"Building a Church Through Outreach"
The Devil Knows the Word…Do You?
ELCOG 5/6/07
Text: Matt. 4:1-11
This morning I want to use for a text a very familiar passage of scripture. This is a passage that I have preached from many times. The theme of this message is one that I have sounded over and over, but for some reason today I feel that the spirit of God wants me to sound the alarm again about His word. One of the most important parts of a Christians make up is God’s word. Let me encourage you this morning from the very start to get back into His word.
I was sitting around the lunch table a few days ago with a group of teachers and one of our coaches was keeping a tab on how many bible verses or bible stories he had made reference to that day. Now, this coach is a very funny man, and one you probably would not relate to church very often. AS he popped off another reference to a bible story another teacher made the comment, "Well, even the devil quoted a little bible verse". That statement really got my wheels turning. The devil knows the bible. He knows it enough to confuse the Christian who does not know it. The devil uses his knowledge of the word as a weapon against the Christian’s lack of knowledge. Of course the devil only uses half of the truth of God’s word. He only uses a portion to pull you into a trap. He wants to make enough use of the word to confuse you into believing anything that he wants. It is very important that you know the word and realize that the word of God is a powerful weapon!
Eph. 6:13
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph. 6:14
14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph. 6:15
15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph. 6:16
16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph. 6:17
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph. 6:18
18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Your weapon is your knowledge of the word. It’s not just your bible and its cover, which you can hit people with. We like to hold up a stack of papers bound with leather with gold printing on the front cover and we like to wave it in the air as a sign of strength and overcoming power, but its not the book alone, it’s your knowledge of the word. The book itself has no power, but when you begin to learn this word and you begin to live in promises of this word, then power takes over your life and the word begins to become that powerful sword.
Heb. 4:12
12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
But in order for this word to cut it has to be read. In order for this word to work in my life I must allow it to enter into my spirit and that does not happen by osmoses. It comes in several ways…
Rom. 10:17
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hearing the word of God from a preacher activates my faith. We like to quote this verse, but lets look at its content this morning…
Rom. 10:12
12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
Rom. 10:13
13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom. 10:14
14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom. 10:15
15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom. 10:16
16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom. 10:17
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
So notice the power of this verse. Paul is writing and saying that whoever calls on the name of the Lord can be saved, but how can people call on a God that they have not heard about and how can they believe on a God that they have not heard about. The answer to this riddle is simple; we need a preacher to give us the word. We need someone to break this bread of life for us. Therefore, faith cometh by hearing the word of God. What people need to believe on Christ is to hear the word. Once they hear then they can have faith. Hearing the word of God can produce faith in God.
Secondly, the word enters my spirit by meditation.
Josh. 1:8
8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Josh. 1:9
9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
As a mediate on this word, something happens in my life; my paths begin to straighten and my low places begin to rise up. My ways begin to prosper and success seems to follow me. That is the power of having the living word active in your life. That is the power of the two edged sword. It is a life giving word, it is a devil destroying word, but unless the word gets in you faith will not be active and your life will not be blessed.
You have got to have knowledge of the word. If you are going to use its power, you have to know it!
Jesus used this powerful weapon to overcome temptation in the wilderness as his flesh was put to the test. (back to the text) We too will overcome temptation as the word activates in out lives.
As the devil tempted Christ he responds with, "it is written" Notice verse 11 says that the devil left him. The devil heard him using the word and left him alone. If you knew the word enough to quote it to the devil, then he might leave you alone. There is something power that should be in you…it’s the word of God, but if you never read it, hear it or mediate on it then there is no power in your life. This word is all powerful. You need its power this morning!
The word of God is for direction.
Psa. 119:105
105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psa. 1:1
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Psa. 1:2
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psa. 1:3
3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
Psa. 1:4
4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Psa. 1:5
5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
Psa. 1:6
6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
The word of God is my keeper:
Psa. 119:11
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
We must fall in love with God’s word. It should be our life.
Psa. 119:57
57 Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.
Psa. 119:58
58 I entreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.
Psa. 119:59
59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.
Psa. 119:60
60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.
Psa. 119:103
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Psa. 119:130
130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
The Christian must commit to God’s word. I am afraid that we have forgotten the power that comes from the word. We have forgotten that the word is to be our source of strength. Are you feeling weak…get in the word.