It Is Written

 

 

Matthew 4:1-4. (NKJV)

1. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.  Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."  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.'"

 

Satan always comes to cast doubt on the veracity of God’s Word. He will suggest that perhaps God did not really mean what He said, and will try to get you into the realm of your intellect. This passage of Scripture shows that Satan tried this approach on the last Adam (Jesus), just as he had tried it on the first Adam (and Eve). Satan obviously knew that Jesus was the Son of God. Otherwise, what was he doing out there in the dessert? Yet, he cleverly said to Jesus, "If You are the Son of God," when he actually should have said, "Since You are the Son of God." 

 

This passage of Scripture is so important because in it Jesus provides the perfect example of how to handle Satan when he comes to talk you into doubting God’s Word. Jesus said, "It is written," and then quoted the Scriptures. Like Jesus, you have to speak God’s Word. This way, you keep Satan in the realm of faith, where you can destroy him. But, you won’t be able to speak and act on the Word of God if you don’t first know it!