Warriors Arise: August 1, 2023
Matthew 4:1-4 (NKJV) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. 3 Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
What really is the first temptation? Is it food? Or is it identity? "If You are the Son of God" seems like challenging words. The devil was trying provoke Jesus by being insulting. He had no honor for the Son of God. He had no honor for God's people. He knew food would not tempt Jesus, but treating Him with such disrespect might get a rise out of Him. It might cause the battle that he lost in heaven to resume here on earth. The devil wanted a battle, he too was looking for the Son of God to come as the conquering King. The devil was not a good loser, the matter was not settled for him. He still wanted to fight. He still thought he could win. He still wanted to cause pain to God, the Son of God and the Holy Spirit.
I could be overstepping my assessment of the devil and his ways; however, he didn't leave heaven when he was defeated. He had to be thrown out. When you are tempted and resist him, does he go away and stay away? No, he comes back again and again to test us. Many, if not most of the time, he comes back when we are at our weakest point. We could be hungry and food is calling to us. We could be celebrating and he offers us the pit of pride. We could be disappointed and he tries to push us over the cliff of discouragement and hopeless. These are secondary to the biggest temptation he tries to shackle us to the walls of his dungeon. How many of us have struggled with knowing who we are?
Today, all over the world there is an epidemic of people not knowing whether they are male or female. They do not want to believe what their eyes can see. There doesn't even have to be an examination by a doctor for one to know they are male or female. As soon as a baby is born, we know.
The devil tempted Jesus first with,"If You are the Son of God." I don't think it was a question. He was to try and get a rise out of Jesus. It was to try to get Jesus to resume the battle from heaven that had ended poorly for the devil. The devil wanted Jesus to fight. He wanted an open battle.
Becuase Jesus was the Son of God, the battle wouldn't be resumed. Jesus already won. He didn't have to fight him again. Jesus wasn't there to prove He was the Son of God, He came to earth to show us He was the Son of God, the Redeemer of mankind. His focus was not on the devil. His focus was on the prize. He was coming for us. He knows the time and place for everything. This battle was not about territory or landmark, it was about you and I, it was about people. Jesus was here to reclaim us as His own. Jesus would win the prize. Do not be mistaken, the prize is you and I. The prize is mankind. He wants us with Him and He came so we would have the opportunity to live in heaven when this life passes. He didn't come for the food. He came for you and I.
Jesus had to face the insults of the devil, His greatest adversary and He won. He did not rise to the insult. He knew Who He was. He wasn't there to reveal Himself to the devil. He was there to reveal God's love to the people, to you and I. He did not draw upon the power the Spirit had given Him to win in hand-to-hand combat over the devil. He used the power to strengthen His resolve to fulfilling His destiny. He would go to the cross and rise again but He would have a little fun first. He would minister to the people. He would demonstrate God's love. He would reveal the truth of God's Words. He would show us how to live an empowered live over the devil's temptations. He was there to give us the authority to defeat the devil and expand God's kingdom. His battle was not against flesh and blood. He would not resume the battle the devil so desperately wanted. He would not waste time on a battle He clearly won. He was now after His prize, you and I, all mankind.
Father, I am incredibly grateful for the love of Your Son. He didn't have to prove who He was. Some may read this passage and think Jesus was weak. But He wasn't. He was strong. I desire to be strong like Jesus. I want ot keep my eye on the prize. Your people, all people are the prize. You want none to parish and all to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. You want all to make Jesus their Savior and Lord. I pray I would keep my eye on the prize. No matter if I am acknowledged for who I am or Whose I am, I want to expand Your kingdom. I want to bring freedom tot he captives and show them how to have everlasting life in relationship with You in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
Join together as Believers in Jesus Christ to pray and to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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