Expect Resistance
The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for I have handed them over to you. Not one of them will be able to stand against you.”
— Joshua 10:8, ESV
In the passage above, Israel was taking possession of the land that God had promised them. However, there were people already occupying the land that God had declared as theirs. As Joshua prepared for battle, God assured him not to fear, for He had already delivered the enemy into Israel’s hands. Joshua was preparing to fight five kings from different regions in Canaan. Though they outnumbered Israel, no man is a match for God.
Almost everything God promises us will come with resistance and opposition. We must understand that Satan will not easily surrender any territory. He will use every weapon in his arsenal to hinder us from advancing into victory. This is why it is so important that we know how to confront the enemy. Scripture reminds us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens (Ephesians 6:12).
God had given Joshua specific strategies to defeat the five kings. If you read the entire chapter, you’ll see that Israel marched all night to confront the enemy. Then, God sent a hailstorm that took out more soldiers than Israel did in battle. In the same way, God provides us with strategies to win the battles we face today. Scripture tells us to pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18). We take territory in the spirit through prayer. We pray the Word, aligning our prayers with God’s promises concerning our situation, and then we watch with expectation for God’s manifestation.
We do not engage in flesh and blood battles unless God instructs us to do so—otherwise, disaster is certain.
I’ve shared before about a time I requested a promotion but was denied, even though my workload fit the classification I was seeking. Since I had previously worked in Human Resources, I knew all the laws and procedures, so I filed an out-of-class claim and submitted all the necessary paperwork. Yet, I was denied once again because I was fighting in my own strength. It wasn’t until I took the matter to God in prayer and supplication that the promotion came—and it happened instantly!
We must go to God first in prayer and seek His instructions for how to move forward, so we can experience success. Otherwise, we are out here trying to fight an enemy we are no match for without the Holy Spirit. We will miss blessings every time we attempt to handle matters on our own.
Key Takeaways
We are guaranteed defeat when we move in our own strength.
Prayer, supplication, and obedience to the Lord bring absolute victory.
Flesh and blood has no power.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19; Isaiah 55:11
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