Sunday: It is Written
The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist marked the beginning of the Savior’s ministry, following which Jesus was led by the Spirit into the Judean wilderness, where — in His weakest human condition — He was tempted by Satan.
Read Matthew 4:1-11. How does Jesus defend Himself against Satan’s temptations in the wilderness? What should we learn about the Bible from this account?
Image © Lifeway Colletion at Goodsalt.com
When tempted by appetite, Jesus responds: “ ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” ’ ” (Matt. 4:4, NKJV). Jesus points back to the living Word and its ultimate, divine source. In this way He affirms the authority of Scripture. When tempted with the world’s kingdoms and glory, Jesus responds, “ ‘It is written, “You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve” ’ ” (Matt. 4:10, Luke 4:8, NKJV). Christ reminds us that true worship is focused on God and not on anyone else, and that submission to His Word is true worship. Finally, with the temptation on the love of display and on presumption, Jesus responds, “ ‘It is written again, “You shall not tempt the LORD your God” ’ ” (Matt. 4:7, NKJV; also Luke 4:12).
In all three temptations, Jesus responds with the words “It is written”. That is, Jesus goes right to the Word of God and nothing else to deal with the attacks and deceptions of Satan. This should be a powerful lesson to all of us: the Bible, and the Bible, alone is the ultimate standard and foundation of our belief.
Yes, the Bible and the Bible only was Jesus’ method of defense against the attacks of the adversary. Jesus is God, but in His defense against Satan He submits Himself solely to the Word of God.
It is not opinion; it is not an elaborate, convoluted argument; it is not with words of personal animosity; it is instead by the simple yet profound words of Scripture. For Christ, Scripture has the greatest authority and the greatest power. In this way, His ministry begins with a certain foundation and continues to build upon the trustworthiness of the Bible.
| How can we learn to be just as reliant on the Word of God, and as submissive to it? |
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Luke 2:51-52 51-52 So he went back to Nazareth with them, and lived obediently with them. His mother held these things dearly, deep within herself. And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit, blessed by both God and people. (MSG)
Here Jesus clearly states I am here for greater mission but verse 51 says he went back to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. Being obedient was a character trait Christ leaned from his tender age. This obedience allowed him to grow physically and spiritually. Preparing him to enter into the mission work. He understood total surrender to the will of God.
This foundation from his tender age allowed him to stand up to the test in the wilderness. It’s like David who faced Goliath said, I cannot go wearing another man’s armor. I must be girded with my own armor and be prepared for the battle.
Amos 8:11-12
11Behold! The days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. 12People will stagger from sea to sea and roam from north to east, seeking the word of the LORD, but they will not find it
Have you been equipped with the armor of God?
We're you commenting on Sundays part of the lesson
The child's first teacher is the mother. During the period of greatest susceptibility and most rapid development his education is to a great degree in her hands. To her first is given opportunity to mold the character for good or for evil. She should understand the value of her opportunity, and, above every other teacher, should be qualified to use it to the best account. Yet there is no other to whose training so little thought is given. The one whose influence in education is most potent and far-reaching is the one for whose assistance there is the least systematic effort.
Education P.275.1
How can you quote if you don't have the Word in your heart?
Today is the day of prepartion for us to put the Word
of God in our hearts.
I used David as an illustration to show we need to experience God in our own life. Another persons experience cannot carry us in our battle.
It is important for us to know Him.
How can we know Him?
Through the written Word of God. John 5:39
I once read a book on the history of apartheid and the role of the Dutch Reform Church is South Africa. The appalling thing to me is that the church backed up its arguments for apartheid from Scripture. They used the "thus saith the Lord" argument to affirm their political-social stance.
In church discussions I have heard heated debates about issues with both sides claiming a "Thus said the Lord!" argument. How then do we discern who is speaking the truth?
Perhaps we need to re-examine what we mean when we say Scripture is authoritative. Does it always mean, "clear cut and precise"?
He says where 2 or 3 are gathered He is in the midst. First, prayer needs to be introduced for guidance and instruction, second, the Scripture needs to be studied with an open mind to be able to expect the revealing of the Holy Spirit. A debate leads way for strong opinion, studying together opens the door to revelation.
Maurice, the 40,000 plus denominations that claim to have "the truth" based on scripture tells us something doesn't it? Most are not honest. So there will never be a consensus this side of the new earth, but until then, the Lord tells us: "have I not written thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth..."(Prov 22:20,21).
So when the church has a clear disagreement, at least one side is unable to "rightly divide the word of Truth". So who's correct? It doesn't matter, as long as I am honest with myself and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Daniel tells us "the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand"(Dan 12:10). We need to be "wise" then don't we?
Press on, press on, the night is almost over. Christ is coming soon.
'Christ reminds us that true worship is focused on God and not on anyone else, and that submission to His Word is true worship'.
The study of worship is very vast. Rev 14:6-12 talks about what is true worship. So is Eccles 12:13-14;
But many times I ask myself, What is true religion? How can true worship comes out from false religion? or a false religious system? The Jews in Bible times introduced several other man made laws to guard the God given laws. After a while, the laws introduced by man appeared like if the were God given. People started silently questioning those laws but it was not easy to stand up to the 'great men' of the Temple. The rich and powerful trampled on the poor and used text from the scroll to support their reasoning.
A true religion. James 1:26-27. This is the time for our Church to be active with this. Use the media as is possible. Check on each other, offer what we can.
True worship is total committed to God. Love the Lord with all you heart, soul and might/mind, and your neighbor as yourself.
Were you commenting on Sundays part of the lesson?
As the Word of the LORD is the foundation of my faith in Him, I need to study it read it, meditate on it, memorize portions of it. Then when I am tempted or tested the Holy Spirit will bring them to mind.
