One of the most powerful weapons of our warfare that God has given us is His Word. “For the word of God is alive 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.” (Hebrews 4:12)  The sword of the Spirit is the word of God.  (Ephesians 6:17)

When Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1), three times He ANSWERED and SAID what was written.

 

“IF you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”  Matthew 4:3

“But He answered and said, IT IS WRITTEN, Man shall not live by bread alone, but every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”  Matthew 4:4

 

“IF you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down.”  Matthew 4:6

“Jesus said to Him, IT IS WRITTEN, You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Matthew 4:7

 

“All these things I will give you IF You will fall down and worship me.”  Matthew 4:9

“Away with you, Satan!  FOR IT IS WRITTEN, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.”  Matthew 4:10

 

The word IF is used to discuss the imaginary result or effect of something that did not happen or that is or was not true.  The word IF may just be a two-letter word but in the above verses, the devil used it to see if Jesus was fully persuaded that He IS Son of God.  If he used it for Jesus, hmmmm … what made us think that he won’t use it against us?  Watch out!  The enemy still uses this trick up to today!  When doubts cloud our minds especially when we don’t see any results yet with what we are believing for, what words come out from our mouths?  Will we still hear ourselves saying .. “but Lord, IT IS WRITTEN…”!

When the devil sensed that he didn’t have a chance to shake the IDENTITY of Who Jesus was, he left Him.

“Then THE DEVIL LEFT HIM, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”  Matthew 4:11

When we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths what is written, then VICTORY IS A SURE THING! 

Submission to the Word of God is equated to submission to God!   When we do, SURELY the enemy flees splintered before you know it.

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  James 4:7 NKJV

To submit to God is to yield and surrender into the authority of His word.  He honors and magnifies His word even above His name (Psalm 138:2), and if Jesus’s name is the name ABOVE ALL NAMES, then who then can come against His Word?   When Jesus arose and rebuked the wind, and SAID to the sea, “Peace, be still!, the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39 NKJV)  This is what we call authority!

“You will also decide and decree a thing, and it will be established for you;
And the light [of God’s favor] will shine upon your ways.” Job 22:28 AMP

When we are yielded to God Who is ALMIGHTY, ALL-POWERFUL, ALL-KNOWNG and EVER-PRESENT and submitted to His Word, we stand firm against and resist the enemy.  When the devil smells that our confidence comes from the One in whom NO FOE CAN COME AGAINST, there is no other way for him but flee.  He does not stand a chance.

“The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but FLEE FROM YOU IN SEVEN.”  Deuteronomy 28:7 NIV

When Jesus said, “IT IS FINISHED!”  I believe He also said to the enemy “you are finished!”  We don’t fight a defeated foe, instead we reinforce what Jesus won for us, an eternal victory that He fully paid and secured for us.

 

Photo Credits:  Vilma Crisologo Montecillo