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Introduction

This is the final version of the series on the topic “not by bread alone” as quoted by Jesus Christ. The quote suggests that physical food is not enough to keep people alive, but any word that comes out of the mouth of God is sufficient to sustain life. The sustenance that the word of God produces is discussed in this thesis.

Living by God´s word

The enemy, while tempting Jesus Christ, asked Him to turn a stone into bread and eat it. But Jesus answered him and said, “It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Mat 4:4, Luk 4:3-4, ). Moses records this in the following manner:

“And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger, and then He fed you with manna, which you did not know, neither did your fathers know it, so that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of Jehovah man shall live” (Deut 8:3).

God made the people of Israel to hunger from physical food, and then He supplied them with spiritual food called manna. He wanted to prove to them that when His people run out of meat, He could still provide for them out of nothing. God was able to provide them with this spiritual food and drink (1Co 10:3-4) through to the promised land.

Elijah was also supernaturally fed by angels at the command of God. He walked in the power and strength of that meal for forty days and night (1Kgs 19:1-8). While on the mount, Jesus wanted to tell the devil, that even if He were hungry, God could feed Him without having to obey him.

Jesus, unlike Adam, knew His identity as the bread of life, the living bread, and anyone who eats His body never hungers and those who believe in Him never thirst (Joh 6:35-51). He also causes living water to flow out of those who believe in Him (Joh 4:14). He could, therefore, not succumbed to the deception of the enemy. A person, therefore, must accept Christ as his or her Lord and Savior, and feed on Him daily to receive life.

More so, Jesus could not be deceived with food because He does not depend on physical food to accomplish His mission. He had some meat to eat but neither His disciples nor the devil knew of it. He says that His meat is to do the will of Him who sent Him (Joh 4:34). Therefore, believers must seek to fulfill their divine mandate and not to frustrate their calling with food. Paul writes that food does not connect us to God because it does not make us better or worse (1Co 8:8).

Conclusion

Food is good for the body but it should not be allowed to destroy the work of God. Adam was destroyed with food but Jesus was not influenced by it. He defeated the enemy by the word of God when tempted with food. When life becomes very challenging, it is the word of God, the Christ, that can sustain us.

Prayer: May the Lord give us the wisdom we need when being tempted by the enemy and give us the power to stay in His will. In the name of Christ Jesus. Amen!

Introduction

This Newsletter discusses the importance of our obedience to the Word of God.  Our obedience to God is a basic requirement of every believer in Christ Jesus if we desire to grow and develop in Him.

The disobedience of Adam

Adam, the first man, was given instructions by God and he was to observe them in order to live and enjoy his life to the full. However, he disobeyed God and sinned against his maker. He was then separated from God as a result of his sin. So He died spiritually and fell short of the glory that was given him by God.

In reference to the above, Paul writes that “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come” (Rom 5:14), that is Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

The obedience of Christ

Jesus Christ was the Son of God yet He learned to be obedient by those things which He suffered while on earth (Heb 5:8). He was tempted by men and the devil but He remained resolute to be obedient to God. Believers are being encouraged to learn from the Christ who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest they get exhausted and faint in their minds (Heb 12:3). Jesus, being found in fashion as a man, never fainted in what He suffered. He humbled Himself and became obedient until death, even the death on the cross (Php 2:8)

Adam was tempted with food in the Garden of Eden and he fell (Gen 3:6). Similarly, Jesus was consistently tempted with food on the mountain during His forty day and night fasting but He remained obedient to God. For His obedience, Paul again writes: “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:17).

Therefore, as by the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, shall many be made righteous (Rom 5:19). Also, as sin hath reigned unto death, even so, might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 5:21). God demands our complete obedience but not only our sacrifices (1Sam 15:22).

Conclusion

Human beings are being encouraged to remain obedient to God for them to live eternally. The first man, Adam, died because of his disobedience to God, but Jesus, the second man, lives forever because of His obedience. Therefore, man does not need food alone to live but his obedience to God. Everything we experience in life must teach and urge us to live in obedience to the word of God.

Prayer: Dear Lord, you are strong but we are weak. May you empower us with your Spirit, to live to obey you as we walk with you. In the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord. AMEN!