Revelation 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Who do we overcome with our testimony?
The devil.
God’s Word provides absolute truth for us. I always had access to a Bible when I was young, but it couldn’t change my life until I took action. I had to pick it up — read it — believe it — and become a doer.
I have shared my testimony many times, but I am going to touch on it once again because I believe it lays a foundation for a point I need to make.
When I was 11 years old, I gave my life to Jesus. As a teenager, I opened many doors to the devil through rebellion and lack of sound judgment. I had the mindset (which many still have today) that God was way up in heaven and satan was in hell. I was here in the middle living out my life, but would one day be in heaven.
When I graduated from high school my foundation was completely shaken. I was sitting at a stop light when all of a sudden I felt trapped. My palms were sweaty and the world began to spin around. I didn’t know what had happened to me, but I soon found out that I had experienced a panic attack. It was the most horrible feeling in the world. Even then, I didn’t know satan was behind it (wasn’t he down in hell?). Since I didn’t know I even had a foe, I sat there like a wounded duck — just prey for the devil to devour.
The attacks grew worse and began to manifest each time I approached a stop light or was in any situation where I was “trapped” and couldn’t escape quickly.
Nobody could understand what happened to me. My parents certainly didn’t know how to help other than take me to a psychiatrist (which was a horrible experience). That man just made me feel more depressed and was quick to prescribe medicine.
Oh how I wish I had known someone who could have told me what was happening spiritually.
I was tormented day and night. I had a constant feeling of fear and dread in my belly. The medication made me sleepy, but didn’t stop the attacks.
Ephesians 6:12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
I absolutely felt like I was losing my mind. There was nothing I could do (in the natural) to step back into the Beth I was before the attacks started. I felt like she was gone and now I was left with someone nervous and destroyed. I couldn’t do normal activities that we all take for granted.
VICTORY!
Ephesians 6:12 really opened my eyes to what was taking place in my life. I began to watch Kenneth and Gloria Copeland with my Bible in my hand. I learned so much from their broadcasts! I discovered that there is a foe and he isn’t in hell, but is very active here on earth.
I also learned that I have authority over the tormentors! As a Christian — YOU DO TOO.
Luke 10:19
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
I learned that we have been given keys and could bind the demons and loose good things. As a young woman, I wrote on note cards every scripture I could find on our authority as believers and what God has to say about fear. Just as Jesus spoke out loud to the devil when He was tempted in the wilderness, I found that I had to speak out loud to the demons. They can’t read our minds. They can place thoughts there, but they can’t read what we think. I discovered that when I bound a spirit of fear, it didn’t have the control that it once had in my life.
Yes, Christians can be tormented by demonic spirits. We can open all sorts of doors to them (even innocently). Demons especially like to enter when we are young and innocent and don’t realize what we are doing. Christians can be oppressed. I was definitely oppressed, but now I am FREE!
I am sharing all of this to say that even though God has given us salvation, healing, and deliverance through what Jesus did for us on the cross — it doesn’t mean it just happens here in our lives. For instance — I already had deliverance and authority over darkness because of Jesus, but I still had to FIGHT for my freedom. The scriptures I gave you in Ephesians and in Luke both use terms of battle: WRESTLE, TRAMPLE … WE have to fight for what is ours! The battle begins in our mind!
Did my mind originally “feel” at peace? NO. Did I have to replace the lies of the devil with God’s Word in my mind? YES.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ …
It is a battle folks. It begins in your mind and you have to be on the offense and capture every thought that isn’t in alignment with God’s Word.
Satan tried to tell me I had lost my mind. I would say, “NO! I have the mind of Christ!” He would tell me I was fearful and I would say, “NO! God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a SOUND mind.” He would try to tell me that I was worthless and I would say, “NO! I am fearfully and wonderfully made! God has plans for me — a hope and a future!”
Do you see how to use the Sword?
As Christians, for some reason it is much easier for us to receive the gift of salvation by faith. Christian pulpits in America promote salvation, but what about the other gifts that Jesus provided for us when He bore all of those lashes on His back?
We have to TAKE these as well. We can’t be passive about it.
The other day Andrew Wommack stated that most Christians talk to God about their problems instead of talking to their problems about God! Do you understand what he meant?
Mark 11:23
For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.
Jesus said we are to speak TO the mountain. Aren’t we taught as Christians to ask God for healing, provision, etc …? When I was bound by fear and anxiety – of course I cried out to God to set me free, but honestly — He had already done everything He needed to do. Jesus paid the price. He became the curse for me (and for you), but it wasn’t until I fought and used God’s Word as my sword that I could walk in the freedom Jesus purchased for me.
Colossians 2:13-15
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
I love that Jesus made a public spectacle of the enemy when He was on the cross! So what was I to do? Was I to pray and cry out to God about these demons tormenting me OR did I have to speak TO THE MOUNTAIN and command it to leave? I had to speak to the mountain! The work was already done, but I had to receive it and kick out all squatters!
Salvation is a free gift, but we have to receive it, right?
Do we just pray, “God save me” yet never receive it or walk as one saved? What about everything else that Jesus provided for us through His death and resurrection?
Is there an area you are struggling in that Jesus has already provided the escape? If so, what are you going to do about it?
RISE UP and walk in what Jesus provided for you! No more being the victim! You are a child of the Most High God and have been given LOVE and VICTORY as your banner!
Fight for what is yours and start speaking to the mountain in the Name of Jesus!
It might feel silly or strange at first to fight with an invisible foe, but I can assure you – they would rather you feel too silly to speak up so that they can continue to hold you captive. SICKNESS, DISEASE, FEAR, ANXIETY, UNFORGIVENESS, UNWORTHINESS, DEPRESSION, BIPOLAR DISORDER, ETC … YOU MUST BOW IN THE NAME OF JESUS!
Good word!