The word of God is alive and energetic because it is full of power. The writings in the Bible are God’s power that saves all who believe. God’s Word is the weapon that the Spirit uses to defeat our spiritual enemy. Please don’t stop now; allow 11 minutes more!

Refer to Hebrews 4:11-13 (12); Romans 1:16-17 (16) and Ephesians 6:10-20 (17).

Revised: Sunday, March 17, 2024

The Word Of God: How To Better Empower Yourself

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: Luke 4:4. Bible lesson background, Luke 4:1-13: Since Jesus had just ended a 40-day fast, he was very hungry. Some believe it is connected to Israel’s forty years of troubles and trials in the wilderness. Of course, the devil took the opportunity to test Jesus. And as you’ll see, our Savior used the Word to make him stand down. ☺

Luke 4:1-2 [read Luke 4:1-13 (1-2)]: Then Jesus left the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over, he was hungry. (CSB); KJV: And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

The Word of God: A Weapon for Spiritual Warfare

Mark (Mark 1:9-13) and Luke (Luke 3:21-4:13) say that after John baptized Jesus, the Lord faced forty days of temptation in the wilderness. The following happened after that time:

Test # 1: Turn a stone into bread

Luke 4:3-4 [read Luke 4:1-13 (3-4)]: Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 But Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God’” [compare Deuteronomy 8:3]. (TCENT); KJV: And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

If you are the Son of God…

Matthew 4:3-4 [read 1-11 (3-4)]: Then the Devil came to him and said, “If you are God’s Son, order these stones to turn into bread.” 4 But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone, but need every word that God speaks.’” (GNT); KJV: And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 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.

Notice how Jesus fought off each of the devil’s tests with the Word of God. This is fun, stay with me!

Test # 2: The devil said, “If you worship me…”

Luke 4:6-7 [read Luke 4:1-13 (6-7)]: “I will give all this power and glory to you. It has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 Just worship me, and you can have it all. (CEV); KJV: And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

Jesus answered,

Luke 4:8 [read Luke 4:1-13 (8)]: And Jesus answered him, “It is written [Deuteronomy 6:13], ‘You are supposed to worship the Lord, your God, and serve only Him.!’” (AUV); KJV: And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Test #3: The devil said, “throw Yourself down from here”

Luke 4:9 [read Luke 4:1-13 (9)]: The Devil next led him into Jerusalem, and, placing him on the parapet of the Temple, said: “If you are God’s Son throw yourself down from here, (Twentieth_Century); KJV: And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:

The last test: The devil quotes God’s word

Luke 4:10-11 [read Luke 4:1-13 (10-11)]: ‘God will put his angels in charge of you to watch over you carefully. 11 With their hands they will hold you up, so that you will never hit your foot against a rock.’” (ISV); KJV: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Psalms 91:11-12 (for comparison)

KJV: For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Note: Jesus did not mention that it was not a word-for-word quote or that it was not in context. He merely countered with another scripture.

Jesus has the final word

Luke 4:12 [read Luke 4:1-13 (12); compare Deuteronomy 6:16]: Jesus said to the devil, “It is written, ‘You must not tempt the Lord your God.’” 13 When the devil finished tempting Jesus in every way, he went away from Jesus for awhile. (NLV); KJV: And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

How To Better Empower Yourself

Do as Jesus did! Empower yourself with the word of God.

Hebrews 4:12-13 [read Hebrews 4:11-13 (12-13)]: For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. (NLT); KJV: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Part of the armor of God

The belt of truth allows us to live holy (John 17:17) and having the gospel or good news of peace, along with the other items, makes us ready for spiritual warfare.
Ephesians 6:14 [read Ephesians 6:10-20 (14)]: So stand up, wrap the belt of truth around your waist, tie on the breastplate of justice and the right, 15 and put on the shoes of readiness to share the good news of peace. (FBV); KJV: Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

God’s word is the foundation of faith

Romans 10:17 [read Romans 10:14-21 (17)]: So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (WEB); KJV: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 [read 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (16-17)]: All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live. 17 Using the Scriptures, those who serve God will be prepared and will have everything they need to do every good work. (ERV); KJV: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

In conclusion, the word of God gives us everything we need to live holy and do good works. So cherish as well as live by the Word of God. After all, it is the way to better empower yourself! Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