Warriors Arise: July 5, 2021
Matthew 4:8-11 (NKJV) 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.’ ” 11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Jesus was not a "super" human. He was not God while on earth. He was 100% human. However, He did know how to walk in and release the authority each and everyone of us has access to. When God calls your name, speaks to you or speaks to others about you, you have to decide what you are going to do with it. Here is what I mean, it is similar to the parable of the talent.
Matthew 25:14-25 (NKJV) “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
What have you done with the talent/word God spoke to you? After Jesus was baptized the Spirit came upon Him then God spoke over Jesus, "This is my Son, in Whom I am well pleased." Then Jesus, willing allowed the Spirit to lead Him into the wilderness. Sometimes we don't want to go where the Spirit is leading us. We may get caught up in seeing that Jesus didn't eat for 40 days and 40 nights! How horrible is that!?! But what we don't know is what happened in those 40 days and 40 nights. Do you think Jesus was wandering like a blindman without purpose? Absolutely, NOT!
I think Jesus' response to Satan tells us exactly what happened in Matthew 4:4. Jesus was feeding on every Word God, was speaking to Him over those 40 days and 40 nights. He had missed His Father and was soaking up everything He was saying. God was sharing the plan, speaking into the purpose for which Jesus was there. God had called His Son out from His mother's tent to begin working with Him, doing His Father's business. In Jewish culture the Son would be called out of their mother's care at age 12, then at age 30 they would take over their father's business.
Jesus was meeting with His Father and the Spirit. It was a family reunion! He hadn't been with them in 30 years, not in this capacity. This may stretch your mind, but I think for us to believe that nothing happened for 40 days and 40 nights is way off base. God was speaking to Jesus about His plan to redeem the people. He was setting before Him the trials that would come, and reminding Him that even though He was now human He could access the power of His Father at any time. God met with Jesus to make sure His Son was hearing His voice. Later in Scripture, Jesus says, "I only do what I see my Father doing." How could He see God when no one else could? It is the same way I know when my Dad is in the room. I don't have to see him. There is a knowing; Dad is home. When my Dad is home, there is a desire within me to see if he needs me to do something. Jesus was in tune with His Father. He knew when God was there and understood what God wanted Him to do. Jesus demonstrated the power of God.
Remember, the Mount of Transfiguration? Jesus was not surprised by Moses and Elijah being there, nor when God spoke.
Matthew 17:1-7 (NKJV) Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”
Before coming to earth Jesus would have seen the great cloud of witnesses Paul speaks about in Hebrews 12. So, it didn't surprise Him when Moses and Elijah showed up on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We are to lay aside the sin that ensnares us, the sin of apathy, the things that pull us way from meeting with God. We are to know His presence and respond when He is in our midst. We are to see where He is and ask what He wants us to do. It is not good enough just to buyer the memory of God speaking our name or telling other's He is proud of us. We are to do something with the word He spoke to us, to others. We are not to bury the word/talent. The Word God speaks over us is to produce growth in the purpose He has put inside of us.
Jesus has spent 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness. When Satan arrives thinking Jesus is all alone and easy prey, he has no idea the authority he is about to encounter. He has already embraced Who He is and what He is to do. He will not entertain Satan but release the power and authority He has been given by God to take back everything Satan deceive Eve into giving up. Jesus knew His authority and He used it.
We are to release the authority of Christ in us. This authority gives us the right to tell the enemy to go. It is not our place to entertain Satan or anything that opposes the plans and purpose of God.
Anything that would be doubting the advancement of God's kingdom is NOT from God.
Anything that would speak discouragement of other achieve their God-given destiny is NOT from God.
Anything that would spew negativity against what God is telling others to do, to believe is NOT from God.
Anything that would question God's power is NOT of God.
Anything that would question God's ability is NOT of God.
Anything that would question God's love is NOT of God.
God does not have to prove anything. We get to be a part of proving the power of God when we agree to walk in who we are because we are God's children, heirs to the kingdom of heaven, having the authority of an ambassador, and the accuracy to accomplish God's purpose because the Holy Spirit guides us.
Why do I say all of this? Because most Christians do not know how to obtain the authority Jesus walked in while in earth. He was 100% man and could tell Satan to go and he left! Does Satan leave when you tell him to go? How did Jesus get that authority? He spent time with God, feeding on the Word of God. Jesus didn't question the Word of God. Jesus wholeheartedly trusted the Word of God. Do you? We lack authority because we do not believe God. That is it. There is no other reason. When God sent Jesus to earth, to died on the cross and defeat death and hell, we gained access to the authority in Christ. The problem, we don't believe we have access to the same authority. Somewhere in our thinking there is a glitch.
If you are not operating in the same authority as Jesus did, then you need to spend time with God, not just reading the Bible; but really asking God to reveal where you question Him, His ways and His decisions. Most of us miss out on operating in the authority of Christ because we have a hang up with a decision He has made. We don't agree; therefore, we place ourselves above God. We place Him on trial and in our thought pattern. We believe He is the one in the wrong.
When this has happened we do not have access to the authority God has given us. TRUSTING God is the key to having access to the authority in Christ.
Father, I don't want to admit it but I need to spend time with You. I really do not need to learn more from others not even Your Word. Off course, I will continue to read Your Word, it is my daily bread. But I need to meet with You. I need to allow You to bring up each and every area in my life that I have rejected Your decision. Even though I knew I was holding You responsible, I let myself be the judge of Your decision. I am Your child. I want You to speak into my life at any time. I want to place myself before You. I am putting myself up on the altar as Your word says in Romances 12:1-2. I need You to expose every area I have questioned You. I want to accept Your answer as truth, You knowing what is best and seeing how You are going to make good out of what seems to me like a very bad decision. But Your Word says You will turn bad situation into good for Your glory. I have not allowed Your glory to shine through me because I have not accepted Your decision. I continue to hold You in contempt for Your decision. Jesus asked to have the cup be passed form Him but in the end, He yielded and surrendered to Your plan, Your way. He wholeheartedly got behind, followed You, and trusted Your plan to bring about the better outcome and it did! Even though Your decision may lead to a difficult time it doesn't mean I will be left in it. I am to go through the valley fo the shadow of death but I will not remain (Ps 23). I will walk through and be seated at a banqueting table. Jesus went through the valley of the shadow of death and came back to be celebrated at the banqueting table. I need to TRUST You. You know what will truly be the best outcome. I do not want to stay in this valley of death. I want to come through and be seated at the banqueting table but the longer I hold You accountable for the decisions I feel are wrong, I can't get out of the valley. Come and reveal where I am not trusting you. I pray today and for as long s it takes that You will reveal every area I have held You in contempt because I did not agree with Your decision. Come and cut this out of my life 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.
Comments