The Promised Land, Part 3

The reason why God is birthing the spirit of victory and the spirit of war in His Church is simply this: whatever we don’t conquer will conquer us. The reason that a passive Church has been so destructive in our land is that, because of our compromise, Satan’s strongholds have gotten stronger and stronger, even to the point of invading the Body of Christ.

In Numbers 33:51-56 we read: 

“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess.

“And you shall divide the land by lot as an inheritance among your families; to the larger you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give a smaller inheritance; there everyone’s inheritance shall be whatever falls to him by lot. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.’”

God told them they couldn’t ignore their enemies. They couldn’t compromise with them in any way. These enemies are not flesh and blood to us, but they are Satan’s strongholds and strategies that we are to recognize and war against as the Church. Our lifestyle is not to be one of trying to survive Satan’s attacks and worldly temptation. Our lifestyle is to be one of being on the attack, taking back what Satan has stolen from man.

In Ephesians 6:10-18 God lays out His battle plan for us: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints….”

This scripture tells us that we are commanded to “be strong.” Why? Because only those who have been made strong are fit for battle. And we are in a battle, like it or not. You are a part of God’s army and He doesn’t have any “conscientious objectors.”

Don’t let any person, or even any preacher, tell you that we are not in a spiritual war. If you listen to that, you will become a casualty or a prisoner of war.

One spring picnic during my senior year in high school, the two biggest football players were picked for a game. Both of them were blindfolded and given pillows. Then they were told to have a blindfolded pillow fight against each other. However, just before they started, the blindfold was taken off of one of the boys. Then they were told to start. Well, the boy who took off his blindfold proceeded to pound the other mercilessly, until, in utter frustration, the other boy took off his blindfold and realized the joke was on him. Dear saints, don’t let the joke be on you because you were taught that there is no battle. There is a war, and you need to prepare for it.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 tells us that “though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Here we see that not only are we in a war, but God has given us His own weapons to win. We are always called to win! Jesus described this war-like, overcoming attitude when He said, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Matthew 11:12) The NIV Bible reads: “… the kingdom of God has been forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it.”

God wants you to lay hold of the kingdom of God for your life and family and city. As a Christian, God’s called you to the lifestyle of a warrior and a champion. God doesn’t look for strong, courageous people — He makes the weak and fearful strong, bold and courageous! Then He uses them. God’s strength is your strength. God’s courage is your courage. God’s power is for you in this hour of destiny. Rise up and POSSESS THE LAND!