Taking God at His Word is faith—believing what God has said in Scripture simply because God said it.
Les Feldick defines faith as taking God at His Word. It means reading what the Book says and believing it even when you do not understand it or feel any different. This faith is the first step in salvation and continues to guide the believer through the entire Christian walk.
Matthew 4:4 — Jesus quoted this verse when Satan tempted Him to turn stones into bread, showing that taking God at His Word means answering with Scripture.
Hebrews 11:1 — This is the Bible's own definition of faith, which Les identifies as taking God at His Word.
Hebrews 11:1 gives the Bible's definition of faith: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith is not based on what a person sees or feels; it is based on the certainty of God's Word. Matthew 4:4 records the Lord Jesus answering Satan's temptation: "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." When the enemy pressed Him to turn stones into bread, Jesus turned to the written Word. This demonstrates that trusting God means living by every word that comes from His mouth.
Les Feldick's consistent definition is that faith is taking God at His Word. He says he has never found a better definition: when you read something in the Book, even if you cannot understand it, you believe it because God said it. It is not based on feelings or on someone else's opinion; it is based on what the Book says. Les applies this to the Christian life from the start. The first step in salvation is taking God at His Word concerning yourself—believing that you are what the Book says you are, short of the glory of God. That same faith then guides the believer not only into salvation but through every part of the Christian experience. From the temptation of Jesus, Les points out that there is only one way to defeat Satan, and that is with the Word of God. He urges believers to be saturated with the Word every day, to keep priorities straight, and to say with faith, "God, You've said it, I believe it."
Les says faith is based on what the Book says, not what someone else says. He encourages readers to take God at His Word even when they cannot fully understand it, and to hold on to it by saying, "God, You've said it, I believe it." He also reminds believers that faith means trusting the Book even when they do not feel any different, and that this is what pleases God.
Les explains that Satan attacked Jesus at His weakest physical point—after forty days of fasting—and tempted Him to make bread. Jesus answered with the written Word: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." The lesson, Les says, is that the only way to defeat Satan is with the Word of God. That is why he constantly encourages people to be saturated with Scripture every day.
No. Les teaches that faith guides us not only into salvation but all through our Christian experience. It begins by believing what the Book says about yourself, and it continues as the believer learns to walk and live by faith. He connects this to the biblical statement that the just shall live by faith, and he warns against replacing faith with programs and works.
Les does not condemn the physical desire for food. Hunger is a normal physiological response, and Satan used Jesus' natural hunger as the point of temptation. The lesson is not that physical desires are evil, but that they must be tempered with spiritual priorities. Life is not sustained by bread alone, and spiritual truth is far more important than satisfying an appetite.
Satan Targets Jesus at His Weakest Point
Les sets the scene of Jesus' hunger after forty days of fasting, showing that Satan tempts at the point of physical need.
Faith Defined as Taking God at His Word
Les defines faith as taking God at His Word—believing what the Book says simply because God said it, even when you cannot understand it.
The Word of God Defeats Satan
Les uses Jesus' answer from Scripture—"Man shall not live by bread alone"—to show that believers defeat Satan with the Word and need to be saturated with it daily.
Faith is 'The Just Shall Live by Faith'
Les repeats his definition of faith and directs readers to Hebrews 11 as the Bible's own definition of faith.
Spiritual Priorities Over Physical Desires
Les draws the lesson that physical appetites must be tempered by spiritual priorities, citing Jesus' answer that life is more than bread.
Faith From Salvation Through the Christian Walk
Les teaches that taking God at His Word begins with believing what the Book says about yourself and guides every step of the Christian life.
Saying 'God, You've Said It, I Believe It'
Les shows that faith includes telling God you believe His promise and resting on the Word as true.
Believing the Book Even When You Feel No Different
Les explains that faith means trusting what the Book says has happened, even when you do not feel a change, and that this pleases God.
Matthew 4:4: 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.
Jesus quoted this verse when Satan tempted Him to turn stones into bread, modeling what it means to live by God's Word.
Hebrews 11:1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
This is the Bible's definition of faith, which Les identifies as taking God at His Word.
Les Feldick defines faith as taking God at His Word. When you read something in the Book and believe it, even if you cannot understand it, you are taking God at His Word.
Jesus answered Satan with "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Les points out that the Word of God is the only way to defeat Satan.
No. Les teaches that faith guides us not only into salvation but all through our Christian experience. Faith is the basis for walking with God daily.
Faith means saying "God, You've said it, I believe it." Even when feelings are absent, a believer trusts what the Book says because God is the One who said it.
Watch the Teaching: Jesus' Three Temptations — Why Satan's Attacks Still Matter Today