Power Of The Word Series

Power of the Word

Sermon Series: The Manual

Matthew 4:1-12

The last few weeks we have been going through a series titled:

The Manual. We have been examining the importance of God’s Word in history and in our lives today.

First, we looked at 2 Timothy where we found that all Scripture is God-Breathed & learned the purpose of God’s Word. We found it is useful for Teaching, Rebuking, Correcting and Training so that the people of God can be thoroughly equipped to do the work God has called them to do.

Secondly, we learned that it is necessary that we Feed on the Word of God. It is necessary for all of us who are Christians. (PP) God’s hope and plan is that Christians will move from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity.

Last week, we learned the significance of Knowing God’s Word. How the psalmist spoke of God’s Word 173 times in the 119th Psalm. He said that he hides God’s Word in his heart that he might not sin against God.

Finally, this week, we are going to look at the Power of God’s Word. To realize that will never die, that God’s Word stands beyond the test of time. It is eternal, just as Peter writes:

1Pe 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

1Pe 1:24 For, “All men are like grass,

and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

1Pe 1:25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.”

His Word is never ending. Kings and kingdoms have come

and gone, rulers from every age have lived and died and yet

the Word of God has remained unchanged, unhindered.

Let’s now examine the true power of God’s Word. The writer of

the book of Hebrews gives us a great insight into the Power of

God’s Word.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any

double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and

spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of

the heart.

"The word of God" means anything that God utters--particularly

the word that came through Jesus Christ. "Living and active" shows that there is a dynamic quality about God’s revelation. It does things. Specifically, it penetrates and, in this capacity, is

likened to a "double-edged sword" The Word of God is unique. No sword can penetrate as it can.

What the author is saying is that God’s Word can reach to the innermost recesses of our being. We must not think that we can bluff our way out of anything, for no secrets are hidden from God. We cannot keep our thoughts to ourselves. There may also be the thought that the whole of human nature, however we divide it, physical as well as nonmaterial, is open to God. With

"judges" we move to legal terminology. The Word of God passes judgment on our feelings and thoughts. Nothing evades the scope of this Word. What people hold as most secret they find subject to its scrutiny and judgment.

Now let us look at how Jesus used the Word of God as a weapon to fend off the attacks of the enemy. The devil is known for casting his fiery darts of temptation to bring people down.

Let us learn one more time the importance of all that we have looked at over the past few weeks. The Purpose of, Feeding and Knowing the Word can help us greatly. More than you probably know. Let’s allow Jesus to teach us from His own example of using God’s Word properly.

Mt 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be

tempted by the devil.

Mt 4:2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Mt 4:3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of

God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Mt 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on

bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of

God.’’”

Mt 4:5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand

on the highest point of the temple.

Mt 4:6 “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.’’”

Mt 4:7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the

Lord your God to the test.’’”

Mt 4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and

showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.