Without an Opponent

Warriors Arise: August 20, 2023

Matthew 4:8-10 (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.’ ”

Jesus could have said, "So far, you have been playing without an opponent. I'm here to put an end to your game and show the people how to take you down. Now you will be playing with an opponent and I plan to give God's people exactly what they need to defeat you every time." That statement is huge. The people had not been given the tools to defeat the devil. They had been given the ten commandments. Establishing and following them was very similar to God creating the Garden of Eden for Adam and Eve. They walked with God in the cool of the day, every day. But they didn't recognize Satan when he spoke to Eve. They didn't know they had an opponent. Satan had begun a war in which Adam and Eve didn't even see. The people of the Old Testament didn't realize they needed a Savior to relinquish them from their sins. They didn't know there was an enemy of their soul, stealing their dreams, killing their ability to prosper, destroying their destiny.

The devil had been playing the game without an opponent. He was in stealth mode. But now, he was exposed. Something had changed and he was drawn out from the shadows. It isn't playing fair when you fight from the shadows. The enemy has been a to lurk in the shadows and create all kinds of havoc. Jesus was about to not only level the playing field in our direction, but He gave us the tools to tell the enemy to go and he will go.

Jesus entered the arena of earth and changed the game. The devil had been fighting a battle without an opponent. Not any more. Jesus exposed the devil, taught us how to defeat the devil, and empowered us to overcome every temptation the devil placed before us. Jesus taught us to see the game, engage in the game and win the game.

I realize your life, my life and the lives of others is NOT a game. It is just an analogy. How we live our life is extremely important. God wants us to recognize and defeat the devil. He wants us to know how to walk in complete freedom from the temptations of the devil. He wants us to stomp on him and be the victor. As a child of God, we are no longer a slave to sin. We are more than conquerors by the power of Christ in us.

Father, there are times I forget that things happen in life that are caused because the evil has made himself a foe to You and Your people. I can be battling with depression, discouragement, striving, and feeling crumpled to the ground by things going on around me. I forget there is an enemy to my soul. There is an enemy that doesn't want me to recognize he is there. I pray for eyes to see the enemy. I pray for courage to go to the battlefield and fight the enemy. I pray for the empowerment to defeat the enemy. Jesus has shown me how. I will walk in the fullness of what You have empowered me to do. I will step into the game, walk in the authority God has given me and speak for the trust in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

Join together as Believers in Jesus Christ to pray and to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth. 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.