CHARLES OGBAA NNUKWU
IT IS WRITTEN – THE BATTLE STRATEGY OF JESUS CHRIST
“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
— Matthew 4:4 (KJV)
Jesus Christ, the Commander of the armies of Heaven, did not begin His public ministry with miracles, signs, or wonders. He began with warfare. But not the kind of warfare waged with swords or spears. His first recorded battle was not in a city or synagogue, but in the wilderness — face-to-face with Satan. And in that barren battlefield, Jesus revealed His ultimate strategy: “It is written.”
The Word as Weapon
When Satan tempted Him after forty days of fasting, Jesus did not argue with logic, shout with emotion, or display supernatural power. Instead, He wielded the sharpest sword in the universe — the written Word of God.
Every assault of the enemy was countered with Scripture. Each temptation was cut down with a phrase that began with: “It is written.”
The strategy of Jesus was not complicated, but it was powerful. He stood on the eternal truth of God’s Word, not on feelings, opinions, or circumstances. If the Son of God chose to rely on the Word in His moment of testing, then we, too, must learn to wield Scripture as our first line of defence.
Three Strikes: The Pattern of Victory
Turn Stones to Bread — The Temptation of Provision
Satan said:
“If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” (Matthew 4:3)
Jesus replied:
“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
The strategy: Dependence on God’s Word above natural needs.
Throw Yourself Down — The Temptation of Protection and Pride
Satan misused Scripture, urging:
“If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written…” (Matthew 4:6)
But Jesus discerned the twist and answered:
“It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” (Matthew 4:7)
The strategy: Proper discernment of Scripture and refusal to manipulate God for personal glory.
Worship Me for the Kingdoms — The Temptation of Possession and Power
Satan offered:
“All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:9)
But Jesus declared with authority:
“Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Matthew 4:10)
The strategy: Worship and loyalty to God above shortcuts and worldly power.
The Written Word vs. the Whisper of the Enemy
Notice that Jesus did not speak from the thoughts in His mind in this battle — He quoted the written Word. He did not say, “I feel…” or “I think…” He said, “It is written.”
Why? Because the written Word is a legal document in the court of Heaven. It is the constitution of the Kingdom. Declaring “It is written” is not voicing personal opinion; it is invoking the covenant.
Satan fears believers who know the Word and use it. The devil cannot withstand a Christian who boldly stands on eternal truth.
Your Turn to Use the Strategy
Jesus was not only showing us how He won — He was teaching us how we can win.
- Facing temptation? Declare what is written.
- In lack or confusion? Search the Scriptures.
- Struggling with lies about your identity, future, or value? Answer with the Word.
Let the Bible not gather dust on your shelf but be alive on your tongue. Memorize it. Meditate on it. Speak it. Pray it. When the Word is in your mouth, the devil has no chance.
Conclusion: His Victory, Our Model
Jesus did not use His divinity to defeat the devil — He used the Word, just as we must. “It is written” was His battle cry, His authority, and His unshakable strategy.
As you press forward in your walk, remember:
- Victory begins with what is written.
- The battle may rage, but the strategy remains the same.
- When you declare “It is written”, you stand on eternal ground the enemy cannot shake.
The battle strategy of Jesus is now your strategy.
It is written.
