Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

This was Jesus’ response to the devil who said to him in the desert “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Satan knew enough to understand that if Jesus wanted to change the stones to bread he could do it. He knew Christ’s identity. All he was trying to do was to exercise power over his will. If just this once he could get Jesus to do what he wanted him to do, he would get a feather in his cap, something to boast about.

Jesus was secure about his own identity as the Son of God and was not about to succumb to the devil’s cheap trick. The other significant point to note is that prior to this Jesus had just been baptized in the Jordan, the Holy Spirit had descended on him and God the Father had publicly approved of him. Only then was Jesus led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. When he had fasted for forty days and nights he became hungry.  It was at that point that the devil figured Jesus was most vulnerable. He couldn’t have been more wrong. Jesus was sustained by the power of the Spirit and as he grew physically hungry, he became spiritually stronger. He is himself the Word after all. The devil had no power over him.

Are you facing temptation? Do you think for a moment that you can stand in your own power? No. You can only stand in the power of the Spirit wielding your sword which is the Word of God.