“HOW IMPORTANT IS THE WORD OF GOD TO YOU?” . . . TEACHING! Luke 4:1-13; James 4:7
INTRODUCTION
As we continue in our series: “HOW IMPORTANT IS THE WORD OF GOD TO YOU?” we want to look at what I think is a familiar, yet under-appreciated passage of scripture.
Jesus often showed us how Believers are to conduct themselves even under the most challenging circumstances; but in this passage, Jesus is showing Believers what to do when being tempted by the devil. When Jesus walked among men, He showed man how to use the resources He makes available to His followers (Armor, Faith, etc.). Jesus showed us that Believers can, and will, be tempted to give in to Satan’s influences when placed under some of the most challenging situations; so Jesus when on to demonstrate what Believers can do when Satan brings on these challenges.
“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. 3
And the devil said unto him, ‘If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.’ 4 And Jesus answered him, saying, ‘IT IS WRITTEN, THAT MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD OF GOD.’ 5
And the devil, taking him up into a high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6
And the devil said unto him, ‘all this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7
If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.’ 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, ‘GET THEE BEHIND ME, Satan: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, THOU SHALT WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD, AND HIM ONLY SHALT THOU SERVE.’ 9
And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, ‘if thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 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” * 12
And Jesus answering said unto him, ‘It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’ 13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.” Luke 4:1-13 (KJV)
*Misquoted from Psalm 91:11-12:
“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, TO KEEP THEE IN ALL THY WAYS. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”
CONCLUSION
We see Jesus, being the master teacher that He is, was still teaching us how to withstand the attack of Satan even when He was in His time of physical duress and being tempted and challenged by Satan. Jesus showed us that we are to “USE THE WORD OF GOD!” Jesus is showing us that even though the word of God can be a medicine for the Believer, it can also be means of teaching while resisting (expound).
We see what James and the Psalmist meant when they said:
“Thy word have I hid in my heart . . .” (Psalm 119:11A) and . . .
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
James 4:7 KJV
When Believers allow the Lord to have His way with them, they will find that the Holy Spirit will bring out those scriptures they have been learning and studying for the time that they need them, because it is the word of God that will not only allow them to resist the devil, but it will also cause the devil to flee from them.
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
