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You’ll quickly recognize the
three words I am referring to in
this month’s title when you reflect
for a moment on the wilderness
experience of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Let’s take a look.
‘Then Jesus was led by the
Spirit into the desert to be
tempted by the Devil. After
fasting 40 days and 40 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 does not live on bread
alone, but on every word that
comes from the mouth of God.’”
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.’”
Jesus answered him, “It is also
written: ‘Do not put the Lord your
God to the test.’”
Again, the Devil took him to
a very highmountain 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 4:1-11).
Jesus was led by the Holy
Spirit into the desert to do battle
against the Devil. After fasting 40
days and nights, Jesus was in a
most weakened state. Then the
Devil showed up to tempt Jesus.
Not once, but three times, Jesus
used the three words to live by in
his battle against the evil one: IT
IS WRITTEN!
To be sure, Jesus in his
divinity could have defeated the
devil in an instant. But instead he
fought against Satan’s temptations
in his humanity, and the weapon
he used was the Word of God.
When Jesus was battling against
the Devil he turned in complete
dependence to the Word of God
and said, “It is written!”
And that is instructive to us
today! In verse 11 we read that
“the Devil left him,” because the
Enemy is no match for the living,
active, Word of God.
In second Timothy 3:16 we
read, “All scripture is God-
breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness.” In
other words, the Word of God is
all we need to fight against the
attacks of the Devil. Regardless of
the temptations, challenges, and
difficulties we are facing today,
God has a word for us in the Bible.
Rocky Marriage… IT IS
WRITTEN!
Prodigal Child… IT IS
WRITTEN!
Office Wars… IT IS
WRITTEN!
Academic Anxiety… IT IS
WRITTEN!
Paralyzing Past… IT IS
WRITTEN!
Worry, Doubt, Fear… IT IS
WRITTEN!
Stinging Shame… IT IS
WRITTEN!
Struggling with Addiction… IT
IS WRITTEN!
Agonizing Aloneness… IT IS
WRITTEN!
Unforgiveness… IT IS
WRITTEN!
Selfish Ambition… IT IS
WRITTEN!
Sexual Immorality… IT IS
WRITTEN!
Too much month at the end
of the money… IT IS WRITTEN!
The list of course it endless!
TheWord of God strengthens us.
The Word of God shepherds us.
The Word of God shields us. The
Word of God sustains us. The
Word of God sobers us. The
Word of God saves us from every
attack that comes our way. And
there is even more good news to
add to the good news: when we
stumble in our fight against the
temptations, challenges, and
difficulties of this world, the
Word of God sets us back up on
our feet, dusts us off, and
empowers us to continue in our
walk with Christ.
Regardless of where this finds
you today and whatever struggles
you are currently facing, turn to
theWord of God and listen to the
only one who can give you victory
over whatever it is you are
facing… and GUARANTEES
your forgiveness when you
stumble and fall.
Jesus turned to the Word of
God. May we follow the leading
of our Lord each day and turn in
complete dependence to the
three words to live by: IT IS
WRITTEN!
This is grace for your race.
NEVER FORGET THAT . . .
AMEN!
Tommy Boland is the Senior
Pastor of Cross Community
Church in Deerfield Beach.
Worship services are held on
Saturdays at 6pm and Sundays at
10:30am., at 841 S.E 2nd Ct.,
Deerfield Beach. Check us out
at: thecrosscc.org.
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- Tommy Boland -
Three Words to Live By!
ENCOURAGEMENT
16 April 2013
Good News - Broward Edition