It is Written

I didn’t grow up in the church, and oftentimes I found myself in complete confusion about what God wanted and what I needed to do for Him. My parents were divorced and they each had their own answers to my questions. None of the answers were the same. So, when I got confused, I'd go elsewhere (usually to a school counselor or someone like that).

I remember "running all over the place" in search of answers and everyone always had an "opinion." Of course, all these different people had their own unique answers to my questions (again, none were the same), and that’s when I thought: “How do they know they're right when they're just as human as me and my parents? What makes their answers the right ones?" I can remember thinking they never actually "met God," no more than I had, so . . . how can I really know that what they're saying is true? That's when I gave up asking everyone for answers. It became overwhelming. All the answers were different. How could I know what was true? 

That was the beginning of my battle, and I wasn’t even a Christian yet.

I’m sure many of us are familiar with the following verses in Ephesians 6:10-13.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

How in the world do we defend ourselves against such unearthly beings?

During my time of confusion, I must have been surrounded by a spiritual army shooting their arrows to confuse me and keep me from the truth. Finally, by the time I was sixteen, I learned that if “the answers” aren’t in the Bible (the authority of our faith), I didn’t have to listen to them. Our “armor” and the answers to all our questions are in the scriptures.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, ALL Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work (emphasis is mine).

Hmm . . . all doesn’t leave much out now does it?

Remember when Satan tried to tempt Jesus? Look at how Jesus responded to Satan every time: Matthew 4:4: It is written . . .  In Matthew 4:7: . . . it is written . . .  and Matthew 4:10: . . . it is written . . . . Jesus fought against Satan with the Word of God. Of course, they didn't have the New Testament at that time, but they had the Old Testament scriptures, and that's what Jesus referred to each time Satan put a temptation before Him.

But what about those who also use scripture to prove their point? When Satan tried to tempt Jesus he quoted scripture to convince Him to go his way. How do we handle that?

Now remember, at one point Satan had Jesus stand on the pinnacle of the temple, so He's up pretty high. Here, Satan throws "IT IS WRITTEN" back at Jesus. Interesting that their "sword play" (which wasn't "playful" by any means at all) is being done with the Word of God (a.k.a. the sword of the Spirit):

Matthew 4:6 says, And [Satan] 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, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone'" (emphasis is mine).

If you ask me, that’s a pretty convincing scripture. After all, Jesus is standing on the pinnacle of the temple. Why not use this opportunity to prove to Satan that Jesus is the Son of God?

However, this was Jesus’ response:  Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, IT IS WRITTEN, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 

Touche'! 

That's definitely one of those YAY GOD moments! I love Him! And it tickles me to see Him in a fight, to witness how He battles the enemy and WINS! 

This goes to show how important it is that we know and understand the scriptures.