Day Ten: In Whose Name Do You Meet The Enemy?

 

 A name is very important. It givesyou identity and identifies you to everyone else. Having a name is very importantand often a name has meaning. That meaning becomes part of your DNA. Each timesomeone calls you by your name, they prophesy over you. That is why it isimportant to know the meaning of a child’s name before you give it to him/her. Everytime you instruct them or call them out, you say either a good thing or a badthing over them. And he/she hears it and acts accordingly.

Likewise, you must know whose nameyou are representing when you go into a battle. There is power in that name. Let’scontinue to read from 1 Sam 17.

1 Sam 17: 45Then David said to the Philistine,“You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come toyou in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom youhave defied. 46This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I willstrike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcassesof the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts ofthe earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47Thenall this assembly shall know that the Lord does not save with sword and spear;for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands.”

Upon hearing that declaration, Iwould have run. I mean, the entire known world at the time knew the God ofIsrael and the miracles He had performed over the years.

There was not a Google searchengine to help them. No, they had heard this from their parents’ knees. Thepeople of old were talented storytellers. And these stories would have beentold around the many tables of all nations for many generations.

They knew about:

4.1 Noah and the Flood.

4.2 Abram that became Abraham.

4.3 Joseph’s exceptional insight.

4.4 The Exodus from Egypt.

4.5 The Wilderness Period to theConquest of Canaan.

4.6 The Jericho experience.

4.7 Gideon and his mighty men.

4.8 Jael and Deborah.

4. 9 Jonah

None of these things happened insecret. It happened in the open, and those who experienced it firsthand couldnot stay silent very long.

Yet Goliath stayed. I mean, thePhilistines were settled there. They were not going anywhere soon. Once the enemyhas settled in your life it is difficult to uproot it. It takes force to removeit. This is why we need to understand the weapons we need to overcome them with.Especially when all the conditions are in your favour.

Satan knew this, but convinced hiscronies to stay. Their stubbornness and delusions of grandeur blinded them.They never expected that a shepherd would come and defeat the champion.

Are you in a place where Satanhas settled into a comfort zone in your life? Mocking you day and night justfor the fun of it? I have been there. It is not an easy place to be. It drivesyou nuts and leaves you defenceless.

What are you going to do aboutit? In whose name will you proclaim victory?

Whether you face financialproblems, joblessness, loss of a business, or are a victim of a scam (For me itis yes on all of them). Maybe you are on the verge of emigrating, battling adeadly sickness, have a disobedient child, or face a divorce. Yet God wants youto proclaim victory in your circumstances. Any sort of addiction can crumbleyour resolve. Going on pension sounds fun at first until you are there. Then itis terrifying. Having a sickly live-in-parent can send your life out ofcontrol; whatever you face the question remain; whose report will you believe?

You can do what David did. Hedeclared, “But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armiesof Israel, whom you have defied. 46This day the Lord will deliver you into myhand, and I will strike you and take your head from you.”

God has given you the full armour;he has given you the five smooth stones and a slingshot to defeat this giant.The River of life flows through your veins. You are no longer next to the riverof Babilon; you are next to God’s river.

· The Word is established in your life.

· You take communion every day.

· You separate yourself from all worldly things.

The resources are not fordecoration to hang somewhere and show how religious you are. No, God gave it toyou to use.

Matt 11:12

And from the days of John theBaptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent takeit by force.

David responded with righteousanger.

He came in the name of the Lord. It is the name above all names. He is Jehovah Jireh; He is Jehovah Nissi. His banner was raised over him. He is the hedge breaker, and the voice calling in the wilderness.

He told Goliath that he was delivered into his hand. In David’s mind, the fight has already turned to his favour. Where is your mind in this challenge you face? (Speaking as one that is on a job hunt for the last fourteen years and dependent on my children and elderly father, I know it is not easy. I have made a few wrong choices on the way. I lost my faith as well. But to stay there is not an option. Just like David you must return to God and know who you are.)

David was not afraid of Goliath’s taunts and curses. It could do nothing to David’s mind. His mind was dedicated to God. While shepherding, he got to know God very well. Therefore, he knew that those taunts and curses meant nothing. It is just a show.

The curse Goliath spew towards David backfired on him. He was already defeated. He just didn’t realize it. The enemy may shout, the bank might take everything you have, but God is still in control. You must believe that.

Goliath was beheaded. The enemy must be destroyed completely. To behead the enemy means you have overcome. The seven letters to the churches in Revelation 2-3 gives us a clear understanding of what God expects from us.

We must

Overcome apathy. Make sure that you love God and His word.

Overcome Tribulations. Do not fear. Did you know it is written 365 times in the Bible?

Overcome mixtures. Do not follow false doctrines like that of the Nicolaitans.

Overcome Jezebel. If sexual immorality, or adultery is part of your life, you will not overcome. You must remove this demon from your life.

Overcome the religious spirit.

Overcome denial. Have you denied God in your life?

Overcome lukewarmness.

 

God’s name was made great because of this mighty exploit. David knew that God was on his side. David trusted God explicitly.

David had dedicated authority from God. That was his mandate. Each of us receives a mandate from God. It is closely knitted with your vision and purpose. When you stick with that mandate, you will overcome.

If you want victory in your life, then you must followDavid through the hedge to overcome. Yes, it will cost you a price, but it isworth it. Make a choice today to follow in the footsteps of Christ and liveaccording to what the Lord shows you. He wants you to overcome but then youmust trust his name. 

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