KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:4” But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”.

In our previous study, we learnt that the Lord Jesus answered the devil. Today, we would consider what Jesus said and its implication. Today’s study will teach us what to say to the devil.

When Satan attempted to tempt the Lord, he (Jesus) did not consider the word of the devil whether it was true or not. He did not argue with the devil. The Lord went straight to the divine law of truth, the word of God. He said it was written. God’s word is written in the bible, and it is also settled forever in Heaven, for His faithfulness is unto all generations (Psalm 119:89,90).To confess is to say the same thing in consent. Confession is a way of endorsing what you believe as it has been declared by God. Romans 10:10 says “For with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. You are saved by what you say. God always looks up to our confession of what we have believed to affect our salvation in every area of our lives.

If the devil attacks your body with any infirmity, you speak out what is written in the bible and is also settled in heaven. The scripture says in 1st Peter 2:24b, “…..by whose stripes you were healed”. You likewise believe and say, “by His stripes I am healed”. Please note that every word of the devil is a lie or half-truth. John 8:44. “You are of your Father the devil, and the lusts of your Father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in Him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a lair and the Father of it”. Please read carefully what the word says about our adversary. He is a liar and the Father of all liars. He cannot speak the truth.

Please learn this, although his (Satan) words are lies, believing a thing has the power to create that thing. If you believe Satan’s lies, that thing that appears to be so would materialize. Your way out is to turn away from Satan’s words to tell him the truth. IT IS WRITTEN. Now until what the devil says has not physically changed, keep believing what God says and keep saying what God has said. The devil will eventually leave you, and your salvation in that area would be real for all to see.

 CONFESSION

The written word of God is the eternal truth. I live by the Lord and declare that what God has said about me is the truth. I am walking in victory, power, health, peace, and blessings in Jesus’ name..

FURTHER STUDIES.

Genesis 1:2-3 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light”.

Psalms 119:89-90 “Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:4” But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”.

Isaiah 54:17b says we would condemn every tongue that rises against us in judgement. Give a swift answer to the enemy, any time he makes a statement to you.

The first part of our key scripture says, “But He answered and said”. Satan’s words must always be answered. When Satan spoke into Jesus’ mind, he, the devil, attempted to introduce doubt into Him. This doubtful word, if allowed to linger, could have affected Him.

Dear child of God, every word of the devil is potent with destruction, death, doubt, fear, and every negative thing. His words must not go unanswered. In Mark 5:35, 36, the Lord was requested by Jairus to come and heal his daughter who was sick. As he went along with Jesus, certain men came and told him he should not bother the master because his daughter was dead. In verse 36, the Lord Jesus said “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken he said unto the ruler of the synagogue, be not afraid only believe”.

Beloved, do not allow any word Satan gives you to go unanswered. The word came in Jairus case to kill his faith. Your faith is your divine hand to receive your miracle. When your faith is washed off, Satan’s program would prevail. If somebody tells you any evil word, don’t keep quiet over it, answer back. Don’t accept a death sentence from the doctor when God has said all things are possible to him that believes. Speak back to him who told you whatever death sentence; that, the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you and he has given life to your mortal body (Romans 8:11).

Silence often means consent. Isaiah 53:1, says “who has believed our report”. Whose report would you believe? Satan’s report or God’s? Note God’s report can’t come to you until you have answered what Satan told you.

When the devil said, “If you are the son of God….” The Lord refuted his doubting words with His corresponding answer.  “it is written, man shall not live by bread but by every word that proceeds  from the mouth of God.

Please understand that life is spiritual. Satan is an accuser who raises all forms of accusations against us. God, our father, is the judge. When you fail to oppose Satan’s accusations, it is upheld, and so it will work against you. Do not keep quiet at what he says. Answer him back

  CONFESSION

Satan would never have the last words over any situation in my life, I would always answer him with God’s word, which is the truth in Jesus’ name.

FURTHER STUDIES.

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”.

Mark 5:35-36 ” While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe”.

PRAYER POINT: IN THE NAME OF JESUS MY LORD, I CONDEMN EVERY WORDS, DECREES MADE BY MAN, OR SPIRITS AGAINST ME IN ANY WAY. I MAKE SUCH WORDS NULL AND VOID IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:4” But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”.

Our Lord Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights.  The Lord was hungry, and it was at this point that the devil came to tempt Him.

