When the enemy comes like a flood

"So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him" (Isaiah 59:19).

Knowing that we live in a spiritual world and knowing that we have a spiritual enemy that wants to kill, steal and destroy, we should not be surprised when we feel the enemy's wrath.

So what do we do when we feel overwhelmed with life as it confronts us? Let us compare what a soldier in the natural would do.

First he would have been prepared by training. If he confronts the enemy during the first week of basic training he is a dead duck.

During his training his mind is renewed by the drill sergeant. The DS is with him 24 hours a day 7 days a week. "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Joshua 1:8).

During his training he has learned to obey his DS. "But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries" (Exodus 23:22).

The Lord was preparing the Church in Revelation chapters 2-3 for the ensuing battle, asking them to forsake their worldly and sinful ways so that the enemy could not defeat them.

We have all heard what the military does when they confront the enemy. You hear it over and over. "Sir, I kick into my training. I do what comes natural to me. I do not even have to think, I perform what my mind has been programmed to do."

Look how God treats the enemy.

Luke 10:19 says, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."

The enemy lost before the war started. Joshua 11:18-20 says, "Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. For it was the LORD himself who hardened their (the enemy's) hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them (the enemy) without mercy, as the LORD had commanded Moses."

Here are the two things that I can remember even when the heat gets so hot that it is unbearable.

1. The Cross of Jesus Christ has absorbed all evil. Nothing can hurt me if I am standing in the Cross and walking in obedience to the Lord. All situations must become a blessing when they go through the Cross!

2. The enemy cannot stand the Word of God being spoken out of a human mouth. If you cannot think of what Word to say just pray in the Spirit.

African witch doctors have said that the most powerful thing they can do against Christians is to speak out incantations. Incantation is defined by American Heritage Dictionary as "A formula used in ritual recitation; a verbal charm or spell A conventionalized utterance repeated without thought or aptness."

How much more powerful is our Holy speech?

Larry Chkoreff

ISOB 2001