Standing on the Revealed Word

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting   forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are   the Son of God, command   these stones to become loaves of bread."But he answered,   "It is written,      'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:1-4 NIV)

My dear sister in Christ, Sarynette (shout out to big Will and the tribe Guzman), reminded me of an important lesson in this chapter.

Previously in chapter 3, God the Father spoke a clear affirming and loving message to our Lord Jesus.

But as far as we can tell, through the Wilderness, the Father is silent.  

What does that mean for us?


One of the tests through the Wilderness is to see if we will stand on what God has already revealed.  


The Spirit leads us into the Wilderness to see how much of the Word is really in us.

Jesus Christ dealt with Satan by turning to Scripture.  The Scriptures reveal the character and power of God.


It is upon God’s revealed message found in the Bible that Christian men must build their lives. 


Sometimes we fast, pray, and practice spiritual disciplines to “hear” from God.

But quite often, when times get dark, the Father may not speak a direct message.

Instead we are tested to see if we will stand on the Word that God has already spoken. 

How much of the Word is in us?  When we are hungry, angry, lonely or tired, do we turn to the Word or to the fastest way to meet our desire? 

How have you learned to stand on the Word when Satan begins to question you?


When Israel passed through the Wilderness their hungers, thirsts and the "silence" of God caused them to rebel.


Thankfully Jesus the Christ was victorious through the Wilderness.  We can learn and stand on his victory and thankfully we have the Spirit to lead us.

Please post your thoughts below.

Your brother,

Minister Onorio

Why It’s Hard to Be “Friends” First

Christian singles are often told to be “friends first” before becoming emotionally involved.

It’s good advice.  Long lasting marriages are also deep friendships.

So why is it difficult for single Christian men and women to be friends before becoming romantically involved?

One obvious reason is that physical and emotional attraction kick-start the sex drive.

Most men are drawn to the physical first.  It is difficult being friends with someone who catches your eye and then your imagination concerning your future. 

The Bible doesn’t say anywhere to “be her friend first.”  But the Bible does say to treat her as a sister.

 “Treat the older women as you would your mother, and treat the younger women with all purity as your own sisters” (1 Timothy 5:2 NLT).

Regardless of what we are feeling on the inside, the Word of God puts it on us to act like a brother.  How?  Some ideas…

Be real. Admit your attraction or interest in a woman to the Lord first and accountability partners. 

Be holy. Holiness is about creating spiritual and moral boundaries that reflect the character of Jesus the Christ.

Be focused.  Your goal is not to “get her” to be interested in you.  Your goal is not to be sure that she likes you too.  Your goal is to see past how FINE she is in order to see her character.

Be slow to speak. You will need to discern when to be honest with her about what you feel. Especially if you are confident that she is also interested.  But this can only really happen if you are also clear about where you are going in your own life.

When you treat a woman like a sister you want the best for her life.  After all, until marriage, she is your sister in Christ first.

Please share your thoughts below.

Your brother,

Minister Onorio