BREAKOUT POSITIVE THOUGHTS. 541 . ( Less is Greater, Greater is less .)

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Warfare and a clash of kingdoms is the norm in scripture both in the natural and in the spiritual.

In the spiritual realm we always have an enemy, despite us knowing our trump card, that at the cross he was defeated.

Satan has upped his game only because he, like us, senses God to be on the move.

The enemy is always in opposition to God’s intentions.

As God seeks our humility as individuals and as church, Satan delights in exposing our pride.

As God seeks order Satan intensifies chaos.

He delegates his power to the spirit of Leviathan in the world

Such attack is documented in Job describing Leviathan in the entire chapter 41 and in how Job was restored after his repentance and intercession for his friends.

Only God can overcome this type of attack. Colin Urquhart’s account of, ‘defeating the Leviathan spirit,’ is very enlightening of the chaos, pride and twisted havoc he wreaks.

“In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.”

God is a man of war and He equips us for battle. Our warfare is in praise and worship even in our greatest difficulties. As King David knew in his heart despite his many failures.

“I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.”

In speaking order over evidence of disorder. Whether that disorder has crept into our own mind, our relationships, our home, our church, our government and so on.

We need to be in our place to do battle as Christ has equipped us.

“We appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, to instruct those who are not in their place of battle. Be skilled at gently encouraging those who feel themselves inadequate. Be faithful to stand your ground. Help the weak to stand again. Be quick to demonstrate patience with everyone.”

We will see around us or within ourselves the enemy attack. The psychological effect it has bringing lethargy and reluctance to engage, indecision, self destruction, foreboding and panic.

We have to engage and be on the defensive now, not wait for a favourable season. Now is the time we need heaven to invade earth.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Jesus passed on the responsibility to us.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We need to rest in Him but wear our warrior spirit and be on the offence.

We disarm and dismantle the negative chaos by displacing it and replacing it with the encouragement of God’s promises and word.

We decree the word of the Lord as Jesus showed us when Satan tempted him prior to His crucifixion. He responded

“It is written” and quoted scripture. We need to know the word to be equipped to do likewise.

“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’’

We are not defeated, the enemy has already been defeated but we are battle weary.

We have to be quicker to say “No” and affirm with authority what we will not allow. Not in our slowness let negative things linger and fester. Grow or overwhelm.

Problems are magnified when we sit with them. Success comes with speed to action and to dismiss.

It is in our mindset, We must remain in control and hold captive all thoughts that come into our head that are not of Christ.

Also we have power in our church body to loose the ‘me’ and ‘I’ and be empowered by the ‘we and ‘our’ mindset.

We do not war alone we are a body of believers holding each other firm. God wars for us. Christ has already defeated the enemy.

The illustration shows us dropping the ‘I’ and in humility being empowered by Christ and ‘we’ to take on the warfare of the enemy. Light emanating to push back the darkness.

Nine Scriptures that come to mind:

“In that day the Lord with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea.” Isaiah‬ ‭27:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

““Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord?” (+ continues for the whole chapter). ‭‭Job‬ ‭41:1‬ ‭ESV

“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.” Psalm‬ ‭144:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you, who gives victory to kings, who rescues David his servant from the cruel sword.” Psalm‬ ‭144:9-10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The song Great Things. Phil Wickham