Time to get off your knees (or bottom) and fight
Jun 23, 2020
There is no victory, except through battle.
I love the story of Joshua in the Bible (Joshua chapter 1) where he is installed as leader to take the Israelites to their promised land.
This victory will come only through battle. The enemy will not surrender territory without a fight. I love this quote from The Art of War:
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
God speaks to Joshua saying "I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses."
God continues to remind Joshua of a few things (first chapter of Joshua), as he prepares for battle:
- No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life.
- I will be with you.
- I will never leave or forsake you.
- Be strong and courageous.
- Be strong and courageous.
- Be strong and courageous.
- Do not be afraid.
- Do not be discouraged.
- Um, did I tell you, only be strong and courageous!
Do you see the repetitive fear-nots? What's clear is that Joshua is being prepared for battle, not a trip to Disneyland.
God reminds Joshua, "Keep this book of law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful".
What's clear to me is that Joshua was appointed by God for this assignment. This was His purpose. God also anointed Joshua will Power and Authority from God, to TAKE territory.
Now let's prepare for your present battle.
You are facing some tough circumstances. You've been praying perhaps for God to remove them. For God to help you.
Let me share something with you that might be shocking.
Everything that God is ever going to do for you has already been done for you.
It was done at the cross, burial, and resurrection. Jesus isn't coming back to die on the cross all over again. We have a new covenant and the Word of God in our arsenal. Time to put on the armor of God and use it!
In my last couple of articles (letters) and videos to you, I laid out the concept of TDR. Think. Do. Results.
To understand what I'm about to share with you, you may have to ask God to transform your way thinking and doing, to align with His.
Just so you understand, satan's out to get you. And destroy you. He's behind all of your trouble. Even your self-inflicted trouble.
His greatest deception is to convince you that he doesn't exist. But according to the Word of God, nothing could be further from the truth.
Before your "but Gerald me", keep this in mind.
- 65% of Christian mainstream denominations don't believe the Bible is infallible and full of power and authority.
- Less than 15% of Christians read the Bible on a regular basis.
- Less than 5% of Christians have made the Bible the center of their life.
My battle plans are shaped entirely by the Word of God because I'm partnered with God. I've made the Bible the center of my life. It's how I live, how I do battle, how I win, prosper, and succeed.
I believe the Bible is infallible, full of authority and power, that it contains thousands and thousands of promises from God to me. With full confidence I believe this statement:
This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what It says I have. I can do what it says I can.
And as a result, my identity is shaped by who God says I am, not man.
It’s when you realize who you are, that you realize that you were behaving below your nature — you were living short of your potential.
God has already given you the power and authority to win your battles. It was won at the cross, burial, and most importantly, the resurrection. To understand it, you'll have to devour the book of Ephesians. This book contains only six chapters. Read it. Then read it again. Over and over. Meditate on it. Ask God to give you it's full revelation.
Ignore these scriptures at your own peril:
John 10:10 (NIV) - The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV) - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Every year I face new battles. New tests. New testimonies.
I know trouble is inevitable. So I expect the battles, but I ALWAYS expect victories. How? This promise:
Isaiah 54:17 (NKJV) - No weapon formed against you shall prosper.
If you want to learn how to fight, and how to win, study the book of Ephesians.
Here are some of the revelations you'll embrace as you study the book of Ephesians.
- You are blessed by God with EVERY spiritual blessing (not some, all).
- God chose you.
- Jesus paid the full price for your sin.
- You are now fully-redeemed.
- You have a new identity.
- You are now an heir to God, act like it.
- You are called by God.
- You have a calling (purpose, mission, assignments).
- You were designed to become mature in Christ.
- You are full of power and authority.
- Christ is seated at the throne, and so are you.
- Jesus already defeated satan.
- To win battles, you'll have to develop a throne mentality.
- To win battles, you'll have to understand and use the full armor of God.
Once I know that I know that I know this ... Here's my battle plan. First, I am determined to walk by faith, not sight. As a result, I'm not moved by what I see or feel, only by what I believe.
When I am facing trouble, here's how I do battle:
- I find out what the Bible says about my situation. I find the Biblical promises and receive them by faith. Don't wait till fighting time to do this.
- Declare them over your life. Speak them, it's your sword.
- Using my delegated power and authority, I demand that the enemy (satan) be removed and stop blocking me.
- I ask God to send his ministering spirits (angels) to work on my behalf.
Look, God has a way of doing things, and God's ways are guaranteed to produce the victories. My faith is based on the Word of God, and my power and authority to use it.
God could have snapped His fingers for Joshua and the Israelites, but He didn't, a battle was required.
Same with us, except for this HUGE difference. Jesus has already defeated satan. But it's the responsibility of the church (body of Christ) to enforce was has already been established. When you fully understand what was won at the cross, burial, and resurrection, you'll trade in your cross identity for a THRONE mentality, and fight the fight God has called you to win.
If you are an entrepreneur or dreamchaser, partnering with God in the marketplace, you'll have to learn how to do battle God's way.
No test. No testimony.
