Sealed Women: I AmSample

DAY 5: But It is Written

"And the tempter came and said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.' But He answered and said, 'It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’" (Matthew 4:3-4)

Satan always comes to challenge us who we are when we are weakest or most distressed. Jesus gave us an example of how to respond in such times.

The attack against one’s identity is a matter of spiritual warfare.

When Satan challenged the identity of the Son of God, Jesus did not use His supernatural powers to resist the devil. Jesus did not rely on His divinity to challenge him. As a human in the flesh, Jesus quoted the written Word of God.

Jesus affirmed the permanent authority of Scripture.

In a conversation in the wilderness, when Jesus was at His most need, the devil approached Him with a question to trigger thoughts in His mind. Jesus responded by quoting the Bible, and the devil responded by quoting the Bible, but distorting the meaning. But Jesus persisted and continued to resist with another verse from the Bible, and then the devil left.

Each time His identity was challenged, Jesus would say, “But it is written.” Jesus could rebuke Satan with His power. But He respected Scripture as the Word that comes from the mouth of God and has authority over the lies of the devil.

It is crucial to know what the Bible says and to be able to quote it to the devil. Learning from one another is important, but there is an urgency to read and study the Bible for ourselves for our own defense.

But reading, listening to, or studying the Bible is not enough. When thoughts arise that contradict the identity given to us in the Bible, we must speak God’s Word out loud to the devil behind those thoughts. This active resistance is powerful!

When it came to being challenged about His identity, quoting the written Word was the only defense Jesus needed against the devil. Nothing else.

If you are going to overcome temptation and walk in victory in your God-given identity, you must follow Jesus’ example and quote the Bible to the devil. There is no other way.

The Word of God in your mouth is your spiritual weapon.

Instead of His feelings, Jesus responded with written Truth. When we are at war, we must know who we are talking to and about what. To Satan, we declare what is written to resist him. To God, we bring our gratitude, worship, prayers, and supplications.

Satan tempts humans, and God tests. Satan tempts us to lead us to despair, destruction, and death because of his root of bitterness. But God’s testing is an invitation to righteousness, growth, transformation, and a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him because He loves us. Understanding this difference helps us discern the source of our challenges and respond appropriately.

The devil labels us according to our flesh, but God calls us by the right that His Son Jesus purchased for us.

My Declaration:

(Watch the following video and speak out loud what God’s Word says about who you are. Verses are paraphrased based on the specific the Bible references.)