Looking for Answers?

Warriors Arise: April 27th, 2020

There is something I would like you to consider. It's a thought about the guards who reported to the chief priests and elders as recorded in Matthew 28. A couple of things seem odd to me. As we have been going through this passage in chronological order, writing as the Lord leads has been truly amazing. It is neat to see how this passage, which I thought we would be done on Resurrection Day, has lined up with what we are facing daily in dealing with the pandemic. Because I am writing about what I am studying; I have had to go slower through Scripture than normal. Reading followed by writing has led to really amazing revelations and thoughts that I would have passed over. Let's take look at this passage one more time.

"Now while they [the 3 women who were headed to anoint Jesus] were going, behold, some of the guard [Roman guards, not temple guards] came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened."

"When they [chief priests] had assembled with the elders and consulted together [what did they have to consult about], they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, "Tell them [who is the them because in the next verse refers to the governor. Could the 'them' be people of the town], 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' [If they were asleep, then they wouldn't know who came to steal the body.]

"And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure." So they took the money and did as there were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day." Matthew 28:11-15 [mine]

I am curious as to why the chief priests and elders had to consult. As I work through this passage in Matthew 28 of the soldiers, I wonder if I have missed something. Why would Roman soldiers go to the chief priests to tell them "all the things that had happened"? Why didn't they go to Pilate? They were Roman soldiers not temple guards. When a nonbeliever has a God experience, something they can't explain, something they know has to be God, they will often turn to someone they believe have answers for them.

These Roman soldiers may not have served any god or maybe served lots of gods but they didn't know anything about God. Then they see and experience an act of God. They testified of, 'All the things that had happened'. They are not reporting to Pilate because they want answers. Who better to give them answers for what they have experienced than the priests? The only problem is that the priests had rejected Jesus as the Messiah, because He didn't come as they thought; therefore, they believed a lie for so long they had to continue with the lie. The chief priests and elders had to pay large sums of money to every Roman guard who was at the tomb. They had to buy a lie for the lie to continue.

Warriors, let's pray:

Father, I have prayed for people to experience Your amazing love. I have prayed for people to know You are in the room with them. I have prayed for You to minister to loved ones who have lost. I have prayed for You to give wisdom to doctors and researchers for the cure and the vaccine, with no negative side affects. I continue to pray for each one of these. I am asking in prayer for people to know You were the ones with them in the hospital, healing their bodies. I am asking for people to know You have been with them at home bringing comfort and strength. I am asking for the researchers and doctors who are being directed by You to discover the cure and vaccine, to know You are speaking to them and directing them. In the name of Jesus I bind the enemy from twisting what You are saying. I bind the lies of the enemy. I loose the mind of every person You have visited, comforted, strengthening, given wisdom and direction to remember everyday how You were with them. I bind confusion in Jesus' name and loose clarity of thought. I bless the mind of each person You have met to know Your presence. The enemy cannot steal what God has done. In the name of Jesus people will not be bought off and believe a lie. God will be known for His lovingkindness and mercy to each and everyone He has healed, comforted, strengthened and given wisdom to during this time. The enemy cannot destroy what God had established. The enemy cannot kill where God has declared life. The enemy cannot steal what God has done in the lives of His people in Jesus' name we pray amen!

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army, Veridee Joy

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. 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.