Matt 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4 Jesus answered, "It is written: ?Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.?"
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
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.?"
7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: ?Do not put the Lord your God to the test.?"
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ?Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.?"
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
It is Written
Heb 4:12
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.
Intro: Swords like any deadly instrument needs proper usage otherwise it will cause more harm than good.
I. To Declare God?s Provision (v. 4)
From Deut. 8:3
God will use different things to provide us our needs even in the wilderness; He fed the Hebrew people during their exodus from Egypt with manna to prove His point of living not only on bread.
II. To Declare our Trust in God (v. 7)
From Deut. 6:16 to counter Ps. 91:11, 12
The enemy will always try to fool us by deception. Yes There are promises in the Bible that can be abused thus making it void in certain circumstance. E.g. Mark 16:18 ?they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
III. To Declare our Love for God (v. 10)
From Deut. 6:13
Many times our friends and relatives will ask us to worship other gods in a subtle way, we must be ready to respond!
Matt 22:36-37
36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
37 Jesus replied: "?Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.?
Our love for God must be second to none!
