You Have New Authority
God wants us to live a life of faith and victory. He knows we will face trials and temptations of many kinds. So, He gave us the Bible, which is His Word, to teach us about Him and to teach us how to act and think as believers. If you will read God's Word, memorize God's Word, and obey God's Word then you will be equipped to walk in victory. You will then be living under the authority of God instead of walking in your own.
When you spend time in the Bible you will discover that King David's words are true when he wrote, 'Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path' (Psalm 119:105). You will also discover the power of God's Word as well. In the New Testament book of Hebrews we read, 'For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart' (Hebrews 4:12).
Jesus gave us an example of how to use the authority of the Bible to stand strong in the midst of trials and temptations. In the New Testament book of Matthew we read the account of Jesus being tempted by the devil. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert where he fasted for forty days and forty nights and he was hungry. He was at his physical and emotional weakest point. That was when the devil came to tempt Him. The devil tempted Jesus by commanding Him to turn stones into bread, by throwing Himself off the highest point of the temple to make God save Him, and by offering Him all the kingdoms of this world. Rather than argue or debate with the devil, Jesus simply quoted God's Word because God's Word is Truth. The devil cannot deny Truth or overcome it. Three times Jesus replied, 'It is written' and then quoted a passage from the Old Testament Scriptures.
There are three lessons I want you to see from this encounter that show the need for you and I to be equipped with the authority of God's Word.
Lesson #1) You must recognize that you cannot fight sin and temptation alone. Even Jesus needed the strength and wisdom of God's Word. That's why Jesus responded by speaking the Truth of God's Word to the devil and his temptations.
Lesson #2) You must submit yourself to the authority of God's Word. You cannot fight your spiritual enemies by your own authority, because in truth, in yourself, you really have no spiritual authority. But, when you appeal to God's Word then you stand by the Greatest Authority ever! The Living God who has no equal!
Lesson #3) The devil knows God's Word and will twist it to lie to you. He will try to use God's Word incorrectly in effort to fool you. And he will attempt to attack you in the areas of God's Word in which you are ignorant or that you know, but are not actively standing in. This is not reason for fear, but for awareness. To be prepared to deal with such attacks, you must have a working knowledge of the Bible so you will know immediately when someone uses the Bible incorrectly. Something you can do to be sure you are growing in your knowledge of God's Word is to attend church and Bible studies at church on a weekly basis.
How does God equip His children to walk in victory? We are equipped as we read the Bible every day. When you do, obey what the Bible tells you and do not do what the Bible forbids. You will then discover the power of God's Word and enjoy the victories that only He can bring.
As you travel life's journey, learn the Bible well and stand in its authority in every day life.
