It is Written

What are the benefits of Bible memorization? Why is it necessary to memorize scripture? Jesus gives us an answer to these questions!

Let’s take a look…

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.’

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER YOU,’ and, IN THEIR HANDS THEY SHALL BEAR YOU UP, LEST YOU DASH YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’ ” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘YOU SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD.’ “

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM ONLY YOU SHALL SERVE.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.” (Mat 4:1-11 NKJV)

Indeed, Jesus clearly demonstrated that one of the most powerful means of overcoming the enemy is to become so acquainted with the Holy Scriptures that they can be recalled at any moment to counter temptation. Thus, Jesus had committed to memory the Holy Scriptures, and used them as a means to defeat the devil who sought to persuade Him to turn against God. In fact, a close reading of what had happened will show you that Satan even went so far as to use scripture out of context to try to deceive Jesus. Of course, Jesus was well versed in the word of God and immediately discerned what Satan was up to.

The question however is, are you well versed in the Bible? How much of the Bible have you committed to memory? Do you know it well enough to identify when someone is using it out of context? Do you know which biblical verses to recall when temptation strikes?

Listen, if the devil was bold enough to attempt to attack Jesus in this way, how much more will he try to do the same to you? And if Jesus used the Word of God as means for protection, how much more do we need to do the same? It is quite tragic that many Christians spend very little time reading the Bible these days, but even more disheartening that they don’t use it for what it is intended for, that is, to glorify God by allowing the pen of Inspiration to engrave His message on their hearts through Bible memorization. What ultimately happens as a result their neglecting to do this good work is that when temptation strikes they easily fold and give in to the Tempter. For though they think they are standing on a solid foundation, they are not, because they are not following Jesus’ example of feasting on the word of God daily and committing their hearts to its sacred truths.

Jesus had said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4 NKJV) Why then are so many who profess to believe in Jesus Christ trying to live without the word of God? Why are they ignoring what Jesus said here?

Do you want to overcome the enemy in the same way that Jesus did? Do you want to experience the power of God’s word in a way that you have not experienced it before? If so, then you need to follow Jesus’ steps and start memorizing scripture, so that you too, may be able to use it to ward off the enemy just like Jesus did. Thus you will stand strong in the face of temptation and cause the devil to flee from you!

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