Pastor Bob’s Blog

It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”  (Matthew 4:4 NKJV)

Satan tried to tempt Jesus to turn stones into steaming hot loaves of bread to fill Jesus’s hungry stomach.  Jesus denied what his flesh wanted and resisted Satan’s lure by declaring Deuteronomy 8:3.  As we read it today, we need to be reminded that we are to live by God’s Word, and what God finds important, not by “bread alone.”

In the current election, candidates for offices from President to commissioner are emphasizing the economy.  Even Christians have been swept up in making their voting decision based on what they think will benefit their pocketbooks.  That’s bread alone!!  We’re not supposed to be living by bread alone, but by what God values.

If we ignore the candidates’ positions on the sanctity of life, we’re living by bread alone.  If we ignore the candidates’ positions on sin (by other labels), we’re living by bread alone.  If we ignore the candidates’ positions on issues pertaining to the poor, widows, and orphans, we’re living by bread alone.

As those who call ourselves disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to shake off temptation, crucify our flesh,stop living by bread alone – and start living by God’s Word!

The last couple of weeks, the Lord has directed me to preach about the Blessing.  Through Kenneth Copeland, the Lord declared that this is the Year of the Fullness of the Blessing, or the Blessing Without Measure.

We know that Christ has borne the curse of the law for us, that the Blessing of Abraham might come on the gentiles.  (Galatians 3:14-14).  The Blessing is an empowerment – a “super” applied to our “natural” to accomplish the supernatural.  The Blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow (or painful toil) to it.  (Proverbs 10:22).

What are some things we can do to open the door to the Blessing’s operation in our life?  One is to do those things Jesus discussed in his sermon on the mount, including being merciful, peaceful, humble, and ready to bear persecution for the sake of Jesus.  (Matthew 5:1-12).  Another is to trust the Lord – to live by faith!  (Psalms 2:12; 34:8; 40:4; 84:12).  Yet another is to consider the poor.  (Psalms 41:1).  Still another is to confess our sins.  (Psalms 32:1-5).  Living in the worshipful, reverential fear of the Lord opens the door to the Blessing as well.  (Psalms 112:1; 128:1-6).

Just like Abraham, we can walk in the Blessing, and be rich, healthy, and victorious.  And also like Abraham, we can be spreaders of the Blessing – blessing others to multiply the Garden of Eden in the Earth today.