The devil did not appear physical as He did in Genesis chapter three, when He came to tempt Eve. He spoke the words into His mind. Thoughts of various kinds keep flying through our minds. Some may appear as harmless as possible, yet if it is contrary to God’s word, then you must be aware it would destroy you, if you allow it to stay there. Please understand that every contrary impression suggestion, or  idea that flies through your mind comes from an evil source. Many Christians even accept these thoughts as their own. The bible speaks of casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…..”(2nd Corinth 10:5) Don’t give any attention to ANY contrary view of any sort. It may seem harmless, yet the source is deadly and would destroy or rob you of your eternal blessings.

The wife of a pastor had certain suggestive thoughts   like ‘aren’t you so beautiful, and also with a very charming voice. You could make lots of money singing secular songs. This lady did not pay much attention to that thought. The thought came to her again. This time, she accepted the suggesting and left her marital home to sing at  night clubs. She no longer went to church but became a worldly singer.

One man of God got concerned and started interceding for her. The Lord revealed to this man of God that a demon in the form of a monkey sat on her shoulder suggesting words into her mind. The words appeared as white smoke entering the mind. It became a small spot in the mind, but after sometime, it spread to her entire body controlling her whole actions.

Dear brother or sister, this dear lady did not consider the first thought anything dangerous. She allowed it until she was ultimately dominated and controlled by that seamlessly harmless thought.

Our Lord Jesus was very alert to know that the source of those suggesting came from the evil one. He took a stand with the scriptures and reacted from the viewpoint of the word of God.

Please make up your mind to stand for God, no matter the pressure.

 CONFESSION

The devil always strikes at the weakest moments. I have made up my mind to honour the Lord and never give any occasion for the flesh.

FURTHER STUDIES.

James 1:13-15 ” Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”.

Galatians 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 9:4” I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man, can work”

The Lord said there is a   time called the night for all persons. The night is God’s scheduled programme for everyone to end his works. It could be an old age session or a time when one has to depart this life. The import of this statement is that we do not have all the moments to ourselves.. This must cause us to work with some urgency. Work with every energy in us to complete the task given to us.

Too many Christians have not come to the consciousness that we are here on assignment and that there is a time period to complete this task. They go to church as a tradition or because they may be looking for solutions to some problem of some sort. There are some who understand we have a task to do, yet they are doing it as if they have all the time to themselves. There is no sense of urgency in their work. The Lord knew he had only three years to reach the whole region and also train his disciples to learn so much, so they would be able to take over from Him. No second was to be wasted. Every moment of His time was very precious. He said “I must work the works of Him that sent me, whiles it is day, the night comes, when no man can work”.

Dear brother or sister, there is a night when you would have no more time. Some of us are procrastinating their response to working for the Lord. There are others who are waiting until they get very old before they would respond to God’s call to serve Him. The younger you are to start serving God, the greater you can serve, and the better your rewards would be when you meet the master. There are neighbours whom we have to reach with the gospel, yet we keep postponing. There are others in distant areas, and we do not even think about them at all. Too many Christians are not doing any work of evangelism.

Please do not deceive yourself. One day, we would stand before the judgement seat of Christ. (2nd Corinth 5:10) All that we might spend our precious moments labouring for will mean nothing before the Lord. It is the souls we bring to the master that would matter.

Please take counsel from the Lord. The night is coming when no one can work.

CONFESSION

I do not have all the moments to myself. I commit my life to the cause of Christ, leaving no moment to pass by. I would judiciously use my time to maximise all my results.

FURTHER STUDIES.

1 Corinthians 7:29-30 ” But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;”

Romans 13:13-14 ” Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 ” For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 9:4 ” I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work”.

The Lord said, “I must work the works of Him that sent me…..” The Lord Jesus knew He had been sent to fulfil an assignment.

The Lord never stopped declaring in many times that He had been sent to do the father’s task. There are about forty references in the bible where Jesus said the father has sent me.

Let us consider some instances which the Lord revealed that He had been sent by the Father. John 4:34 “Jesus saith unto them; my meat is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish it”. In this instant, He said my satisfaction is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish it. The following are a few of the scriptures that talk about the fact that Jesus was sent by the Father. (John 5:30, 5:36; 6:38, 39,40,44,57….).

The Lord kept making references to the fact that he had been sent. This act always reminded Him of His assignment, and subsequently, His commitment to the assignment.

Many Christians today have lost their sense of awareness that they have been sent. To be sent means a superior one has sent you to do an assignment and that He is counting on you to execute your task to the end. This task, if well executed, would attract rewards. Now listen to what the Lord said about us in John 17:18 “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world”.

Dear child of God, you are here to execute the Lord’s assignment. He said as thou has sent me, even so have I sent them. He is saying we must go about preaching, teaching, healing, and blessing humanity like He did.  If He is sending us as the Father sent Him, then we have been given the same provisions that were given to Him. We must respond with that same sense of urgency as He did.

