Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written:
‘ He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you,’
and,
‘ In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’”
Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
Dear Girls
Jesus answered each one of His temptations by quoting a passage from Deuteronomy. He OBVIOUSLY knew the word and used it as a defensive weapon. The man who makes the word of God His delight is blessed. Many many churches today are weak when it comes to the teaching of the word and because of this the sheep of their fold are weak and do not reproduce. They feed on sensation, feelings and methods and consequently, are blown about by every wind of doctrine. What the people of God need is a methodical verse by verse teaching of His word. This is what will enable them to grow in wisdom and grace. This is how they will become rooted and grounded in Him and begin to understand the depth, width and breadth of His love. This is how they will draw near unto God. Knowing the word of God is foundational to a fruit-producing, stable walk with the Lord.
Going to church and hearing the word taught once or twice a week is great but much more is needed. Your relationship with God is individual and personal. He wants YOU to seek Him with your whole heart. He wants YOU to meditate on and study His word. The secret things of the Lord and the treasures of darkness in the hidden places will be found by those who seek Him diligently and daily.
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
The meditation and study of His word is what will bring stability to your walk with the Lord. It is what will deepen your relationship with Him and thereby increase your dependence on Him. Knowing His word will enable you to be strong and to stand.. You may wonder why you can't stand against temptation...or why you can't stand in trials...or why you have no peace...or why you are not hearing from the Lord. The answer is because you have not made it a practice in your life to read, study and abide in His Word.
The Word is living and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword...it is alive...it buries itself in our hearts and changes us from the inside out. James tells us to receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save our souls. It is not only able to save our souls, it is able to make us stand against the trials of this life and the wiles of the enemy. Colossians tells us to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord. We study the word to become rich in our understanding and knowledge of God....to grow in His grace and be transformed into His likeness. Out of the abundance of the heart your mouth will speak. If the word of God is filling you, then your mouth will speak psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to those around you. Second Corinthians 3:18 says this:
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
The Spirit of God uses the word of God to transform us in the same image as our Lord. Romans 12 says this:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The word of God is the agent of that change....ask God to make His word your delight. Allow Him to do that work in your heart so that you put the study and meditation of His word first in your life. It is what will bring you into His presence. It is where you will find the resources and strength you need to endure to the end. Our resources and strength are limited...His are without end. Rely on Him. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the bible and is filled with meditations on the excellencies of the Word of God. Read it...pray through it asking God to give you the kind of desire that David had. 2nd Timothy says it all...
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.--2nd Timothy 3:14-17
Love
Mom
