Warriors Arise: August 15, 2023
Matthew 4:5-7 (NKJV) Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:
‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and,
‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
The bully always plays the bluff. The devil seemed to have no idea who he was questioning. He didn't know who he was trying to tempt. Jesus was calling him out, "… you shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"
Jesus was calling the bully's bluff. There was no way He was going to get caught up in the snare of the devil. The devil was throwing out Scriptures to prove he knew something, but it only revealed how little he understood. The devil may know some Scriptures, but it doesn't mean he has knowledge about them. Knowing of something and having knowledge about something is two different things. I can know the name of a particular power tool, but if I don't know how to use it then it has little value to helping me.
When the devil quotes Scripture there are two flaws:
He lacks the understanding so it ends up being incomplete. He may talk as if he knows what it means, but when applied there is nothing to stand upon. This is why he had nothing to say back when Jesus quoted Scripture as His response to each temptation.
He has some understanding, but quotes Scripture out of context or to mislead us. He causes the twisting and confusing people have with Scripture. He talks as if he knows, but it is just a bluff.
A bully's bluff only works if the one listening lacks udnertanidng or confidence. However, there is another way the bully's bluff works. It is when the prey is afraid of the bully. The devil had no power over Jesus. He only has power to those who give it to him. Jesus wasn't about to give the devil any say-so in His life.
Jesus called the bully's bluff by calling what he was doing exactly what it was. The devil was tempting the Lord his God. As I said yesterday, the devil will bend the knee to Jesus. The day is coming. He would do well to back up and move on because he is trying to tempt the wrong man. Whether the devil acknowledges Jesus as God doesn't prevent Jesus from being God. Jesus is God whether people acknowledge the fact or not.
Father, I am learning so much from this passage. Things I have never seen before. I can use Scripture, as Jesus has shown, to call the devil's bluff. I do not have to allow the devil to bully me around. I can call it what it is and then shut him down with Scripture. As before, I pray for Your Word to be written within me. I pray for insight, knowledge, understand and the accuracy to use Scripture. I pray for You to continue to reveal Your power over the devil. As Jesus has demonstrated, I do not have to have a conversation with the devil. I only need to speak the Scripture and let it hit the devil right between the eyes. I seek Your Word and for You to reveal its application in my life so I can use it accurately 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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