Would you ever bring a knife to a gunfight? The answer to that should be a big fat no. It would be totally ridiculous and detrimental to your life.
As crazy as it would be to bring a knife to a gunfight, it’s equally ridiculous to fight your spiritual battles with worldly answers. Yet, that’s exactly what happens when you don’t rely on God’s word as your weapon of choice.
God has given you a particular weapon, a sword, to fight your battles. The Bible says your “struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God… Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:12-13)
You’re not winning your battles because you’re not using the right weapon. God’s weapon of choice is his word. It’s time you started using it.
Jesus gives us a powerful lesson on using our Bibles to win during his great temptation.
Here are three lessons taught by Jesus on using your Bible to win.
Trust in God’s word over your feelings or needs.
“Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:1-4)
We live in a culture ruled by its feelings. As if to say, “I feel, therefore I am,” or “I need, therefore, give me.” If that’s the case, who sets the moral standard?
Jesus addresses this issue by reminding us that we don’t live by our feelings and needs alone but by God’s word. That’s why he responded with God’s word when he was tempted to let his feelings rule his life.
Trust in God’s word no matter where you are in life.
After the bread attack didn’t work on Jesus, “the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
It’s interesting to note the location and place the devil took Jesus. He took him to a high point in the holy city. It’s often the high points in life where we think we can test God or, worse; we don’t need him.
Jesus again responds with a Bible quote with its proper interpretation. He said, “Don’t put the Lord your God to the test.” Did you know there’s only one place where God tells us to test him? And it’s in the one area most people fear to test him. You can read about it in Malachi 3:8-10.
No matter where you are in life, the highs and the lows, you need to trust God’s word to win.
Trust in God’s word no matter what you see.
After striking out twice, “the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” (Matthew 4:8-11)
The eye can be deceived. It’s often distracted by beauty, power, and fame. It can even be dominated by fear of what it sees happening in the world. And as a result, we can bow down to them.
Don’t let that be you. When you don’t know what to look at, look at God’s word if you’re going to win. Jesus did.
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