We have heard “It is written” quoted so many times during a sermon, referencing the gospels Matthew, Mark and Luke that we take it for granted. Understanding the power of the written WORD is absolutely necessary to build the foundation of faith in prayer. I realize that when we read about the temptation of Jesus, we overlook, this simple statement; “It is written”. This statement is life changing and can revolutionized our lives when we fully grasp its meaning. From this scripture we can learn how to harness the power of the written word to make a difference in our lives.
Matthew’s gospel records this statement in three instances. After Jesus had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. He was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil (Matt 4:1-2). The devil found Jesus at a very weak and vulnerable time, challenging everything that Jesus stands for; his divine sonship and his authority as God and man. In his moment of weakness, he demonstrated the power of the word to resist the wiles of the devil, instead of succumbing to the devil’s way of satisfying the desires of his basic human needs. Let’s not be too quick to say Jesus is God only. Yes he is God! But he was also fully man. Which means he felt the sting of hunger, just like any person would.
We will focus our attention on the three temptations Jesus encountered
The first temptation
Matthew states 4:3 “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread”. The first temptation challenged Jesus’ divine sonship, authority and his appetite. Jesus’ response was, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’ (Matt 4:.4)”. This quote came from Deut. 8:3. In this Jesus overcame the devil by resisting the urge to satisfy the base desires of man and provided a way of escape for such temptations. Jesus also knew who he was, so he need not prove himself or his power to the devil.
The second temptation
Then 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.’” The devil threw his little scripture in there too, challenging Jesus to prove His father’s word and love for him. Not only does this test Jesus’ security, but it also tests the authentic of his Father’s word. Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again the response that Jesus gave was found in the word (Deut. 6:16).
The third temptation
Matthew 4:8-9 records “Again, the devil took him 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.” This temptation is very presumptuous, the devil is suggesting that he owns the kingdoms of the world, when in actuality, God does. It also appeals to the very lust and desires of man to have power and control in the world, so the devil shows himself as the source of it all, and it will come when worship is given to him. Jesus would not have it. He could easily say I own all this. All that belongs to my father is mine. Jesus dismissed him and again quoted the scripture: “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” This is found in Deut. 6:13.
Stay on course – It is written
Jesus did not change course during the temptation, he was well-founded on the WORD and kept quoting the scriptures- “It is written”. Jesus did not rely on his intelligence and how well he can articulate man’s philosophy. He stick to the word and kept on quoting it.
Regardless of the angle of each temptation Jesus faced, he answered it with the written WORD. The WORD of God is potent, full of life changing power. The WORD of God is forever settled in heaven, therefore, no one can change it. If Jesus chose to believe and speak it, so should we. If Jesus says it is written, we can also say it is written. Jesus knew the WORD is filled with power and it WORKS. If Jesus being God, the Living WORD itself and needed to depend on the word, how much more do we need to let the WORD govern our lives. The WORD didn’t work for Jesus just because he was the SON of GOD, it worked because he WORKED it, because he BELIEVE it and because he RELIED totally on it.
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” I dare to say to you, the same way you desire food and drink for daily strength and sustenance, take the WORD in daily as your spiritual food for daily strength and power. Jesus shows that our strength does not lie in physical food, but in WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God. As you pray daily, speak the WORD and watch the WORD empower your prayer life and build your faith.
Your life application
There isn’t anything that we are facing today, that is NOT written in the WORD OF GOD. Everything is already written in the WORD. Our victory is already written, all that we need is already written. Our healing is already written. All that we need Jesus to do for us, is already written. We are already overcomers, empowered to defeat the devil on all fronts. We are more than conquerors in all we undertake. It is written, YOU WIN, because JESUS WON. Why would Jesus turn the stone to bread if He is already the bread of Life sent from heaven? When you know who you are, and whose you are, you believe what the WORD says about you. Take some time to discover what is written.
The WORD works in prayer, when we work it.
Advancing the Kingdom of God in the earth.