Jesus said, “Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven” (Matthew 18:18 Phillips). We can no longer take a fearful, beggarly attitude toward the enemy hoping he will allow us to have what God has already promised. When we have that kind of attitude he will weigh us down with an unbearable burden—hoping to silence us forever! God has never told us to consult the enemy, He said to make a demand of him.
We need to stop acting like God is not on our side and the devil is doing us a favor. It does absolutely no good at all to ask the devil, “Please leave me alone.” We need to stomp our foot and make the kingdom of darkness obey God’s Word!
Because Pharaoh refused to obey God, Egypt suffered one dreadful plague after another. But notice what God said about His people: “But it will be very different in the land of Goshen where the Israelites live… I will make a distinction between your people and my people…” (Exodus 8:22,23 NLT).
God has always intended that there would be a clear distinction between His people and others. While things get darker in the world, the light should shine on God’s people, just like it did in the land of Goshen!
With each of the ten plagues that Egypt suffered, the people of God were spared. While plagues of flies, boils, hail, and death were widespread in Egypt, God promised, “But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark. Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites” (Exodus 11:7 NLT).
In the most distressful situations—even life-threatening situations—the Lord will give His people peace and protection. Psalm 91:7 promises, “Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you” (NLT). Even when the threat of death is at hand, we can use our God-given authority to change the situation.
Too often Christians resist the kingdom of darkness only until the pressure is removed, allowing the attack to return. David wasn’t that way! Notice his attitude:
“I chased my enemies and caught them; I did not stop until they were conquered. I struck them down so they could not get up; they fell beneath my feet. You have armed me with strength for the battle; you have subdued my enemies under my feet. You placed my foot on their necks… I ground them as fine as dust in the wind. I swept them into the gutter like dirt” (Psalm 18:37-40,42 NLT).
This is the attitude of someone who knows that God is on his side! It’s the tone of someone who knows when he speaks, it sounds like God to the enemy. It’s the posture of someone who is confident that God’s Word will not return without accomplishing what it intends!
This is the life of a Christian!
