“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:3

This scripture was quoted by Jesus, to Satan, after he had fasted 40 days and forty nights. Satan said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

In life there will always be a storm brewing just when you are at your weakest. We see here in scripture Satan , strategically, tempting Jesus after he had fasted for 40 days and was hungry. Can you imagine what Jesus must have felt like having not a morsel of food for 40 days? Personally, I would have been delirious, and falling all over the ground, but not Jesus for his Spirit was willing and his flesh was not weak.

Jesus is showing us something in this passage of scripture; Jesus is showing us, who believe, how to fight in the natural when we have a spiritual attack against us. The problem with the masses of people is they are so focused on gratifying their flesh that when they are attacked they crumble, as many of us do, when there is any sign of adversity or struggle in their path. When you live a life of gratification and satisfaction , at any cost, you would not be strong enough to endure the consequences if there was ever a drought or a lack of materialistic things ;due to you never having had lived without them.

For example, to one that is glued to their cell phone, you would probably have a heart attack if you were asked to go without it for 5 days. Why? Because you have never attempted to live without it, nor have you ever restrained yourself when you should simply give talking on the phone ,and looking at social media a much needed rest. What do you do when you don’t take a break from the things that consume your very existence? They end up consuming you if you don’t watch it.

By Jesus fasting 40 days and forty nights , as crazy as it sounds, he was preparing his body to do without food , and therefore strengthening himself spiritually. By denying his body and by getting his cravings under control, mentally and physically, he had to live on something else to stay sane. You see, when you can’t say no to something it means that , that very“something” has power over you, and can bend you to its will, but when “you” say no to a craving, and exercise self -control over it , it is now “you” that will bend that stronghold or craving to “your will.” Only Holy Spirit can help you bring things under your feet so that it does not have control over you, and that starts with surrendering to God’s will for your life.

Jesus informs Satan that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. God breaths the breathe of life into us, and it is his word, the loin belt of truth, that will sustain us because bread only feeds the body, but it is the word of God that feeds the spirit and our mind. Satan could not get Jesus to succumb to his temptations because Jesus knew the truth of the power of scripture. Do you? Can you stand strong in your weakest moment after you have heard horrible news and speak the truth as God knows it, to the enemy? Can you wrestle with depression, and when you are about to lose it speak scripture out loud to back that devil up which is trying to steal your joy? Do you know how to defend yourself with the word of God rather than pick up your cell phone to surf social media for a distraction hoping that the pain will pass?

Oh yes, man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God! If you have not tried than I would like to encourage you to pick a scripture , memorize it, and when times get tough say it out loud so that the enemy is aware that you know how to fight!Don’t live by bread alone, but trust God’s word today…

God Bless you all!

DCL Ministries