We should also say our meat or satisfaction is to do the will of Him that sent us and to finish it. John 4:34

 CONFESSION

I have been sent by God to continue doing what Jesus started. My satisfaction is when I willingly do this commission.

FURTHER STUDIES.

John 20:21. ” Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”

John 17:23 ” I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 9:4” I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work”.

The Lord said, “I must work the works of Him that sent me…” In our previous study, we looked at how diligently he worked. Today, we would consider what the works of God are. What is the work of God?

In the verse in question, the Lord was about to heal a blind man. Healing the sick is one of the works of God. The Lord said on many occasions that, every child of God has to heal the sick (Matthew 10:1, Luke 9:2, Luke 10:9 and Mark 16:15-17). Every child of God has received the authority to heal the sick.

The Lord was a man of prayer. Prayer is one of the works of God. Praying is like sending up incense unto the Lord (Rev 8:3) God loves to see His children pray. Prayer is fellowshipping with the Lord. He appreciates it when we come to him in prayer, Jesus prayed when He was being baptised (Luke 3:21), He prayed at Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36), He rose very early to pray (Mark 1:35) He prayed all night (Luke 6:12). Prayer is work, and it is hard work. The apostle said in Acts 6:4 that they would give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. The Lord said men ought to pray and not to faint (Luke 18:1)

The Lord also went around preaching and teaching God’s word or goodness. Until the truth is preached, men will continue to grope in darkness. The Lord spent most of His time preaching and teaching the word. Luke writes in Acts 1:1 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach”. (We have spoken a lot on His preaching expeditions in our previous study) The Lord taught one time and kept teaching till three days when he felt the people could faint if he allowed them to go home (Mark 8:2). Dear child of God, the Lord calls on you to preach the word in season and out of season (2nd Timothy 4:2). He says we must go into the world and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19, 20).

The works of God also include everything that the Holy Spirit would lead you to do. (Rom 8:14)

Please take the task he gives you gladly; let His work your pleasure be; answer quickly when he calleth; here am I, send me, and send me.

CONFESSION

God’s work is giving yourself to please Him in all situations. I give my life over to Jesus to live for Him all the days of my life.

FURTHER STUDIES.

2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

Luke 10:9” And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 9:4” I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work”.

The Lord saw a man born blind. His disciples asked who sinned that he was born that way. This statement reveals that it was the mindset of the Jewish community in Jesus’ day to think and believe that one’s predicament is a result of some sin committed. The Lord Jesus answered them that it was not the sin of anyone but that the works of God should be made manifest in Him. The Lord then went on to make the statement we are considering.

He said, “I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night comes when no one can work”. The emphasis is, I must work the works of Him that sent me”. This statement gives no room for options. I must; this is obligatory. The Lord talked about *working. He said my father is working and so I must also work. (John 5:17).

 The Lord Jesus was a very busy worker for God. At the age of twelve, he started doing His father’s business. (Luke 2:49). From the day He ended His fasting He immediately started working for His father. The Bible says in Luke 4:14 that “Jesus returned in the power of the spirit into Galilee….” After His forty days fast, he did not go to hide to eat and sleep to regain His depleted strength. He would rather carry on the work of the Father.

THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THE LORD WAS OCCUPIED WITH.

 He was in the synagogues (Luke 4:15), He granted audience to various enquirers (John 3:1-16), He visited people in their homes (Luke 19:5) He went from town to town, preaching the good news (Luke 9:6), He preached on the mountain (Matthew 5:1-3). He preached at the lake side. (Luke 5:1-5). He travelled on the sea often (Mark 4:35, 36). The Lord Jesus was not a lazy man. He was very busy with God’s work.

Dear brother or sister, how busy are you with God? We do not have all the days to ourselves, and neither will we live forever. The Lord said” And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds and said unto them occupy till I come”.( Luke 19:13) This means keep working till I come. God calls his servants labourers. (Matthew 9:38).

No matter your office, whether a Pope, Bishop, Pastor, Elder, Prophet, or whatever, you are a labourer, and you must prove yourself as such.

 CONFESSION

My father is working and I must also work. I give myself to working diligently for the master for there is a crown for me.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Luke 2:49 “And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my father’s business?”

John 5:17 “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.

In our key scripture, the Lord answered Nicodemus that unless a man is born again or in its proper sense born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

The scripture has concluded that all men are sinners (Rom 3:23): Psalm 51:5 says “In sin did my mother conceive me” Please I want you to be sincere with yourself. There are so many things people do that they cannot stop. Matthew 5:28 “But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her in his heart”. This is just one of the many areas that most people fall short. Men sin because they have a sinful nature. Romans 7:15 ” For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I”. Men are slaves to sin. The answer to this sinful nature is a new nature free from the power of sin.

