“It is written”—Telling the devil to “be gone”

Luke 4:4 says:  Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.' "

Jesus was tempted by the devil and to every temptation Jesus said, “It is written…”  He used God’s Word to battle the “evil one”.  In Ephesians 6 it talks about “the full armor of God”; note—the only offensive weapon is the “sword of the spirit” which is the Word of God.  Fight evil with the Word of God.  Here are some evil fighting words; may I suggest you use them liberally.

·         When the devil tempts us with the idea that God cannot be found or does not care, use Jeremiah  29:11-14 which says:  “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

·         When the devil tells us that God couldn’t possibly accept us plus with all the day-to-day frustrations of life, God couldn’t possibly give us rest, use Matthew 11:27-30:  "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

·         When we are afraid, lack peace and feel so alone (the devil likes us to be alone—that’s when we are the most vulnerable).  Remember this from John 14:25-27 --  "All this I have spoken while still with you.26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

·         When you are tired and weary and devil says, “Where is your God now?” read Isaiah 40:28-31 --  “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

·         When the devil says, “Good luck; you are on your own”, read Philippians 4:19-20 – “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”  And, in Colossians 1:9-14 – “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

With whatever lies the devil is tempting you with use God’s Word to tell him to “be gone”; be gone from my life.  Jesus is my Lord and Savior. 

Walk on Christian, Jesus is with us.

Fight on Christian, with Jesus we win in the end. 

Be Christ to your neighbor; with the peace of Christ, live it out.

Occupy with love-demonstrated in word and deed by the power of Christ.