Addressing the Need to Prove Ourselves

Luke 4 : 3 – 4, And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'" -NKJV

Long before Satan tempted Jesus while He was in the wilderness, there have been bullies. Bullies seem to enjoy belittling people who try to do the right thing in their lives. We know from scripture that Jesus didn’t give into Satan’s manipulative taunts.  

How are we to defeat Satan and bullies who want to intimidate us as Christians into doing what they demand? First of all, we have to know that we are loved by the Heavenly Father. Jesus knew His true identity because He knew where He dwelled before coming to earth. Just because someone doesn’t know, respect, or like us doesn’t mean that we have to prove ourselves to them.

Even so, we must give an answer to those who come against us so that we are able to silence them as Jesus did. It is imperative that we know God’s Word and who we are as believers in Christ. God tells us in Hosea that His people are destroyed when we don’t know the truth.

If we don’t know how to respond correctly to Satan and/or bullies, they may be able to cause us to give into their manipulative ways. If we do, this concession means that they have gained control over us. God doesn’t want us to be under the control of anyone, especially Satan. If you are picked on, you can try being nice to see if that’ll work, but chances are that it won’t. Reason being, Satan and people who bully already don’t respect those whom they prey upon, so they will dismiss your niceties.

As God’s Son, Jesus answered His accusers with the Word of God. Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that we are not at war with people, but with demonic powers. Therefore, we must correctly respond to our enemies that want to put us under their thumb, so to speak. Take some time and read the four gospels, and you will learn that Jesus always silenced His enemies with Godly wisdom.

At the end of His life, Jesus was still being taunted by spiritual forces which operated through people who hated Him. One such example is given to us in Matthew’s gospel.

Matthew 27 : 41 – 42, Likewise, the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, 42 "He saved others; Himself, He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. -NKJV

We all know that Jesus didn’t obey the demands of those who told Him that they would believe if He came down from the cross. Once again, Jesus only obeyed the will of God, and it was God’s will for Jesus to die for the sins of the world.

I use this particular story to highlight a truth that we must know when we are being tempted by Satan or bullied by people. Neither Satan nor any of those who tempted or railed against Jesus believed that He was the Son of God. This truth tells us that we don’t have to prove ourselves to those who do not believe in us as Christians. We are to stand on God’s Word and obey God’s will and the Lord shall fight our battles for us.

Pastor Asa Dockery

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