 To be born again is to receive a new life or new nature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation old things have passed away, behold all things have become new”.

When a man is born again, he becomes a son of God. A son of man means, born by man, and a son of God means born by God. John 1:12, 13 “But as many as received Him to them gave he power to become the sons of God even to them that believed on His name. Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but were born of God”.

As a son of God with the life and nature of God, you now live a life of the sons of God. If you used to tell lies, you are no longer a liar and must say the truth. You cease to become the man or woman who is morally weak. You can now say no to the dictates of the flesh.

To be born again means you have received the ability or grace to do what is right. Titus 2:11, 12 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all man. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

Receive Jesus today as your Saviour and Lord so you will be saved from the power of sin.

  CONFESSION

Lord Jesus, by receiving you into my life, I receive your nature to live above sin. I believe you died for my sins, and I confess you as the saviour and Lord of my soul. Come into my life. Thank you for saving my soul.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 7:19-20 “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me”.

Romans 6:14 ” For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace”.

PRAYER POINT: O LORD. MY GOD, OPEN UP THE HEART OF EVERY UNSAVED PERSON TO TRUTH

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 9:4” I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh when no man can work”.

The Lord declared that the night comes when no man can work. The Lord knew the time that His night would come. He worked about that time, which He knew. How many of us know our nighttime?

We will do well to number our days so that we may incline our hearts to wisdom (Psalm 90:12). This was the prayer of Moses.  Now, just take a little inventory of the times and moments that we may have. If a man is to live for 70 years, then he has approximately (27393 days), twenty-seven thousand, three hundred and five days. (We are taking 70 years as the reference age. Some of us may live far more than that) If you are twenty years old now, then you have lived approximately 7305 days. The number of days left for you is: 27393-7305=20,093 days. This is with the assumption that you will live for seventy years. If you are presently 50 years old, then you have already spent 18262 days. If the assumption is that you have 70 years, then you have 27393-18262=9,131 days. The question is, you cannot tell if you would live up to 70 years as assumed or beyond that. If you are to live less than   70 years, then you have shorter days to work for the Lord. If it is further, then you have more years.

The Lord Jesus knew His night, so He worked towards it. Do you know your night? What then is our best approach to life in the light of the night that is coming definitely? I think the best approach should be to live each day as if that is our last day. We must work very hard and diligently. The night is coming when no man can work.

Apostle Paul advised us in 1st Corinthians 7:29-30 “But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none: And they that rejoice, as though they rejoice not, and they that buy, as though they possessed not”.

“A word to the wise is enough”

  CONFESSION

As the master said, I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day, the night comes when no man can work.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Psalms 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom”.

Ecclesiastes 1:16 ” I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 12:24-25 ” Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal”.

The Lord Jesus spoke in verse 25 of our key scripture that “He that loves his life shall lose it, but he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal”. In this scripture, the Lord taught us about true self-preservation or self-multiplication.

The world and its secular thinking teach us to protect what we have and keep our lives. The love for self and the craze to secure it has led men to act in ways that have opposed God’s way. Indeed, love for self-according to the bible is the cause of so many problems in our world these last days. (2nd Timothy 3:1, 2) There would be perilous times in the last days because men shall be lovers of themselves.

The Lord in that scripture (John 12:25) meant, if a man would tend the control of his life into the hands of God, he would live a very meaningful and very productive life, but when the man is scared about turning his life into God’s hands then he would lose it. In Matthew 14:15-21, the bible narrated the story of the multiplication of bread to feed the multitudes. What would have happened if this boy had feared to keep his bread and fish? There would have been no multiplication of bread. The boy was not afraid about losing those loaves. He gave them over to the Lord. He went home with a basket full of fish and loaves.

The best way to preserve your life is to turn it over to the Lord. To turn your life over to the Lord means you must love and appreciate His interests, and His ways against your ambitions, choices, and views. He said you must hate yourself. He was not talking about harming yourself but chose his way over yours. A life given to the Lord is infused with divine life.

Apostle Paul remarked in Philippians 1:21 that “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”. This philosophy of Paul made his life experience an outstanding one. He lived in joy, overcame the devil, and has affected many generations with his experiences and teachings. He loved the Lord and hated his life, so he preserved his life.

 CONFESSION

To be truly living is to live for Jesus and not for yourself. I am living for Jesus, and so my life is exceedingly fruitful and successful.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Matthew 16:24-25. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

2 Timothy 3:1-2 ” This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy”,