by Dano

A Key To Overcoming Temptation

Sometimes our greatest challenges come right after our greatest victories. Jesus came out of a powerful God-encounter at His baptism where the Holy Spirit descended and remained upon Him, and the voice of the Father uttered His deep pleasure over the identity of His Beloved Son straight into being led by the Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil. How did Jesus overcome the challenges of temptation? He used the double-edged sword of the written word of scripture and the spoken word of prophecy. Let’s look at how this pairing is a key to overcoming temptation.

One of the most obvious or understated comments in the Bible is found in Matthew 4:21: “After forty days and forty nights of fasting, Jesus was hungry.” I don’t think it would take me near that long to get excessively hungry. This verse sets the backdrop for the scriptural point I want to key in on. The devil challenged Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (Remember, Jesus would do a lot of multiplication of bread in future ministry.) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘ Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

I think it’s fascinating that Jesus, who is the very Word become flesh, the exact representation of God, the One Who created the Universe with His voice, used scripture paired with prophecy to defend against the lies of the enemy. Observe with me that in each challenge of the enemy, Jesus began His response with the phrase “It is written…” If ever there were a question on the value of written scripture, I think it is clearly demonstrated in the life and person of Jesus Christ. He first fought the enemy with the written word.

The wisdom literature of scripture is thick with the idea that if you hide the written word in your heart you will not sin. Written scripture, rightly interpreted, is a strong weapon of defense against the lies of the enemy. Notice also, that the enemy was twisting scripture and using half-truths and promises out of context to try to confuse and corrupt Jesus. Again, it seems preposterous that the enemy would try to use the written word to deceive the Living Word and author of the book, but do remember that Jesus was weak, tired, and hungry from His forty-day fast. When you are tired, weak, or hungry, the written word is a solid rock to stand on as it brings clarity against the onslaught of the father of lies.

In this first challenge, notice that Jesus also referenced the spoken word of prophecy when He said, “…but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” This phrase empowers what God is currently speaking as a weapon against temptation. In Jesus’ case, that word was, “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” The enemy attacked His identity as the Son of God by saying, “If you are the Son…” Jesus displaced the liar's attack by rehearsing His Father's public and audible witness to His pleasure in Jesus as His son.

My point is simply that God has given you a double-edged sword to fight off attacks against identity and destiny. You can fight with what has already been spoken through the written word of God and with what God is currently speaking through prophecy. Though prophecy has a different level of authority than scripture, it is one of the sharp edges of the sword of the word of God through which we fight the good fight of faith. (1 Timothy 6:12) When you are bombarded by the lies of the enemy, stand strong on the written word of God which is what God has already said in the past and move forward with the prophetic word of who you are in Christ Jesus.

What does that look like? I remember one time when I was speaking at a national convention with thousands of pastors gathered. Sitting on the stage facing those leaders awaiting my call to speak, I was bombarded by thoughts of unworthiness. What are you doing up here? You’ve never even been the senior pastor of a church. Who do you think you are? I was tempted to run off that stage and jump on an airplane home. Then, a scripture came to mind: “Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise…so that no one may boast before him.” (1 Corinthians 1:26) I suddenly remembered that I wasn’t there to prove how qualified I was, I was there to demonstrate how rich the grace of God is to those who don’t deserve it. Then, I recalled a prophetic word spoken over me, “You are destined for the rise of nations. You are a culture creator and an atmosphere changer.”

The strength of God’s eternal promise in the written word along with the personal promise of a prophetic word supercharged my faith. I preached that night with great authority and power and many miracles occurred. This is how we fight the good fight of faith. The written word of what God has spoken together with the prophetic word of personal promise and identity form a double-edged sword that displaces the lies of the enemy and helps you to be of sound mind in any circumstance.

 I pray today, that God’s double edged sword would be in your heart, your head, your spirit, your hand, and your mouth. Never forget what God has promised in His written word, and never let go of the prophetic identity that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

Great victory to you in Christ,

Dano