11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. ~ Psalms 84:11
God is our sun and our shield. Every morning the sun rises to shine His light to overcome the darkness of the night. It’s another chance for us to overcome because God’s mercies are renewed every morning. Each and every day are reminded that we can overcome the darkness that tries to overcome us.
Our forerunner, Jesus Christ, went before us and defeated the darkness. He overcame the entire world, and because He overcame, we can also overcome. We overcome through Christ because He is our shield. His blood covers us and protects us from the enemy. We don’t have to fear. We don’t have to be intimated. We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Overcome Through Our Sun and Shield.
12 On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever. ~ 1 Samuel 3:12-14
I believe Eli’s spiritual eyes began to grow dim when he started turning a blind eye to what his sons were doing. You can’t keep your hands from getting dirty while playing with pigs. What I mean is, you have to be very careful who you align yourself with. The things they stand for and support will become the things you stand for and support. Therefore, if you strongly support a political candidate, celebrity, musician, etc., you better make sure their views are your views. You cannot stoke the fire and not smell like smoke.
Although Eli was watching her, he had become so comfortable and so spiritually blind that he no longer had the spiritual discernment to see Hannah was distressed in her spirit. Today’s churches no longer have spiritual discernment. Why? Because they are too caught up in the political/social agenda, without even realizing that it is designed to divide and conquer. They divide us on race, politics, religion, and on every aspect of life that they can. We no longer fight for unity. What would happen if the Church put aside all their differences and got together as one body, just like the bread is one loaf, and pray. The book of Genesis tells us that God Himself said that it’s impossible to stop a united people.
God was not pleased with Eli, and He brought judgment down on Eli and his sons. God said that judgment will start at His house, with His people. We better get our act together and start seeking God. We better start calling sin, sin and stop playing around with those who want to kick God out of our country and our government. We better stop promoting the political correctness agenda and start promoting God’s agenda.
LORD, open our eyes that we may have discernment. Awaken our sleeping spirit that we may never choose the world over You. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that He may guide us as we run the race set before us. Give us strength to make a stand for righteousness. In the name of Jesus, I pray, amen.
4 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” ~ Ezekiel 37:4-6
We make prayer so complicated. Prayer is confession. Prayer is asking. Prayer is proclaiming God’s Word. You need something, look for that promise in the Scripture and pray it. Claim it as yours. It is as easy as praying Scripture.
Proclamation is not a mantra, it’s not some memorized bedtime children’s prayer. It’s strong, it’s powerful, it’s speaking the word of God. If we proclaim what God has promised us, we will see it come to pass. It doesn’t matter how difficult it may look. It doesn’t matter how impossible it may look, as long as we believe and proclaim, we will see it come to pass.
3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” ~ Ezekiel 37:3
God already knew the answer to that question, and what’s more, He already knew what He was going to do. You see, to Ezekiel, it was hopeless. The bones were dried up and bleached white from the scorching heat of the sun. There was no life left in those bones. So, to Ezekiel, it was like a trick question. It is no way that these bones can live. It is a hopeless situation.
Unless that’s why he answered the way he did, he knew he couldn’t do it. He knew the bones couldn’t do it on their own. But He knew with God, it was possible. He knew all things were possible. God will ask questions in difficult times just to test our faith and see where we stand.
There is nothing too difficult for God to do. Therefore, all things are possible for him or her who believes. Ezekiel wasn’t special; he had no more power than you or me. The difference was his faith in God, his relationship with God, and his obedience to God.
“16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw Him they worshiped Him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” ~ Matthew 28:16-20
This is after the resurrection and just before the ascension. Jesus had instructed His disciples to go to a certain mountain at a certain time to meet Him there. These are the last recorded words of Jesus in the Gospel according to Matthew, “…All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…” When Jesus said ALL authority, He actually meant ALL authority, meaning that He has authority to overrule any other and every other authority or power or word or law. No other power or authority has authority when the name of Jesus is invoked.
Call upon that name that is above all names, and nothing will be impossible for him who believes. We are not called His body for nothing. We must be His hands, His feet, His eyes, His ears, His mouth, and His heart. We must be His heart so that we can show love to the unlovable. Someone once said the only Jesus some people will see is the Jesus in you. You are God’s agent holding God’s power of attorney.
If you’re sick, take authority. Harassed by harassing spirits, take authority. Are you broke? Take authority. Need a job, take authority. Whatever your need, He will supply; just take authority.
