Published 4/2/19
Read Matthew 4:10-11
Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
"'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
Reflect
· The Lord has armed every Christian with spiritual weapons packed with "divine power": (1) the sword of the Spirit--the Holy Bible--and (2) prayer. How will you use these weapons to win the battle over temptation in your life?
· Is God's Word making a difference in your life? Why or why not? (Explain.)
· Consider your spiritual weaknesses. Share your biggest temptation right now, as well as what've you found to be most helpful in overcoming it. What temptations and sins hurt your relationship with Jesus?
When the Deceiver strikes and temptation heats up, Jesus fights back with the perfect offensive weapon: The Sword of the Spirit--God's Word (see Hebrews 4:12). It contains truth, and truth can parry or stab the lies of Satan. It has a keen edge that leads to a deadly point. And as the Lord demonstrates, if wielded well, it can attack the enemy and slay temptation before it has a chance to grow into an overpowering monster.
I can attest to the supernatural power in the Scriptures. The Book of Ephesians lists the things we're to wear when we go into battle against the enemy. Most of the items are defensive. We're given the only offensive weapon we need, "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). Need help resisting the devil? Is temptation getting the best of you? Follow in our Savior's footsteps.
Pray
Lord, help me to resist the devil and to turn away from temptation. Amen. Ask Jesus to protect you from Satan's evil schemes. Ask Him to give you victory over sin.