Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s look at how Jesus answered temptation.

Today’s scripture, Luke 4:4‭, ‬8‭, ‬12 (ERV) shares…
Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say, ‘It is not just bread that keeps people alive.’” (Deuteronomy 8:3)…Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God. Serve only him.’” (Deuteronomy 6:13)… Jesus answered, “But the Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”
(Deuteronomy 6:16)…

Consider…
One of the greatest pieces of advice I received early in my professional career was from a brilliant scientist. He told me that when I am promoted to respond to a question, issue, or situation, it’s best to respond by quoting an expert. He explained that if someone takes issue with my response, then their issue isn’t with me, rather it’s with the expert. From that moment on, I developed, and continue to hone a habit of researching and referencing experts for answers to questions or issues that arise in my life.

In my research through the years, I have discovered that I really only need one expert for all the answers and hypotheses I will ever need. That’s because…
The Lord is the source of wisdom; knowledge and understanding come from his mouth. – Proverbs 2:6 ERV

As well as, Ecclesiastes 1:9‭-‬11 (NLT) says…
History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new. Sometimes people say, “Here is something new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.

If God is the source of knowledge and understanding, and there’s nothing new down here on earth, why waste my time looking for the so called experts down here? Afterall, they’re trying to figure things out just like me?

Therefore, I encourage you to also bypass the local experts and go directly to the Universe’s Expert for wisdom. As a matter of fact, He encourages us to do so. James 1:5 (NLT) says…
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

One area that we all need answers, is handling temptations in our lives.

The first thing the Expert explains is…
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. – 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

Remember the Ecclesiastical wisdom that History merely repeats itself? God is saying the same is true for temptation. In fact, God puts the temptation we experience into three buckets:

• Lust of the flesh
• Lust of the eyes
• and Pride of life

…This is all there is in the world: wanting to please our sinful selves, wanting the sinful things we see, and being too proud of what we have. But none of these comes from the Father. They come from the world. – 1 John 2:16 ERV

The first answer we should reference when facing temptation is that its not new. What’s even greater than that, is the fact that Jesus knows exactly what we’re going through, because He went through it Himself. Hebrews 4:15 (AMP) says…

For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize and understand our weaknesses and temptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect as we are, yet without [committing any] sin.

Speaking of Jesus being tempted like us, today’s scripture gives us the second answer to overcoming temptation. That answer is, Scripture says! Notice, the only one who overcame temptation, which makes Him The Expert, gave us a real life example to follow…

• In response to the lust of the flesh, remember Jesus had fasted 40 days and was very hungry before being tempted, Jesus, referenced what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 8:3 (ERV), which was…He humbled you and let you be hungry. Then he fed you with manna—something you did not know about before. It was something your ancestors had never seen. Why did the Lord do this? Because he wanted you to know that it is not just bread that keeps people alive. People’s lives depend on what the Lord says.
• And in response to the lust of the eyes, Jesus referenced what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 6:13 (ERV), which was…Respect the Lord your God and serve only him. You must use only his name to make promises.
• Lastly, in response to the pride of life, Jesus referenced what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 6:16 (ERV), which was…“You must not test the Lord your God like you tested him at Massah.

Jesus’ response to temptation was to recite scripture.

It’s tempting to think Jesus was able to recite scripture because He was there when Moses wrote it. However, that belief overlooks the crucial answer number three to overcoming temptation, which is learning and understanding God’s word. In Luke 2:41‭-‬46 (NLT) we see when Jesus most likely LEARNED and understood the verses that He quoted to Satan. The passage shares..
Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. When Jesus was twelve years old, they attended the festival as usual. After the celebration was over, they started home to Nazareth, but Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents didn’t miss him at first, because they assumed he was among the other travelers. But when he didn’t show up that evening, they started looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they couldn’t find him, they went back to Jerusalem to search for him there. Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.

If the incarnate Word of God took time to learn the written word of God, why do we think we’re exempt from studying God’s word? 2 Timothy 2:15 (AMP) exhorts us to…
Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.

Jesus was able to accurately handle the word of truth, which by the way is the only weapon in spiritual warfare, because He studied it.

Study God’s word! You can’t recite what you haven’t cited. Or said another way, You can’t reference what you don’t know. 🙀

It’s time for us to stop quoting others opinions or interpretations of God’s word, and instead study and know it for ourselves. As a matter of fact, God says only the Holy Spirit will lead and guide us into all truth. In John 16:13 (AMP) Jesus definitively said…
But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future].

The Holy Spirit, not other people, is the one who teaches and provides understanding of the Answer (Jesus Christ) to everything we encounter in life.

So today, rather than looking for local experts here on earth, pay attention to and respond with the wise words of the spiritual Expert God has placed within us. We should heed the wisdom that Jesus gave His disciples in
“When men bring you into the synagogues before the leaders and other important men, don’t worry about what you will say. The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” – Luke 12:11‭-‬12 ERV

I also recommend that you make Psalms 119:103‭-‬105 (ERV) your testimony. The Psalmist testifies…
Your words are so sweet to me, like the taste of honey! I gain understanding from your instructions, so I hate anything that leads people the wrong way. Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take.

When you’re led by the Word, you’ll always know the right answers and how to victoriously respond to every temptation you encounter.

When Satan tempts, let God’s word answer!

To be safe, just let God’s word always speak to, for, and through you!

Today’s song is…
Just One Word

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)