Date: Thursday, 14th November, 2024
Text: Matthew 16: 21-23
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
Yesterday, we looked at how God can give you victory over the physical enemies such as King Herod who attempted to kill the Son Of God, Jesus Christ the righteous.
The more dangerous enemies operate behind the scene. In today’s text Jesus began telling His disciples the need to go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. But then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16: 21-23
Is it not surprising that though Christ was addressing Peter, his own disciple, yet he was rebuking Satan? This shows that at that very moment Peter’s statement was influenced by the devil.
In Genesis 3, if Eve had been spiritually sensitive enough, she would have known that it was the devil that spoke through the serpent; and if Adam had been sensitive enough he would have known that it was the devil that spoke through his wife, Eve.
This calls for watchfulness and prayer on the part of the Saints. When your life is full of prayer, it helps your spiritual antenna to be up and sharp, able to pick spiritual warnings and signals thereby boosting your discernment and spiritual sensitivity.
A song writer sang:
Christian, seek not yet repose,
Hear thy gracious Savior say;
Thou art in the midst of foes:
Watch and pray.
Principalities and powers,
Mustering their unseen array,
Wait for thy unguarded hours:
Watch and pray.
Gird thy heavenly armor on,
Wear it ever night and day;
Ambushed lies the evil one:
Watch and pray.
Action Point: Boost your spiritual sensitivity and save yourself from the avoidable traps of the enemy behind the scene.