12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. ~ Ecclesiastes 4:12NIV
The number three stands for that which is solid, real, substantial, complete, and entire. The significance of 3 comes from the fact that it is the first of four perfect numbers: (3, 7, 10, 12)
Three denotes divine perfection
Seven denotes spiritual perfection
Ten denotes ordinal perfection
Twelve denotes governmental perfection
God is three separate persons, yet He is One. “Hear O Israel, the LORD thy God is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Now, since we are created in His image, we too are triune beings:
Body
Spirit
Soul
As Christians, our main three-strand cord is:
Prayer
Fasting
Giving
These are only three of our Christian Disciplines. But they are three of our most powerful weapons of warfare. What soldier goes into battle without first taking up his weapon and learning how to use it so that when he is in the heat of battle, he can fight successfully and overcome the enemy?
With these three disciplines, there is nothing that we cannot do. We can overcome anything with prayer, fasting, and giving. When we pray, God hears us. When we fast, we are strengthened. When we give, we are blessed. God has given us a strong three-strand cord to help us overcome any obstacle in our way; let us not take it for granted. Instead, let us put into practice these three disciplines that we may stand firm in our faith.
We are each in a Spiritual war. There are demons, evil spirits, and unclean spirits constantly trying to corrupt us. This is why we need to put on the Whole Armor of God so that we can withstand the temptations of the enemy. But is that all we have to worry about? What about Spiritual Warfare above us? Are there spirits in the Heavenly Realms that are over different territories? Join ArieRashelle as she searches through Scripture to fully understand the spiritual warfare between Territorial Spirits and us.
Daniel 10:12-14 Deuteronomy 32:8-9 Revelation 13:8 Daniel 10:12-14 Psalms 87 Daniel 10:20-21 Philippians 3:20-21
More On Territorial Spirits in The Bible
More Territorial Spirits in the Bible
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord.
Exodus 12:12
1 God has taken His place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment: 2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah 3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” 5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6 I said, “You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you; 7 nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations!
Psalms 82
Citizens of Heaven No Longer Under Territorial Spirits
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19-22
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Hebrews 12:22–24
Summary
There is a Spiritual War for our souls going on right now. We don’t just have demons, evil spirits, unclean spirits, etc., surrounding us always. But, we also have Territorial Spirits that rule over the twelve regions of the earth. They have authority over those regions, which is one of the reasons God tells us we need to be born again so that our citizenship is in Heaven.
Because our citizenship is now in Heaven, those Territorial Spirits have no claim over us. We can overcome anything that comes in our way. Mountains are brought low before us, and seas are parted so that we may fulfill our call and live our lives for our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of this, evil spirits, demons, unclean spirits, and all other beings cannot overcome us in this Spiritual War that we are fighting, for our soul belongs to God.
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ~ Ephesians 4:7
Each of us was given grace in the form of the free gift of Salvation from Jesus Christ through faith, but we were each given spiritual gifts as well. Gifts of teaching, apostleship, prophets, evangelists, etc. In each of us is a spiritual gift given to us through the Holy Spirit. Our gifts can also be in music, sports, film, education, medicine, etc.
We don’t have to be a preacher in order to have a gift from God. Not all of us are pastors; if we were, we would all be one body part. If we are all one single body part, then we aren’t complete. God uses and utilizes every part of the body because each body part is important. And as each body part is important, each gift is important.
4 And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. ~ 2 Peter 1:4NLT
God has called us to Himself so that we may be saved. When we are saved, we are changed. We are given a new clean heart and a right spirit. We are given a new life. We are a new creation. Because of this, God Himself lives inside of us and shapes us into His perfect image. This is why we must fight sin.
We can’t allow ourselves to be overcome by the very thing that God has just rescued us from. We have to set our minds to live in righteousness. God has given us everything we need in order to overcome sin and cling to righteousness. Put on your whole Armor of God that you can overcome every sin that comes your way and become more and more like God.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Cling To His Divine Nature.
20 So the Lord told Abraham, “I have heard a great outcry from Sodom and Gomorrah, because their sin is so flagrant. 21 I am going down to see if their actions are as wicked as I have heard. If not, I want to know.” ~ Genesis 18:20-21NLT
The LORD didn’t just destroy Sodom and Gomorrah out of nowhere. There was a great outcry against them for a long time. The people affected by Sodom and Gomorrah’s wickedness didn’t just cry out once; they cried out and cried out until God heard them. This is how we have to get God’s attention. We have to continuously bring our petitions before the LORD.
The majority of the time, nothing will happen after our first request. We have to keep asking God. We have to keep reminding God of His promises. The LORD doesn’t intervene unless we first pray and seek His intervention. We have to make the first move. We have to fight for our families, our dreams, and our lives.
