An Acceleration of the momentum

It is especially important in this season that we stay in the flow of how God is moving. There is about to be an acceleration of God’s power and presence in the earth, like we have never seen it, in these next few years and counting! We can see God’s plan unfolding, but we also need to be wise to the strategy of the enemy, who will try to stop our momentum, from advancing in God’s plan. 

I want to be clear; my focus is not the devil but God, but I realize and have seen the grip of the enemy on people’s lives in 2010, and I feel that it is important for people to be reminded that to take their respective “Mountain” (sphere of influence in a particular part of society that they are called to); that they break the back of the enemy. To do this, people need to be aware of the devil’s strategies.

The Blind spot

What is the strategy of the enemy? Simply to block your path of advancement, by putting obstacles in your path, or taking advantage of the ones that are already there, so that you lose momentum and get off track. I said “simply”, but let’s not forget that people get caught by the devil’s traps all the time, because even though we think we know how he operates, he is always cunning and crafty. In his bid to destroy your life, he will attack you in your “blind spot”.

We all have one, much like the one in the side mirror of our cars. This is why people fall. Because many refuse to allow friends to walk alongside them, that can see their blind spots & this causes the spirit of Pride to rise up, where people might say: “I am fine, nothing is wrong with me. I can handle it.” This is very dangerous, as often those around us can see the enemy coming at us, a lot sooner than we can ourselves!

So what should your strategy be? Let me give you four points to keep you in the timing & momentum this season to take your mountain:

1. Stay Alert

Please friends, this does not mean we have to walk around like paranoid Christians, wondering when and how we are about to be attacked. So many Christians do just the opposite, and think that it is ridiculous to even think the devil is “after them.” So they do nothing, and are further blinded. In John 10, Jesus makes it clear to us that the devil comes to steal kill & destroy! Those are strong words and I think I would take the advice Jesus gives me rather than listen to my own denial.

The devil is an opportunist! He came to Jesus in the desert when he was fasting and praying and offered him food! He will use our own problems to attack us, when we are weak and our faith is low. So stay alert! That doesn’t mean we need to live in fear, we live in love, power, and God has given us a sound mind,  but we must also be aware of the devil’s schemes to destroy us.

That is why the Scripture teaches us to stay alert, as the devil goes around like a roaring lion, waiting to devour us.  People are often taken in by his deception, because they refuse to listen to the word.  Pe 5:8  Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Many people don’t even realize that the devil uses the pride in us, to help him pull us away from the inheritence.

So being aware and alert, is also recognizing our weak spots, not just our blind spots, to avoid the traps of the enemy. If there is awareness, there can be acknowledgement.

2. Resist him

1Pe 5:9-10 NIV  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers & sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10  And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

This might sound easy, or even too familiar to discuss, but so many people still get caught in this same old trap. In  the book of James chap 4 the bible teaches us how we are to resist the enemy. James tells us that it is our submitting all things to God that makes the enemy flee. Yet, the spirit of Pride causes us to do the opposite. When we carry pride in any form, (hand in hand with the spirit of perfectionism I spoke about in a previous teaching), we can often begin to handle our issues in the flesh instead of submitting our problems and struggles to God, and coming alongside our mentors and friends, to pray with us.

Many people don’t like doing this when they are prideful, because then they think that other people will think that they are less than perfect, which actually we all are! Can you see how pride and perfectinism come into this? When we are feeling vulnerable we are less likely to trust others, so this is also a factor to consider. You must take a chance with people you know you can truly count on and trust, these are the times it really matters that you do.

I think it is important to keep in mind that some people don’t want to change and or refuse to change, and will continue to live with a fierce independence and an unhealthy protective defense mechanism, that keeps other people at a distance.   I want to say upfront that this is very dangerous because it alienates & isolates and God’s people are meant to depend on each other, which increases trust. Sadly, most people in this position refuse to move to that next level of trust that can help them overcome and move forward into their inheritance. All you can do with this is continue to love them and pray for them. God doesn’t love them any less. They just deprive themselves of living in the full blessing and inheritance God has for them.

So we need to resist the devil in every aspect of the sinful nature, and submit it to God in repentance and humility and he (the devil) will flee.

3. Stand firm in your faith

Oten people can easily get distracted and consumed by circumstances which become their “mountains.” Problems look so big that they seem unresolvable. Remember that your problem is not your mountain. This year the only mountain in your life is the one you are taking!  That is, your sphere of influence, the space and place that God will use you, is your mountain.

Many people think that they need great faith to overcome the obstacles and struggles in their midst but God’s word teaches us that we actually only need to have faith the size of a mustard seed. So stand firm in the faith you have and remember that nothing can stop you from moving forward into your inheritance. The size of the problem is never an issue for God, but we have to give it to the Lord to stand firm in our faith. As you stand firm in your faith, the Scripture says that God will restore you.

4. Stay syncronized & Focussed on your new identity in God’s plan

Don’t  dwell on and focus on your struggles and problems, focus on the plan of God for your life, and quickly move into your identity this year. Keep going forward no matter what comes in your path – you can overcome it but you must keep your eyes on Jesus to get to the finish line.

You have a mountain to take and it is often our lack of faith in wondering: “Will God really come through for us?” that causes us to focus on the problem rather than the plan. Stay in the plan of God to keep the momentum and timing of God’s plan for your identity this year.

Earlier in December, God gave me a word for our church which was to make sure that we kept our minds and hearts syncronized. Our minds are powerful and wrong perceptions can really be a stumbling block. Make sure both your heart & mind are syncronized in perfect harmony.

Make sure your spirit is correctly aligned with the Lord, then you can take your mountain! The devil fears Christians who know their God given Kingdom authority (their signature sound in the spirit realm), because they are the ones who will take territory back that the enemy has stolen. They are the ones that become more than conquerors, as they overcome & release the glory of God with their gifting in the earth in their mountain  with the lost, poor & the hurting.

Your servant in Christ

Rev. Deborah Bell
Senior Pastor, Deo Gloria Family Church SA