Warriors Arise: June 24, 2021
Matthew 4:1-7 (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.’ ” 5 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.’
I needed to back up and include satan's first attempt to lure Jesus to sin. Satan, the tempter was wanting Jesus to prove He was the Son of God, right? So when Jesus says in verse 7, “It is written again,‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’, do you think He was referring to Himself as God or His Father?
Maybe Jesus was saying it so clearly the temper couldn't hear Him! Yes, Lucifer, I am standing right in front of you. The Holy Spirit is here, can't you recognize us? Did you hear what my Father said 40 days ago upon my baptism? Oh, that's right, you are not omnipresent. You can't be everywhere at one time like my Father. It took you 40 days to find me. Do you still not know my Father and I are one?
I am sure Jesus was not that snarky. But it was fun to think of what could have been going through His mind, while He remained totally at peace with this traitor. Jesus could have been referring to Himself when He referenced an Old Testament Scripture with verse 7. He was politely telling the tempter, I Am He, do not tempt the Lord your God. Remember, in the end every knee will bow, even satan's.
John 10:30 (NKJV) I and My Father are one.”
I thoroughly understand Father God, Jesus the Son and Holy Spirit. They make up the God-head, the Trinity. They have different functions but they are each God in their own right, in their own positions and responsibilities.
So when Jesus is tempted the first time and responds, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Every time He speaks it is food to His being. He lives by the Word of God He speaks forth. When He hears His Father speak, it is food to His being. When He hears Holy Spirit speak, He is eating the creme de la creme and all the fixings on top! Are you getting this? As Jesus speaks, He is feasting. When we speak the Word we are feasting on the Word. We are strengthened. Our spirit is being nourished and our body is being made whole. As the tempter asks more questions and Jesus speaks forth the Word. He eats. It makes me wonder if Jesus chuckled inside when satan asked the second questions. I wonder if Jesus couldn't wait for satan to ask the next question. Jesus responds without hesitation, “It is written again,‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ He ate of the food satan lacked the revelation to comprehend.
Thank you, satan for asking a question. I will feast in Your presence and there is no food for you.
When the tempter comes to twist Scripture do you sit down and eat of the Word? Do you respond with God's Word? He cannot eat of the Word like we do. It does not strengthen him nor give him clear thinking. But when we sit down and feast on the Word, when we use it to defeat the lies of the enemy and remove the stronghold of temptation, the enemy can stand and do nothing to harm us.
Psalm 23:5a (NKJV) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
When the enemy comes I do not offer him a seat. He has no place at the King's table. I cut my steak and put a piece of God's word in my mouth and speak forth the Scripture God has given me that day.
Matthew 6:9-13 (NKJV) Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
I do not invite the enemy to take a seat. I do not discuss circumstances with the enemy. I do not debate what the Scripture means. I do not engage with a fool, one who does not know God. He knows of God, but he doesn't know God or he would have never rebelled. Even if he couldn't comprehend God's love He was ridiculous to think he was greater, stronger, wiser than the One who created him. He wanted Jesus to prove who He was, but he missed what Jesus was telling him.
Verse 7 Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ This reminds me of a really upset Mama telling someone who is threatening her children, "Don't tempt me!" Fire in her eyes and a rolling pin in her hand. You know she was going to hurt someone, if she hit them with it. Jesus was probably looking at satan thinking, "What do you not understand is that I am God the Son. Don't tempt me because this could go down right here, right now." But Jesus had patience and would not be provoked. The tempter gave Him plenty of opportunity to eat His daily bread and He did.
Father, I want to be quick to identify when the enemy is around. I want to be able to know the presence of the enemy and when the lies start so I can listen to Your voice and speak forth the very bread my body, soul, and spirit need. I want to feast on Your Word in the midst of the enemy's attack. I will take a seat at Your banqueting table and feast on Your Word. The enemy has to watch me get fed by You and grow stronger. I will not allow the enemy to sit with me. I will not entertain his lies and confusion. I will focus on what You have placed before me and grow in Your love by Your Word in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. 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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