Victory In The Wilderness - Helen RobertsSample

Armed and Ready

Jesus was in the midst of a 40-day fast, so it’s no surprise He was hungry. Neither is it a surprise that the enemy was going to tempt Him in the area where He was currently most vulnerable. The enemy tempted Jesus to satisfy His appetite by turning stone into bread. Just imagine the smell of that baked bread…

We all have cravings that we are tempted to satisfy – not just physiological ones, but also things like people-pleasing, gossiping, worrying, striving... In this study we will explore how we can be victorious, not simply by avoiding these temptations, but by overcoming them.

To defend Himself, Jesus turned to the words that came from the mouth of God, and so shall we. The psalmist describes the Word of God as, “a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). The Word of God can illuminate our path in life, but to only use it to light up the right path would be to miss its true power. Thankfully, the Word of God is much more than a torch! As Jesus knew in the wilderness, it is also our weapon.

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Hebrews 4:12)

A double-edged sword speaks to me of both defending and attacking.

When Jesus faced the enemy in the wilderness, His mind was bombarded by tactical temptations. He used the Word of God not only to light the path He was to take, but also to defend Himself. It was the best weapon available to defeat the schemes of the enemy. Jesus knew that this battle was not purely a physical one, but a spiritual one too.

Living armed and ready is essential to our journey to victory in life. It means knowing what the Bible says and how to wield its truth in our defense. As we grow as followers of Jesus, we need to grow in knowing His truth. In this truth there is freedom and victory.

So today, let God turn the light on to show you which path to take. Pick up His sword and practice with it, so that you’ll be ready for whatever comes your way.