And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. And when the tempter came to him, he said, if You are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:2-4
Jesus had fasted for forty days, but the Word of God says that He did not become hungry until the forty day fast was ended. Satan was somehow privy to this, and used it to try to appeal to Jesus to prove Who He was by performing a miracle of creation or perhaps, re-creation. Satan’s challenge was simple but it did not involve simple implications; “if You are the Son of God”—prove it.
I don’t know what would have happened if Jesus had turned the stones into steaming hot, out of the oven, fresh bread. Satan probably would have wanted butter and honey to spread on it; for with Satan enough is never enough.
So it is with you and me. He will never be satisfied with an occasional sin, no, he wants our total destruction. If he tempts us with anything and we yield, no matter how small it is, the next time, he will put a greater temptation before us.
Don’t Be Hornswoggled by Satan’s Tricks
Jesus’ reply was simple, matter-of-fact, and blunt; “It is written.” Jesus made it clear that he would not be hornswoggled by Satan’s tricks. No, even He, would live by the Word of God and so must we. Jesus said, “it is written, man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” He said, “The words that I speak, they are Spirit and they are life.” That which God speaks will accomplish His purpose; it will not return unto Him void.
Whether He speaks to you through His Word or by revelation, believe it. If God says, “You are healed;” then you are healed. If He says, “I will provide;” you will have your provision. If God says to you, “Go forward;” then expect God to make a way even if it is through the Red Sea. Our life depends on our determination to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Listen for what God is saying to you today. Whatever He says, it is His life-giving Word; you can have abundant life through it. Amen.
