Wednesday, December 4, 2002
There were seasons in the life of our family when I thought we were running our own personal emergency room. Like the time our youngest son dislocated his ankle in football. The doctor put this air cast on his ankle for about two weeks, and then I guess they, uh, located it. At about that same time, our oldest son had surgery for a knee injury he got in sports, so they recommended that he wear a knee brace whenever he played a game where he had to pivot very much. An ankle cast, a knee brace - it's a good idea to support the weak spot so you can prevent further injury.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Supporting the Weak Spot."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Luke 4, beginning at verse 2. It describes a weak spot that Satan tried to exploit into a "career-ending" spiritual injury. Jesus is in the desert "where for forty days, He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them, He was hungry. The devil said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.' Jesus answered, 'It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"
After forty days of not eating, I mean it's obvious that Jesus' weak spot was His need for food. And where does the devil aim his temptation? Well, of course, at Jesus' need for food! Notice Jesus' response ... a scripture verse that directly addresses the point where He was vulnerable. Basically He says, "Life's more than food." I have a feeling that Jesus had been drawing strength from that verse frequently during His 40-day fast. Just like the doctor put a brace on our son to support his weakened knee, Jesus went to scripture to support His vulnerable spot.
That's our best way to avoid damaging spiritual injury. The devil hates you. He's got a terrible plan for your life, and he has sized up your vulnerable spot. It's important that you acknowledge where that is or you're gonna be easy prey for him. Jesus knew His weak spot and He braced it with specific scripture that dealt with that specific issue.
Now, if the devil is going to try to bring you down, what weakness do you think he'll use? It's important that you find scripture that gives God's view on that area. You need to memorize those verses and repeat them frequently. You reprogram yourself by thinking scripture where you usually think sin, and then you hammer the devil with a God's Word response whenever temptation hits. It's that powerful spiritual secret that God records in Psalm 119:11. "I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You."
So, where's the hole in your armor? Where's your weak spot? Is it that old bitterness or thinking you're worthless? Maybe it's your sexual desires, your thought life. It could be your tendency to worry or to run ahead of God. You know where you're vulnerable. You've lived with that weakness - maybe you've been defeated by it - for a long time. Now it is time to cover that weak area of your life with scripture! Memorized, planted deep in your personality so it becomes a conditioned response to the pressure of Satan.
When you know God's answer to your area of weakness, you are ready to take the devil's hits. You've got this strong spiritual brace that means you don't have to be injured there ever again.