STAND ON WHAT IS WRITTEN
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Saturday 14th September 2024
“And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:3-4 (KJV)
Jesus didn’t need to prove anything before God said He was His beloved Son. God wasn’t telling a lie because God is not a liar, but the devil is. The devil showed up after God had spoken and said to Jesus: Do you want to believe God? No, don’t ever believe God! The devil intended to put doubt in His heart, but Jesus has already read in Deuteronomy 8:3 that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
The devil was trying to force Jesus to depend on bread other than the word. Jesus said I have a solid foundation already, so I don’t need to doubt. He went ahead to tell Satan what was written. In other words, Satan, before you came, it was already written that man will not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from God’s mouth. So, you are late already. One would have thought that the devil would leave Jesus alone. No! He returned and said to Jesus that you are being deceived and that you are the son of God. This time, the devil goes spiritual and says since you are quoting the Bible, I will also quote from the Bible. “Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God cast thyself down…” (Matthew 4:5-6).
Beloved, you must be established and rooted in the word so that the devil will not deceive you. Know exactly what God has said and stand by it. Many charlatans, false prophets, and thieves in cassocks are deceiving people. Have nothing to do with them. Keep standing on what is written, just as Jesus did.
Further Reading: Matthew 4:1-11
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Proverbs 19-21; Evening- 2 Corinthians 7