"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 4:4)

What if the most powerful thing you could do in spiritual battle is simply have an answer ready?

In this episode of The Abidible Podcast, host Kate is in Matthew 4:4 to watch Jesus do something striking in the wilderness: answer Satan. Not with spectacle. Not with force. But with Scripture.

Kate traces this moment back through the entire Bible, showing that God has never ignored the enemy—He has always answered him with truth, limits, rebuke, intercession, and ultimate victory. From the garden to Job, from Peter to the cross, Scripture reveals a consistent pattern: when Satan speaks, God always responds.

Along the way, this episode gently but boldly exposes a common struggle many believers share—being aware of spiritual danger, but not knowing how to respond. Kate unpacks the difference between demonic possession and oppression, helps listeners recognize subtle tactics the enemy uses in everyday life, and explains why awareness alone is not enough. We must be alert and ready for action.

You’ll walk away with clarity about spiritual warfare, confidence in your identity in Christ, and a renewed understanding of why God’s Word is not optional—it is life itself. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, distracted, dull, or unsure how to stand firm against temptation and accusation, this episode will equip you to respond with truth, courage, and hope.

If this episode encourages you, consider supporting the show or becoming an abidible+ member through Buy Me a Coffee (linked below).

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Thanks again for listening. If you know someone who would be blessed by what you just heard, please share The Abidible Podcast with them. Help us spread the word so we can make MUCH of the Word. Be sure you are following our podcast so you’ll be notified when new episodes drop. And finally, if you’re enjoying this series, please take a moment to give us a review or become a monthly supporter.

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"And the tempter came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.'"

In Matthew 4:3, a starving Savior stands in a blistering wilderness and faces an invitation that seems reasonable, compassionate—even wise: turn stones into bread. But in this episode of The Abidible Podcast, host Kate shows why this first temptation was never about food—and why Jesus’ refusal was essential for our salvation.

By harmonizing Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and setting the scene in the harsh wilderness of Judea, this episode reframes the entire temptation narrative through a crucial lens: the enemy attacks the Father’s character first—then comes for yours. Hunger isn’t the enemy. Delay isn’t neglect. The real battle is whether the Son will trust the Father without manufacturing proof.

Kate traces the echoes from Eden to the wilderness using 1 John 2:16’s grid (desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes, and pride of life), connects the baptismal declaration to Psalm 2 and Isaiah 42, and explains why identity is received—not proven through performance or spectacle. Jesus refuses bread not because hunger is sinful, but because meeting a legitimate need through illegitimate means would fracture trust and detour the cross.

This episode also exposes Satan’s familiar playbook: targeted pressure, timed to vulnerability, always loud—but always limited. Practical takeaways help listeners learn how to bring real needs to the Father instead of fixing them alone, reject the lie that delay equals neglect, and turn hunger—literal or spiritual—into prayer rather than panic.

If you’ve ever felt tempted to rush God, prove your worth, or take shortcuts just to make the ache stop, this episode will steady you. Jesus didn’t win by white-knuckle resistance, but by abiding trust. And because He stood firm, we don’t fight to earn God’s love—we fight because we are already loved.

If this episode encourages you, consider supporting the show or becoming an abidible+ member through Buy Me a Coffee (linked below).

Introducing abidible+
☕ Become a Member ☕
☕ Buy Me a Coffee ☕

Important Links:

Into the Wilderness (Current Study)
Into the Wilderness Lettered Collection
Try our Free Demo Study
Abidible "How to Study the Bible" Course
Subscribe + Enter to Win a Free Study

*As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small commission from your purchase at no additional cost to you.

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Thanks again for listening. If you know someone who would be blessed by what you just heard, please share The Abidible Podcast with them. Help us spread the word so we can make MUCH of the Word. Be sure you are following our podcast so you’ll be notified when new episodes drop. And finally, if you’re enjoying this series, please take a moment to give us a review or become a monthly supporter.

You can:

Learn more about us at abidible.com
Follow us on social media
Email us anytime with questions: hello@abidible.com

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"And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." (Matthew 4:2)

Why would the Spirit lead Jesus into hunger—and why is this critical to understand? In this episode, Kate dives into Matthew 4:2, where Jesus’ forty-day fast in the wilderness reveals what truly satisfies the human heart.

Tracing the echoes of Israel’s forty-year wilderness story, Kate shows how Jesus does something completely new. He chooses the Father’s word over bread, obedience over shortcuts, and trust over relief. Fasting emerges not as spiritual theatrics or self-punishment, but as allegiance: a declaration of superior love for God.

Connecting Old Testament shadows to New Testament fulfillment, this conversation also confronts a modern dilemma—many of us aren’t starving for God; we’re simply full from nibbling off of the table of the world.

Rooted in grace, not guilt, this episode offers a biblical vision of fasting and practical guidance for letting hunger drive you back to Scripture, prayer, and deeper joy in Christ.

If this episode encourages you, consider supporting the show or becoming an abidible+ member through Buy Me a Coffee (linked below).

Introducing abidible+
☕ Become a Member ☕
☕ Buy Me a Coffee ☕

Important Links:

Into the Wilderness (Current Study)
Into the Wilderness Lettered Collection
"A Hunger for God" (John Piper)*
Try our Free Demo Study
Abidible "How to Study the Bible" Course
Subscribe + Enter to Win a Free Study

*As Amazon Associates, we may earn a small commission from your purchase at no additional cost to you.

----

Thanks again for listening. If you know someone who would be blessed by what you just heard, please share The Abidible Podcast with them. Help us spread the word so we can make MUCH of the Word. Be sure you are following our podcast so you’ll be notified when new episodes drop. And finally, if you’re enjoying this series, please take a moment to give us a review or become a monthly supporter.

You can:

Learn more about us at abidible.com
Follow us on social media
Email us anytime with questions: hello@abidible.com

---
"Rhodesia by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/"

Text Us!

Support the show