MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE

By Evangeline Unity Esaaba Folson

Key Verse: Luke 4:4
And Jesus answered him, saying, it is written, that ma shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
The verse is an excerpt from the story of how Jesus was tempted by the devil, after He had fasted for forty days and was very hungry.
One major lesson, we can learn from the story is that, the devil strikes when you have been deprived or suffered for a long time and you are vulnerable.
He knew Jesus had gone without food for a long time and was very hungry His first suggestions were to ask Jesus to turn the stones into bread.
Jesus’ answer demonstrates that food is very important for human survival physically (for our body, but that is not the only things we need as humans for survival).
What are some of the other things we need? Other things needed are:
– Studying the word of God to feed our souls
– Luke 4:8
– Luke 4: 10
– John 14:26
– Psalm 107: 6
– Learning the art of using the word of God appropriately
2 Timothy 2:15
Psalm 119:11
Joshua 1:8
– Learning to wait on the Lord to renew our strength,
Isaiah 40:31
Psalm 27:13 – 14

Matthew 6:11
– The love of God
Lamentations 3:22 -23
John 3:16

Studying the word of god to feed our souls
The phrase “food for the Soul” refers to things that nourish and enrich one’s inner life. It can also be used to describe things that make someone happy, comfortable, or fulfilled. We need the word of God to feed our soul and fight off the devil’s attacks
Luke 4:8
And Jesus answered and said unto him; Get thee behind me, Satan! For it written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou worship.
The second major lesson we can learn from the story is that, Satan cannot make you go against the word of God, because he knows its power.
As soon as Jesus quoted the word, in the verse above, he had to try another trick of deception.
John 14:26
But the comfort, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the father will send in my name, he shall touch you all things, and bring things to your remembrance.
According to the verse above, the Holy Spirit can help us study the word. Remember to pray before and after studying the word. Pray before studying for the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you study and pray after for Him to help you remember what you have studied when you need it.
Psalm 107:6

Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distress crying unto the Lord, using the word you have studied is very important for instance, if you pray that God should deliver you out of danger like He delivered Daniel from the Lion’s den, it not only calms you because it confirms the Lord can deliver but it also activates the power of God in your life. Peace and calmness is also an import thing in life, if you fill your stomach alone with food, how do you calm yourself whom you are under pressure? It is the word of God that can calm you.
Man cannot live by bread alone but by every word of God.

Learning the art of using the word of God appropriately
The third lesson you can learn about Satan from the story, is that He knows the word of God very well too and he can twist it to deceive you and lead you to sin.
Luke 4:10
Satan speaking
For it is written, He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee.
To fight off Satan’s attacks, therefore you have to study the word of God thoroughly, then you can identify the “twists” in the presentation of the word Like Jesus did. Jesus gave him an appropriate response.
In Luke 4:12
And Jesus answering said unto him, it is said, Thou shalt not “tempt” the Lord thy God.
This stopped the evil one “checkmate”, he had to depart but only for a season to repackage his deception plan and attack again (Luke 4:13)

The word “tempt” is in inverted commas because it is something that misleads a lot of Christians Believers in Christ willfully disobey God because
Romans 6:1
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
For example, someone will say, I need some funds for ministry work, but I am broke and the wok of God must go on. Let me engage in a little over-invoicing and under-invoicing to get some extra cash then I can plead for grace and forgiveness of sin Over- and Under-invoicing is stealing and a crime punishable by law.
The fact that you are using it for God’s work does not make it right. This is a clear case of “tempting God”
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The verse above says you need to know the word of God well enough in order to counteract Satan’s attempt to twist the word.
Psalm 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is
written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success.
The two verses quoted above say that:

– The word of God will help keep you away from sin because it will show you what is good and what is bad
– If you obey all the word of God directs you to do, you will be prosperous and you will have good success.

– You need the word of God in your life more than bread or food for your body. The word of God for the soul you cannot do without it.
Learning to wait on God to renew our strength
Isaiah 40:31
But thy that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not weary and they shall walk and not faint.
Psalm 27:13-14
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living.
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, and the Lord.
Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread. The first two verses above indicate that waiting on the Lord, that is spending time studying the word, praying and worshipping God gives us spiritual strength which is as important as the “bread” we need to nourish our bodies.

The Lord of God
Lamentations3:22 – 23

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
We need the love and mercy of God as well as the verses quoted above indicate. They are also as important as
– our daily bread, which is food for our body
– waiting on the Lord through bible study prayer and praise which strengthen us spiritually. In other words it is food for our soul.
Study the word of God thoroughly, pray and praise God. Then ask for His love and mercy each day.
Do not forget to feed your body as well. If all these things are in place then you can fight off the devil’s tricks and deception.

References
1. King James Bible
2. Oxford English Mini Dictionary
3. Google.com