Thursday, April 16, 2020

Pushing Back Strongholds


“Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory, but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.”  (Psalm 44:5-7)

As Christians, we are equipped with the power to not only stand up to the enemy’s advances, clothed with the armor of Christ, but we are also called to push back the enemy’s territory.  We often settle for a self-defense mentality as believers.  
  
We think, yes, in Jesus’ name we have the power to stand firm against the enemy’s advances and then draw the line there.  Yet, we are not just called to be defenders but we are called to shine Jesus’ light and take back what the enemy has stolen.

We are soldiers for Christ, fighting in His army. Jesus says of a believer that we are the, “…light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” (Matthew 5:14-15)  Jesus encouraged the believers to shine their light so bright that it would light up everything around it. Where bright light shines, darkness has to retreat.

The Psalmist also alludes to the victory that is found in God.  The power of God not only gains victories, but “pushes back the enemy…and tramples our foe!” This was most probably written from a physical context but the same principal can be applied spiritually.  We are not called to stand and watch the enemy destroy our nation but we are called to actively stand in warfare and push back the enemy’s strongholds.

How do we do this?  Through prayer.  Our prayers through faith in the victory of Jesus breaks down strongholds and pushes back the enemy’s hold on people’s lives, on families, on governments, and in schools.

“Take heart. Be strong and courageous in Christ. Victory is ours through the blood of the Lamb!
For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:4)





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