Today is Your Day, part 62

Warriors Arise: July 10, 2021

Matthew 4:11 (NKJV) Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

What do you think people would say if you shared, "Angels came and ministered to me"? I find it a little odd when people find it so easy to talk about demons, witchcraft, satanic cults and the sin they indulged in over the weekend; but at the first mention of Jesus and they look at you with this look, "Why would you bring Him up?" Christians are forced to be politically correct, so we can't say we pray to God, but to the higher power you turn to. However, being politically correct, doesn't mean one is correct it just means they have learned how to play the game the world indulges.

Seriously, we are here, at the end of Jesus' encounter with Satan. Maybe you have wondered when I was going to get to the end of this passage and move on. There is a link here that I will not pass by. After the confrontation, we realize Jesus was always in control of the situation. Jesus had to face the tempter by Himself and overcome. Jesus didn't even nibble on the line of lies the devil was casting before Him. Jesus was not confused by the misuse of Scripture Satan spewed. Jesus, steps into His authority, as Emmanuel, God walking among us here on earth and uses the Word as a weapon. This is exactly what Paul tells us to do in Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:10-18. Jesus then tells Satan to go and without even a word, Satan leaves. Does that not baffle your mind?

This is how come I don't think Jesus was in any type of turmoil over the 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness. He wasn't alone and there was something more important than food. He was with His Father and Holy Spirit. The Triune God was back together. That we know of, He hadn't communed with them in 30 years? Think about what it is like getting back together with family you haven't see in a while. This past year was atrocious. The pandemic kept families from seeing each other for nearly a year and some more than that. We were all told we could not get together for Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings etc. This time when family comes together we may have food but food is not the pull it was before. This time being with our family ranks at the top. You hug, ask questions, and connect deeper than you did before. You realize what you could have lost but is still an opportunity to develop and strengthen, family relationships. This time, the cost just doesn't matter. You want to be together. You want to know how each one managed through the last year, what has changed, what help they may need, what future plans they may have, and if there is anywhere you can help. Perspective on family relationship is different now than it was before the pandemic. When I saw my family, I wanted pictures that I hadn't taken before. I wanted to hear exactly what their "now" plans are and those for their future. I wanted to know if there was anyway I could help. If things had been lost I wanted to remind them of their goals and help them get back on track. I wanted to listen better and talk less. It wasn't about what I wanted to say but about what they wanted to share. I think Holy Spirit and Father God did this for Jesus.

They had been separated for 30 years. I am not saying God wasn't watching His Son. But, we do not see a recording in any of the Gospels of Jesus as a boy, teenager, young man, or grown man off somewhere meeting with God. But somehow there was a connection with God, His Father because He had an understanding of Scpritue at the age of 12 when Mary and Joseph found Him in the temple amongst the teachers listening to them and asking questions (Luke 2:46). When they ask Him what He is doing He responds with, "Did you not know that I must nee about My Father's business?" (Luke 2:49) Jesus knew who He was, even though He was the Son of Man, come to earth as through a vigil birth, He came to be the Messiah, the Savior of the World. Even at age 12, Jesus was ready to learn of His Father's business, to get on with God's purpose inside of Him. He knew His Father was/is God. But, it was not His time. Mary would not leave Jesus in the temple as Hannah had left Samuel. There is a connection within Jesus to be reunited to His Father, to God.

I can't imagine how He felt coming up from being baptized with the Spirit ascending upon Him and God speaking out loud to everyone about Him. God, declaring, "This is My Son." Of course, Jesus would go with the Spirit into the wilderness. After His wilderness experience, Jesus is often found staying up all night praying. Doing what He sees His Father doing. This 40 days and 40 nights was a reunion of the Triune God, a moving forward with the destiny Jesus was there to fulfill.

I think they were preparing Jesus for when Satan would show up. There would come a day when Jesus would be confronted by Satan and not only that, Jesus would have to be tempted just like the rest of us. Otherwise, Scripture would not be true.

Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

God knows all. He knows when Satan is coming to tempt us. He sends Holy Spirit to counsel with us, to prepare us, to strengthen our resolve to live out what God has put in our hearts and Jesus is interceding at the right hand of the Father for us to be the victors and not the victims. He is praying we will conquer every temptation Satan throws at us just as He had conquered. As a parent, I want to set my kids up to succeed. I will advise them, coach them, even help them outline a plan to achieve their dreams. God is a better parent than I will ever be. He wants us to achieve the dreams He has placed inside of each one of us. He will meet with us. He will guide us. He will encourage us. He will help us set up a plan. He wants us to try and try again. When the world turns us away or cut us down, God strengthens us to rise again and to keep pressing on to achieve the upward calling in Christ Jesus. And when we have overcome, I wonder if His angels are there to minister to us?

If we believe demons are there causing havoc in our lives, releasing torment in our sleep and causing division between family members and people groups then why don't we believe angels are there ministering to us as they did Jesus? Scripture tells us only 1/3 of the angels fell with Lucifer, then what are the other 2/3 angels doing? What are they supposed to do?

Scripture tells us they are calling out praise 24/7. Some are fighting principalities as we see when an angel shows up and tells Daniel he is late with his message from God; because of the battle that is raging in the heavenliness. We see angels being sent to deliver messages from God to His people, singing to the shepherds of Jesus' birth, and announcing, "He is alive, He is not here. He will meet His disciples on the mountain in Galilee." What do you do with Matthew 18:10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven." Every child has their own angel! Why is that? I don't know what happens when we get older so I try to remain with childlike faith and hope, so that I still have my angel who is telling God every time the enemy comes to taunt or torment me. There are ministering angels, messenger angels, worshipping angels, and warrior angels. There are angels who are going before God representing His children that are on earth. Sounds to me like God pays very close attention to the needs of His children. I am hoping since He calls the Children of Israel His children that it references event her adults. I like the idea of my angel telling God what the enemy is doing to harass me and of the things I am doing that please God. I also think this is how come I am on a short span of repentance. I understand if God keeps track of my good then He also hears of my bad. So, when the Spirit convicts I repent. When my conscience won't allow me to remain in my sin, I repent. I sin, but I seek God's forgiveness and work to have a clean slate before Him.

Today is your day to know God's angels will come and minister to you after you tell the enemy to go. Sure, we may get attacked by the enemy but when we take a stand, use the Word of God to cut through the lies that hold the lure; we can tell him to go. Then God wants us to be restored, our strength renewed as angels comet minister to us.

You may think this to be weird and way out there so I will ask, do you believe in the sorcery displayed in the Harry Potter books and movies? How come you can believe in that but not God sending His angels to minister to us, His children? In one of my books I share of an experience as a child when I was having a really rough day. I ran into my room, slammed my door, flopped on my bed and sobbed. It wasn't a pretty sob, it was snotty, tears flowing and my insides were being torn. I had no where to go and no one to turn to. Then the room became sealed and there was a fluid that filled my room and engulfed me. It was like honey. I couldn't see it but it flowed to every fiber of my being. I became calm and completely at peace. It was amazing. I was too young to know what was happening but God was healing me, my brokenness, and absorbed all my pain and frustration. He made me whole. I had never felt so complete in my life. I don't know if there were angels but I do know I was healed, restored and strengthen.

Father, You are amazing in all of Your ways. I do not understand what You do nor how your angels minister to us. However, I do believe You love me in such a way that You embrace all of my flaws and love me anyway. I know You speak wisdom to me when I will listen and give me understanding. Your angels minister to You with worship 24/7. Your angels speak on Your behalf. They fight and defeat the powers of darkness. Even though I do not understand all they do nor how they interact in my life, I am truly thankful they are on our side. I never go into battle alone. You are with me and so are your warring angels. You are amazing in all of Your ways and I will worship You 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.