⏱ 6 min read

Besides the enemy (Lucifer or the devil) coming himself to tempt Jesus in the wilderness (Read Matthew 4), he manifested himself through physical enemies that Jesus had to deal with over and over again. And today we share with you one of the many encounters He had of this nature.

“Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven.” – Matthew 16:1

You see, leading up to this (eg in Matthew 15), Jesus performed numerous miracles and taught the crowds, gaining a significant following in the process (In summary: He was doing well). His display of divine power and wisdom drew the attention of these other religious leaders, who viewed Jesus as a threat to their own authority and teachings.

Why do I share this with you? Dear friend, it is not all the time that our tests/traps will be spiritual in nature.

• We will have physical things and physical enemies to contend with as well. Especially when we seem to be doing well/succeeding.
• We will have physical ‘troublemakers’ at our workplaces, schools, ministries, in our relationships, etc. We will have people who view us as threats to them.
• We will have nay-sayers and even systems aimed to frustrate us and break us down.

Ultimately the individuals or systems are not the enemy, but they will be used (sometimes unknowingly) by the enemy. In fact, some may actually mean well or have ‘good intentions’, but they’re being used.

I am sorry this might not be what you want to hear, but if the enemy managed to use Peter momentarily (Jesus’ right-hand disciple), then everything and everyone around us can be used at one point to oppose God’s will for our lives (read v21-27).

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” - (Matthew 16:21-23)

• Family, loved ones, friends, colleagues (senior and junior), ministers of God, systems at school or work or government, etc.
• Most of them will be used in instances unknowingly, and some others will be knowingly used.
• Example: talking about Judas, Jesus said: “Have I not chosen 12 of you, yet one of you is a devil”. [On the flip side, you could also be the one being used].

- A friend of mine was sharing on how their medical school systems seem to be aimed at breaking them down into depression. 
- Currently, my country, Ghana, seems to be undergoing systemic oppression that can hurt and destroy us all in the long run.

Dealing with such individuals and systemic issues requires much wisdom and not just prayer. I can never discount the place of prayer in a believer’s life, yet Jesus overcame these physical trials with wisdom.

• Once, He had to respond to these Pharisees with another question about how they perceived John the baptist to escape their trap (read Matthew 21:23-27).
• And a couple of days ago, we shared with you how Jesus withdrew or hid in the background at a point in His ministry, because of these physical enemies (Check out: Mercy and the Pull-Out Game).

23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”

They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

You and I need wisdom in the workplace/school/relationship, etc., as much as we need power from prayer. Jesus used both and so should we. He had personal quiet-time prayer and then He used wisdom to confront and respond to the issues head-on.

Remember, Christ is given to us as both the power of God and the wisdom of God (Read 1 Cor 1:24). So how do we get this wisdom of God?

• Ask for it from above (James 1:5-6). Let it be one of your constant and greatest prayer topics.
• Study and apply God’s Word (Psalm 119:98-99; Colossians 3:16; 2 Tim.3:15). “God’s Word is God’s wisdom handed down to men.” – eboham.

Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.
I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. - Psalm 119:98-99

May God give us both wisdom and power to handle both our spiritual and physical enemies. Hey… you’re blessed!

Do share your lessons from Matthew 16 with us. Remember to tag us on 📲:
☆ IG: @cfc_knust OR @gracefieldschapel_knust OR @awg_devotional
☆ FB/X: @AWGDevotional
Follow us on WordPress, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.