Each day is a Gift. Let us not grow weary, as we serve him together. Father, forgive us, when we get caught up on the things that do not matter, eternally.
Tag: Bible
Man cannot live by BREAD alone!
Key Scripture Reference
The phrase “man cannot live on bread alone” is found in the Bible, specifically in the book of Matthew. This verse emphasizes the importance of spiritual nourishment alongside physical sustenance.
Matthew 4:4
TRANSLATIONVERSE TEXTNew International Version”Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”English Standard Version”But he answered, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”New Living Translation”But Jesus told him, ‘No! The Scriptures say, People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'”King James Version”But he answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'”
Context of the Verse
This verse is part of the account of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. After fasting for 40 days, Jesus was tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread. His response highlights that spiritual sustenance is as vital as physical food.
Related Verses
- Deuteronomy 8:3: “He humbled you, and let you hunger and fed you with manna… that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”
- John 6:35: “Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.'”
This teaching underscores the belief that spiritual fulfillment is essential for life.
True Lasting Faith
This was written by a Pastor friend of mine and I thought you might enjoy it.
EARNESTLY CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH – Sept. 2025
Southview Bible Church * 135 Bennett Ave. * Council Bluffs, IA. 51503
Phone: (712) 322-5743 E-mail: pastor@southviewbible.org * Web Site: www.southviewbible.org
FAITH TESTED AND TRUE
TRUE faith NEVER fails! In the end, it ALWAYS proves true! Yes, as people of faith, we often fail in our walk of faith. As James says, “we all stumble in many things.” (Ja. 3:2) However, human weakness does not nullify true faith. As Jesus said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Mt. 26:41) Every believer knows this reality!
When Peter denied the Lord three times, did he lose his faith? Absolutely NOT! Jesus said to Peter prior to his fall, “I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail” (Lk. 22:31). Yes, Peter failed miserably in his faith walk, but his faith did NOT fail. One look from Jesus, and Peter went out and wept bitterly (Lk. 22:61-62). He HATED his sin because he really did believe in Jesus!
Abraham is the premier example of saving faith in all the Bible (Gen. 15:6). Abraham’s walk of faith was characterized by occasional stumbles. He repeatedly was deceptive about Sarah being his wife (cf. Gen. 12:10-20; 20:1-18). He heeded his wife’s counsel and bore an “illegitimate” child through Hagar (Gen. 16). Abraham stumbled at times in his faith journey, but he never lost his faith. And God used everything he went through to build his faith and to make him stronger. We learn through failures, and our faith is actually strengthened. This is the nature of having a true faith. God, who has begun a good work in us, will complete it (Phil. 1:6).
By the time Abraham was an old man, he had grown strong in his faith, being convinced that God would fulfill His promise of a son through Sarah (Rom. 4:19-22). And then, as the promised son, Isaac, came of age, a major TEST was presented to Abraham (cf. Gen. 22).
Hebrews 11:17–19 (NKJV)
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”
19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
The faith of Abraham was TESTED and proven TRUE! This is true for every true believer. In the end, they have a FAITH that proves true! At core, every true believer has an enduring faith. This is true through thick and thin, through failure and weakness. We are God’s “workmanship” and through it all He is shaping us into the people of faith He wants us to be (cf. Eph. 2:10).
Peter brings out that trials in the life of the believer serve TWO purposes. They serve to PROVE the reality of our faith, and they serve to REFINE our faith.
1 Peter 1:7 (NKJV)
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
A true faith when TESTED is FOUND. Hard times are TESTING times, but they serve to PROVE the genuineness of our faith. Yes, in our human weakness, we often falter and fail, but if we have true faith, God uses these things to further REFINE our sincere faith. Even in failure, genuine faith is demonstrated in how the true believer responds. We hate our failures. We learn from them. We go on even stronger because of them. GENUINE faith is tested and found TRUE!
Thot: True faith has an abiding reality that when TESTED proves TRUE!
Earnestly Contending, Pastor Dwight J. Oswald
Faith Waits – Written by a friend of mine, and fellow pastor.
EARNESTLY CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH – August 2025
Southview Bible Church * 135 Bennett Ave. * Council Bluffs, IA. 51503
Phone: (712) 322-5743 E-mail: pastor@southviewbible.org * Web Site: www.southviewbible.org
FAITH WAITS
Faith is taking God at His Word. A biblical faith is always connected to the Word of God. True faith is not a matter of subjective feelings, mysticism, or intuition. Rather it is always in response to God’s Word. Faith takes God at His promises. What God has promised may yet be future, but faith believes that God will bring it to pass just as He said. This is where HOPE comes in as it is the certain expectation that God will bring to pass what He has promised. Thus, “faith is the substance of things hoped for” (Heb. 11:1).
Abraham is the premier example of saving faith in all of the Bible. In the Hall of Faith Chapter of Hebrews 11, he is given the longest treatment (Heb. 11:8-19). Abraham was promised by God a special land called “The Promised Land”. He was also promised innumerable descendants. Both of these involved a LOT of WAITING, and in fact, Abraham never saw the fulfillment of these promises during his lifetime. He saw the land, but he never possessed it. All he ever really owned was a burial plot (Gen. 23). Yes, he saw a few children born (most significantly the promised child Isaac), but he never saw the fulfillment of innumerable descendants.
The covenant promises made to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:18; 17:21; 22:16-18) were then passed along to Isaac (Gen. 26:3-4), and then to Jacob (Gen. 28:13-14). But it was “by faith” that Abraham dwelt in the land of promise living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, “heirs with him of the same promise” (Heb. 11:9). In doing so Abraham WAITED for a permanent dwelling place – “the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Heb. 11:10).
At the age of 75 Abraham had already been told he would be made “a great nation” (Gen. 12:2, 4) and shortly thereafter he was told the number of his descendants would be “as the dust of the earth” (Gen. 13:16, cf. 15:5). Through his seventies, then eighties, then nineties, he continued to WAIT! Finally, when Abraham turned 99 God appeared to him and in effect said, “NOW it’s baby time!” (Gen. 17). In the birth of Isaac, Abraham finally tasted the beginnings of what God had promised, but he never saw the fulfillment of a great multitude of descendants.
In fact, NONE of the patriarchs saw the fulfillment of either the land promise or that of innumerable descendants. Hebrews 11:13 says, “These all died in faith not having received the promises but having seen them afar off were assured of them…”. They were assured of the promises, but they never saw the fulfillment in this life. Their faith was “the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). They WAITED and WAITED and died in faith. They confessed that they were “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Heb. 11:13) with the testimony that they were seeking a homeland that would be fulfilled beyond this life (Heb. 11:14-16).
In keeping with the nature of a true saving faith, they never even considered it an option to go back to the old country (Heb. 11:15). True faith does not apostatize (cf. Heb. 10:38-39). Instead, they continued to look forward to a “better, that is a heavenly country” (Heb. 11:16; cf. 2 Pet. 3:13). This is God-honoring FAITH! True faith does not revert back to a pre-conversion state. Faith does not go back; rather, it looks forward. It looks forward to what God has promised and will not go back!
This is the nature of a true saving faith that pleases God (Heb. 11:6). The patriarchs WAITED, and WAITED, and WAITED, and eventually died in FAITH awaiting the fulfillment of God’s promises. And because of this, “God is not ashamed to be called their God” (Heb. 11:16). A core designation for the one true God is “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (cf. Ex. 3:6, etc.). God identifies with the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is the mark of the truly saved!
Thot: True faith will die in faith believing that God will yet fulfill ALL His promises!
Earnestly Contending, Pastor Dwight J. Oswald
Living Waters 