After several posts about the "defense" in our armor of God, now we shall look at our main source of offense, The Word of God.
"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." ~Hebrews 4:12
This being the last post in this series, I feel this one is important as we get to back to school time. This is a time, especially for Christian in the education system where there is a massive increase in pressure, trials, and temptations
Wielding the Sword
So the question is worth asking, how do we use the Word?
The best way to illustrate this was during the temptation of Jesus in the desert,
"The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” ~Luke 4:3-4
We see Jesus trusted in the promises of the Word of God. He showed and remembered how God promised to provide, so the temptation is not worth giving into. Satan tried to tempt the patience of Jesus, and we see His trust in the Fathers provision.
Then we see Jesus acted on the commands of the Word:
We see Jesus trusted in the promises of the Word of God. He showed and remembered how God promised to provide, so the temptation is not worth giving into. Satan tried to tempt the patience of Jesus, and we see His trust in the Fathers provision.
Then we see Jesus acted on the commands of the Word:
The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
Just simply obeying His command, even though the offer of sin is greater, is great growth for a Christian. Once again, Satan tempts Jesus' patience to be glorified at the right hand of the Father, and once again, we see how Jesus uses the Word to spur up affection for the Father. "He is greater then anything this temptation has to offer." Through the Word, the Spirit gives perspective.
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:
Just simply obeying His command, even though the offer of sin is greater, is great growth for a Christian. Once again, Satan tempts Jesus' patience to be glorified at the right hand of the Father, and once again, we see how Jesus uses the Word to spur up affection for the Father. "He is greater then anything this temptation has to offer." Through the Word, the Spirit gives perspective.
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Then we see the last step, which is implyed here. Jesus had studied the Word. even Satan knows the Word and wants us to falsely justify ourselves in our sin. But, Jesus knew the Word, the whole council of God. Though He read these verse, and I'm sure knew them (since they testify to Him), He knew not to test God. He knew not to rush what God had planned. He knew He need to trust, act, and study the Word, just as we do.
He knew that through His obedience, His perfect life, sinners could be justified through His coming death. He would stand in our place, innocent, taking our punishment on Himself then suffering, bleeding and dieing for our sin. Then He rose again three days later to defeat sin, death and Hell. Through this sacrifice, we can have forgiveness of sins and power over sin through His presence living in us, through our repentance and faith in Him.
This is the Gospel. this is the key to our battle against the devil, and "rescued us from the kingdom of darkness" (Col. 1:13) and we know that even though the devil will only depart for a season (Luke 4:13), we know His fate. God is greater, God is stronger, Jesus is Lord, and He has bought us victory. (Rev. 20:7-10)
I hope you have found these post edifying. I shall leave you with a reminder of the Glorious Gospel, which is not only the key to our justification, but also to our sanctification. God Bless!
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Then we see the last step, which is implyed here. Jesus had studied the Word. even Satan knows the Word and wants us to falsely justify ourselves in our sin. But, Jesus knew the Word, the whole council of God. Though He read these verse, and I'm sure knew them (since they testify to Him), He knew not to test God. He knew not to rush what God had planned. He knew He need to trust, act, and study the Word, just as we do.
He knew that through His obedience, His perfect life, sinners could be justified through His coming death. He would stand in our place, innocent, taking our punishment on Himself then suffering, bleeding and dieing for our sin. Then He rose again three days later to defeat sin, death and Hell. Through this sacrifice, we can have forgiveness of sins and power over sin through His presence living in us, through our repentance and faith in Him.
This is the Gospel. this is the key to our battle against the devil, and "rescued us from the kingdom of darkness" (Col. 1:13) and we know that even though the devil will only depart for a season (Luke 4:13), we know His fate. God is greater, God is stronger, Jesus is Lord, and He has bought us victory. (Rev. 20:7-10)
I hope you have found these post edifying. I shall leave you with a reminder of the Glorious Gospel, which is not only the key to our justification, but also to our sanctification. God Bless!
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. ~Romans 5:1-11
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