spirit to people who, while being guided by the Spirit, wrote down exactly what God wanted to be written down.  That’s why in the NIV we read;

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

That word “inspired” is literally the word for the breath that comes out of your mouth when you are talking.  And those words are “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.” So that you and I can be equipped for every good work.

Ever wonder why you struggle with sin so much?  Why you feel weak in the battle against sin and being able to do good and righteous things?  Because you are spiritually starving yourself into a state where you are weak and uninformed.  Notice what this verse teaches;

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” 

Before you go back to God to confess another fall do a little evaluation of whether or not you have been feeding yourself the Word of God.  And even more important than just reading it is to memorize it.  Then you can whip it out at any time and use it as an offensive weapon against temptation.

Clearly, this is the only weapon in the full armor of God that is offensive and to be used in attack when we are under attack. However, if we are not learning the Word of God it is of no value to us when we are under temptation.  But if I have some of it memorized then I have it in my mind with a conceal carry permit from the Holy Spirit.

I have written a short paper on this called the 180 Scripture Memory Guide.  It is free for the asking.  Just send me an email, and I will send you a copy.  It will teach you the major passages we need to memorize for our own good.

 

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