Matthew 4: 1-4

Is the Word of God Essential?

"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.  And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

  It is very clear that the United States of America is suffering through an hour of temptation. A few questions that might be popping into our thinking process...

• Will I have a job?
• Will there be enough food for my family?
• Will I be able to see my family and friends?
• How long must I suffer?

  In answering these questions, let us recall the words of the Lord Jesus Christ.  "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

  Every Christian will survive this hour of temptation through the Word of God.  We do not know the day of our death, but we do know that the Word of God is able to feed our hungry soul.

  Every lost soul dying of the Coronavirus needs more than a ventilator.  He or she is desperate for eternal life.  John 3:14-15 states, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." 

  Two areas that believers must be conscious of during this time--

1. We must be spiritually minded. Romans 8:6 "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."  Our Saviour shall be revealed in us, and our suffering does not compare to our heavenly home with Jesus. 
2. We must have patience.  Romans 8:25 "But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."  Jesus spent three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  His resurrected body is evidence of patience.  That same patience is currently available in us through the Holy Spirit of God. 
   

  In conclusion, the Lord is able to comfort our hearts through daily feasting on the Word of God.  Yes, I believe the Word of God is essential.