09-30-23-ENG.

"Man does not live by bread alone, but ... by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD. "

Deuteronomy 8:3 
OPERATION BREADBASKET

Read It: Matthew 4:3-4
Why was Jesus tested in the wilderness? Well, you remember what happened with the first Adam. He was tested in the Garden of Eden. Satan came onto God's territory, got Adam to sin, and Adam got kicked out of a garden into a wilderness. The last Adam paid Satan a return visit on his territory. Jesus went into the wilderness to defeat Satan and get back for us what was lost by the failure of our forefather, Adam. By His victory, Jesus reclaimed us from the wilderness so He could bring us someday to the paradise of God, which is heaven. Now the Bible says God does not tempt anyone (James 1:12). But He does test us. What's the difference? As we have seen, testing is designed to validate our victory in Christ. But tempting by the Devil is designed to defeat us spiritually. So Jesus came under Satan's temptation. Jesus had fasted for forty days and nights in preparation for spiritual battle, so the first temptation was "Operation Breadbasket." Now what does that tell us about the Devil?

He had been watching Jesus' fast. He knew Jesus was hungry. Remember that, because Satan knows what you're up to even when what you're up to is spiritual. Satan knows your intentions. Satan was questioning God's provision. He was saying to Jesus, "God hasn't given you what you need." Have you ever felt that way? It's been forty days, and God hasn't supplied yet. You're hunting for a job, and He hasn't given it to you yet. You've been praying for a raise, and it hasn't come through. You've been waiting for a mate, but God hasn't given you one yet. Satan says, "God is really not that good, because if He was good, you would have what you need by now" What did Jesus say? "It is written." There was more to this issue than food. Jesus answered temptation with the Word. How much more we need to use the Word against our enemy. We need to learn that we don't live by bread alone but by the Word of the One who provides it. Think About It God did not give you the Bible to decorate your coffee table or to carry under your arm but to wield like a sword.