I have noticed that not only when tempted but throughout His ministry when the theology experts tried to dispute issues with Him He gave a clear answer based on Scripture, He didn't get involved in endless debates. I pray that I am able to concisely give an answer for my faith when asked. 1Peter 3:15; Titus 1:9; 2Tim 2:24-25; Philip 3:15.
Love the Lord with all thine heart...and thy neighbor as thyself.
Deutro 6:4-6; 10:12; 30:6; Matt 22:37-40; Luke 10:27; 1 John 4:21.
Quote from lesson above: "Christ reminds us that true worship is focused on God and not on anyone else, and that submission to His Word is true worship".
My question is- does this alone constitutes true worship?
See what another author stated-
The great difference between the Jews and the Samaritans was a difference in religious belief, a question as to what constitutes TRUE WORSHIP. The Pharisees would say nothing good of the Samaritans, but poured their bitterest curses upon them. So strong was the antipathy between the Jews and the Samaritans that to the Samaritan woman it seemed a strange thing for Christ to ask her for a drink.Yet the priest and Levite neglected the very work the Lord had enjoined on them, leaving a hated and despised Samaritan to minister to one of their own countrymen..... Many today are making a similar mistake. They separate their duties into two distinct classes. The one class is made up of great things, to be regulated by the law of God; the other class is made up of so-called little things, in which the command, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself,” is ignored. {COL 380.3}
Therefore Christ is waking up a people, us, SDA to what constitutes True Worship. If we have true religion, true worship will come out and the world will take notice of a people different from the others. Now is the time for the Church/little flock to shine like the morning star. Shine like the sun in its glory. We might not have another time to shine like this. Now is our opportunity to do this great work. Binding both the love of God and the love for each other. Let non of our brethren go homeless and hungry at such a time as this.
Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever the profession, no man has pure love to God unless he has unselfish love for his brother {COL 384.2}
Thank Jesus I do not have the Virus, or sick with it. No immediate family members but in-laws. I am trying to do my little part in my side of the world lest my religion is in vain.
Maurice, you wrote:
"In church discussions I have heard heated debates about issues with both sides claiming a "Thus said the Lord!" argument."
I agree! During the Civil War in the U.S., theologians in the South defended slavery with the Bible. Those in the North used the sacred book to oppose slavery.
The second temptation of Jesus was not "The World's Kingdoms," it was "Presumption," the devil tempted Jesus to throw himself down from the top of the temple building to test His Father to use His angels to come to His rescue. Then the third temptation was "The World's Kingdoms" in exchange to worship satan instead of His Father.
The question in the Bible study is:
'How can we learn to be just as reliant on the Word of God, and as submissive to it'?
Through FAITH in the written word of God - live it and taking courage!!
Read Jesus' prayer to our God, our Heavenly Father, written down for us to know - John 17 -; particular the verses 20-23 lead us to determined, unmovable faith.
Do you KNOW God? Do you trust HIS word? What more do we need?
Take it as fact that we are one with our Savior and therefor one with our Heavenly Father.
Take it as fact that this prayer of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the prove that shows to us and others that the Spirit that dwells in us now is from the Father.
Take it as fact that we are now HIS children and walk by faith, KNOWING (being filled with the Spirit of TRUTH) that "we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God". We can do no other.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me - Phil.4:13.
Praise God - to Him be the Kingdom, the Power and Glory forever!
As the lesson states, “ In all three temptations, Jesus responds with the words, ‘It is written’.” He has set the example for us to follow. If at every point of our daily temptations, we would rely upon the Written Word, we would experience greater victories.
Today’s lesson states: “For Christ, Scripture has the greatest authority and the greatest power.”
What kind of “authority” is being referred to: authoritarian or authoritative?
What type of “power” does scripture have?
Phil, I believe that scripture has authority in the same way the user manual for my car has authority. Chevy, Ford etc. built the car and knows best how it will run well. God created us and gave us a user manual on how we can thrive here on this earth. It may be a simplistic answer, but it works for me. As Maurice mentioned heated arguments over a topic can happen, if both parties are willing to dig deeper until they understand what the truth is, but studying Gods word has to be done prayerfully and humbly. If I come into a discussion with my mind made up, I won’t learn anything. Obedience to Gods Word is the key to our learning. Proverbs 3: 5 & 6 says “Trust in the Lord with ALL thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.” Seems like good advice to me.
Hi Karen.
Your response it not simplistic at all. You have described the heart of the questions I posed. Scripture has authoritative authority because - as you said - it outlines how we need to live if we want to experience the abundant life we were originally created for and are being re-created for. And it also outlines the inherent outcome of trying to live by any other way that does not and cannot lead to anything other than “perish”.
The power in scripture is the power of Truth - the power of how reality actually operates.
Many quote where Paul says that when we are tempted, a way of escape will be provided(1 Cor 10:13). If we combine the experience of Jesus in the wilderness when being tempted of the devil, don't we arrive at a clear understanding of this way of escape?
It then falls on us to build our house on a Rock, and not shifting sand. Truth will "set [us] free" if we have hid truth in our heart that we might not sin against God, who is the Author of Truth. He will bring to mind what we need in the hour of temptation.
In Christ's 1st reply to Satan's temptation, He quoted Deuteromy 8vs3. In the third temptation, the Devil quoted Psalm 91:11,12, and Jesus countered it with Deuteronomy 6vs16. Sometimes the Devil mis-represents God's character and mis-interprets God's words to us that we may go astray. Here we have God's knowledge to be able to counter the Devil's deception and allurements. "Your words I have hidden in my heart that I may not sin against you" Psalm 119:11.