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.
Mt 4:9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and
worship me.”
Mt 4:10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is
written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’’”
Mt 4:11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended
him.
When the tempter came to Jesus, he did not challenge Jesus’ sonship but assumed it and reflected on its meaning. Sonship of the living God, he suggested, surely means Jesus has the power and right to satisfy his own needs. Jesus’ response is based solely on Scripture: "It is written" (followed by Dt 8:3). Everyone must recognize his or her utter dependence on God’s word. Jesus’ food is to do the will of his Father who sent him (Jn 4:34).
The point of each temptation must be determined by closely examining both the temptation and Jesus’ response. This first one was a temptation for Jesus to use his sonship in a way inconsistent with his God-ordained mission. Satan’s aim was to entice Jesus to use powers that were rightly his but which he had voluntarily abandoned to carry out the Father’s mission. Reclaiming them for himself would deny His total dependence upon the Father, which is central in his mission and in the Father’s will. Jesus denied himself bread, retained his righteousness, and lived by faithful submission to God’s word.
The second temptation (Luke’s third) is set in the "holy city," on the highest point of the temple complex.
Satan quoted Ps 91:11-12 omitting the words "to guard you in all your ways." His deceit lay not in omitting a few words but in misapplying his quotation into a temptation that easily traps the devout mind by giving approval to what might otherwise be thought sinful. According to this passage, the angels will lift up Jesus in their hands. Jesus is thereby tempted to test his sonship against God’s pledge to protect his own. Jesus replied with Dt 6:16.
Satan offers the kingdoms of the world and their "splendor" without showing their sin. Jesus, however, came to remove sin. Here was a temptation to achieve power by taking a shortcut to fullest messianic authority, sidestepping the Cross and introducing idolatry.
Jesus recognized that Satan’s suggestion entailed depriving God of his exclusive claim to worship. Jesus will never swerve from undivided allegiance to God himself. So Jesus responds with a third "it is written" and banished Satan from his presence. In other words, Jesus had in mind from the very beginning of his earthly ministry the combination of royal kingship and suffering servanthood.
We can see three things about our enemy that is very clear from this text.
He attacks you when you are at a weak place in life
He is Crafty & Deceptive
He offers shortcuts to that which should be done
Just as we saw Jesus do, we must arm ourselves with the Word of God, for it is the Sword of the Spirit. It is our weapon of defense against the enemy. We must carry our weapon of truth realizing it has great power and be prepared to use it.
