Warriors Arise: July 2, 2021
Matthew 4:1-10 (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.’ ”
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
Have you given the excuse that you can't share your faith because you don't know chapter and verse? Jesus didn't use chapter and verse. And you can't tell me Satan didn't know what Jesus was referring to when He said, "It is written". He knew Jesus was referring to the Word of God, Scripture written on scrolls.
Satan didn't say, "You have to tell me where that is written." Nor did he say, "I've never heard of that before. What are you quoting?". He surely didn't want Jesus to say, "God's Word." Satan didn't want any reason for Jesus to call upon God. Even if he had his suspicion on who He was talking to. Satan knew exactly what Jesus was quoting.
We have believed a lie and it has paralyzed us, causing us to become mute. Somewhere over the years we bought into the lie that we have to be able to quote chapter and verse if we are going to share our faith, to pray with someone, or even give glory to God for something He did. However, there are times when quoting chapter and verse can cause people to feel unworthy because they don't know chapter and verse. You then appear to be way up there with God and they can't wrap their mind around being able to achieve the same relationship you have with God. Some may not even know about the Bible, God's Word. We could quote a book in the Bible and they feel stupid.
When I share in person, I don't generally give chapter and verse. However, I will say it is in the Bible. If they want to know chapter and verse I either pull out my Bible or ask siri. I want to make it is easy enough that they see they can find a verse with knowing just a phrase. There are times even if I know where the verse is in the Bible I will go to my concordance and look under the key word in the verse I shared. I don't want them to think I am showing off when they need to know how easy it is to look up a verse. Honestly, when someone wants chapter and verse, I find them to be stalling, wanting me to prove myself. I don't have anything to prove so if they are going to challenge me to prove myself then I am going look the verse up and several others that back it up. They get more than what they asked; therefore, they have to listen to each one. I let the Word soften their heart.
My point: chapter and verse is good. It is wonderful when you know them; however, it is not necessary as long as you know the verse. There are many times I do not know the reference but I know I underlined it in green and it is on the left hand side of the page. When I have underlined or highlighted the verse, God breathed on that verse and it spoke to me. I pressed in to understand how God wanted me to apply it to the circumstances in my life. I wanted it written on my heart.
For instance, today I was on the phone with someone I am counseling and I felt the Holy Spirit lead me to make a reference to something that happened in the Bible that might be exactly what she is experiencing. As I shared, I was astonished at how a particular situation in the Bible has been preached for years from a different perspective and it might be wrong. I can't wait to investigate and read the events from beginning to end in this man's life. It could explain so many things from a new perspective. After I get done reading it and asking the Holy Spirit to give me eyes to see it clearly and understanding, I may share it in future blogs. The Bible is not a one-time read. It is living and active (Hebrews 4:12a). One time through only gets me an overview of history, tying all my childhood Sunday school stories together. I read my Bible to know how to use my sword, the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12b). God loves to reveal His treasures hidden in His Word.
Proverbs 25:2 (NKJV) It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
God calls us royalty. He desires for us to search out a matter, which is what I will be doing with what He dropped on me earlier today. When I search out a matter I learn how to carry myself as royalty. I walk with confidence. I am taught wisdom and given understanding. These are all part of God's word for His children. I learn the Word of God because I have learned to search to a matter. I do not wait for someone to tell me what to think about the Bible. I sit before the Lord and listen to the Holy Spirit. I allow Him to lead me through the Scriptures to clarify what He is saying and how it will apply to my life. I feel very strongly that what I share with others I need to have learned it or start learning it. Does it mean I am perfect. NO! It means I am becoming who God created me to be. The old is passed away and God is molding me into a masterpiece. He may have to start over a number of times but He will perfect me in Christ Jesus.
When I study the Word it becomes usable when a God-opportunity arrises, when I get to share with someone else. When I get to testify of my Salvation and lift my praises up to God with the miracles He has done in my life. He is amazing. I may not know chapter and verse but I know God. If He wants me to know chapter and verse He will give it to me when I search it out.
Today is your day to be free from the lie that you have to know chapter and verse to defeat Satan, the tormentor, the challenger and adversary. Today is your day to quote what you know or look it up. God is incredibly amazing. His desire is to meet with you and share with you things you do not know. Today is your day to search out a matter. What is something you have wanted to know? You have a concordance and siri is good with phrases. It is fun to learn from God. He is the best instructor.
Father, You are amazing. There is so much freedom in knowing that I do not have to know chapter and verse. I want to know the one who breathed the chapter and verse. I want to know Your ways and join You in great exploits. I want to love You to the fullest and sit at Your feet and learn. Thank You for the freedom to quote the Word even when I do not know the reference. Thank You for the concordance in the back of my Bible and siri in today's technology. I position myself before You to seek You for the one thing on my mind, the question I can't seem to get an answer. You know the answer; therefore, I will seek You. I desire to be free to share my testimony and seize the God-opportunities to put before me. Give me courage to share. Do not allow me to speak more than what I know. Do not allow me to add to Your Word like Eve. Do not allow me to misuse Your Word and cause others to feel ashamed like the arrogant Pharisee, fasting for all to see. Do not allow me to give the Word in truth but not in love. Do not allow me to speak the truth and not apply it to my own life. Come and teach me Your Word so I can be ready when the enemy comes to tempt me or to share my testimony of Your amazing love, 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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