The Sword of the Spirit

But in the Bible God’s own word is also as a sword in his hand, a sword that lays bare, separating the false from the true (Heb. 4:12), bringing judgment (Isa. 11:4; Hos. 6:5) but also bringing salvation.

Main Idea:

Demonstration of Main Idea:

Matthew 4:1–2 ESV

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Point 1

Matthew 4:3 ESV

3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Need is a powerful motivator.

Immediacy in meeting our need is very appealing.

Jesus’ response:

Matthew 4:4 ESV

4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Every need is secondary to our need for God

Point: Dependency on God and His Authority.

Point 2

Matthew 4:5–6 ESV

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”

Jesus response:

Matthew 4:7 ESV

7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

Point: Discernment to recognize and act against false teaching.

Point 3

Matthew 4:8–9 ESV

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

Jesus’ response:

Matthew 4:10 ESV

10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’ ”

Point: Declaration of the Lordship and Supremacy of God over all things.

Conclusion

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