Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue

IN THE GOSPELS OF MATTHEW (4:1-11) AND LUKE (4:1-13), JESUS GIVES CHRISTIANS THE MODEL FOR DEALING WITH TEMPTATIONS (ATTACKS) FROM SATAN. IN EACH OF THE THREE INSTANCES WHERE SATAN ATTEMPTED TO PREVENT JESUS FROM FULFILLING HIS MISSION, JESUS RESPONDED IN THE SAME WAY. HE DID NOT ENGAGE IN DISCUSSION OR ARGUMENT WITH THE DEVIL. HE RESPONDED BY STATING "IT IS WRITTEN" (KJV/NIV) FOLLOWED BY GOD'S WORD ON THE SUBJECT.

IN SHORT, HE SPOKE THREE CONFESSION STATEMENTS TO SATAN. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS, THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW 4:11 RECORDS THAT "THE DEVIL LEFT HIM, AND ANGELS CAME AND ATTENDED HIM". THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 4:13 RECORDS THAT "WHEN THE DEVIL HAD FINISHED ALL THIS TEMPTING, HE LEFT HIM UNTIL AN OPPORTUNE TIME". (NIV)

AMAZINGLY, MANY CHRISTIANS TODAY DO NOT UTILIZE THIS SIMPLE PRINCIPLE (EITHER DUE TO LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OR BECAUSE THEY HAVE UNDERESTIMATED THE IMMEASURABLE VALUE OF THIS BIBLICAL TOOL). AS A RESULT, THEY ARE OVERWHELMED AND SUBSEQUENTLY DEFEATED BY THOUGHTS, EMOTIONS AND EVENTS THAT THE ENEMY BRINGS INTO THEIR MINDS AND LIVES.

SO----.

WHEN SATAN TELLS YOU GOD DID NOT HEAR OR WILL NOT ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS
CONFESS--

THIS IS THE CONFIDENCE I HAVE IN HIM; THAT IF I ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, HE HEARS ME AND SINCE I KNOW HE HEARS ME, I KNOW THAT I WILL HAVE THE PETITIONS I ASKED OF HIM (I JOHN 5:14-15)

WHATEVER I ASK THE FATHER IN THE NAME OF JESUS WILL BE GIVEN TO ME (ST. JOHN 16:23)

I ABIDE IN JESUS AND HIS WORDS ABIDE IN ME, SO I CAN ASK WHAT I WILL AND IT SHALL BE DONE (ST. JOHN 15:7)

WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN ABUSED, BETRAYED OR REJECTED BY SOMEONE YOU LOVED (WHO PROFESSED TO LOVE YOU)
CONFESS--

THE LORD IS CLOSE TO THE BROKENHEARTED AND SAVES THOSE WHO ARE CRUSHED IN SPIRIT (PS 34:18 NIV)

JESUS WAS BETRAYED INTO THE HANDS OF MEN BY JUDAS; NO SERVANT IS GREATER THAN HIS LORD (MATT 17:22, ST.JOHN 13:16, ST. JOHN 15:20)

ALTHOUGH MY WEEPING ENDURES FOR A NIGHT; JOY WILL COME IN THE MORNING (PS 30:5)

WHEN YOU MUST DEAL WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE
CONFESS--
I WILL BE COMPLETELY HUMBLE, GENTLE, AND PATIENT, BEARING WITH OTHERS IN LOVE (EPH 4:2)

I WILL NEVER LET LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS LEAVE ME. I WILL BIND THEM AROUND MY NECK AND WRITE THEM ON THE TABLET OF MY HEART (PROV 3:3)

I WILL OPERATE IN THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT WHICH IS LOVE, PEACE, JOY, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GENTLENESS, FAITHFULNESS, GOODNESS AND SELF CONTROL (GAL 5:22-23)