eFollowingJesusJan10 - Sword of the Spirit (Matthew 4:5-7)

   Jesus' combat with the devil mirrors Israel's testing in the wilderness.  They grumbled, and plunged into idolatry.  Fortunately for us all, Jesus passed the test they failed.

   Notice how Jesus responds to temptation, to evil, not with his own brains or muscle, but with Scripture.  Ready with a verse for any occasion, Jesus was "armed with the sword of the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:17).  Knowing the Bible isn't something "nice" or "spiritually neat."  It's a matter of life and death, of having half a chance to fend off evil, or the seductive lure of our culture... so we constantly read, re-read, memorize, and make the Scripture the spectacles through which we see the world.

   But then, how we use Scripture matters.  Notice the devil himself quotes from the Bible (Psalm 91:11-12) - but he is using the Bible for his own selfish purpose, instead of letting himself be used by the Bible, letting it perform its corrective surgery.

   Lord, thank You for the Bible.  I promise You I will know it more thoroughly, and rely on it in times of duress.  Use Your Word, not to prop up my wishes, but to press me into Your service.

James

james@mpumc.org

Click here to see the "pinnacle of the temple," the southeast corner of today's Temple mount.

Here is the full text of Matthew 4:5-7 - 5: Then the devil took him to the holy city, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6: and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, `He will give his angels charge of you,' and `On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" 7: Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, `You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"

Sunday's sermon on the Baptism of Jesus may be heard on our web site by clicking here.

The full eFollowingJesus series (thus far!) may be found on our web site.