DON’T BE YOUR OWN ENEMY
SCRIPTURE: NUMBERS 13:32-33
(KJV)
“So they brought the Israelites an evil report of the land which they had scouted out, saying, The land through which we went to spy it out is a land that devours its inhabitants. And all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the Nephilim [or giants], the sons of Anak, who come from the giants; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”
Our scripture for today is quite sobering. It has lessons which we can’t afford to forget or let go of. Whilst in meditation on these verses, I came to a conclusion that it is one thing to have and celebrate your victory in Christ Jesus over Satan and evil spirits as a believer in Christ Jesus. It is another thing to have the victory over your own attitude, thinking and self-image. This is what today’s verses are all about.
This is so important for you, as a New Testament believer, to learn from and to remember. What are the issues?
God had promised a land of good things to Israel, His people. He told them specifically that He had given them the land. He used Moses, their leader, to remind them of it. Moses sent twelve leaders from the twelve tribes to go spy out this promised land and bring a report to him and Israel. After the twelve spies went into the land, two of them decided to stick with God’s promise and believe the land was theirs in spite of the circumstances.
The rest of the spies, ten in number, looked at the circumstances at the time, the giants and difficulties, and doubted God’s promise. They allowed their circumstances to defeat their faith. Why did they make this mistake? What was their problem? Their problem was that instead of seeing themselves as capable as God’s Word had said, they looked at their circumstances and the giants and saw themselves as incapable of possessing the promised land.
That’s why II Corinthians 5:7 reminds us that, ” for we walk by faith and not by sight.” (NKJV).
You and I have promises and provisions in Christ Jesus for a life of glory and total well-being. It is now your responsibility to believe and acknowledge these promises and provisions and see yourself as capable of walking in them. You cannot let your natural background, current circumstances, today’s challenges, the news of the day and enemies define you and your abilities as the ten spies did. This is how you can become your own enemy: using the wrong standard to measure your ability, your success and your future.
It is so important, therefore, that you pay attention to God’s provisions in the New Testament. You must be careful to let God’s Word affect, condition and influence how you see yourself and how you think of yourself. Dare to believe and to say what the Word says about you. In Christ Jesus, you have spiritual authority over all evil forces. In Christ Jesus, you have the person and power of the Holy Spirit indwelling you. In Christ Jesus, you have grace and righteousness to enable you to reign in life.
Don’t be your own enemy. You have great potential in Christ Jesus. Accept what God says about you. Accept your identity in Christ Jesus and walk in that identity. Remember, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
CONFESSION
I am a believer and not a doubter. I affirm and embrace my Father’s promises and provisions for my success and total wellbeing. No matter what my natural circumstances seem to dictate, I affirm my identity in Christ Jesus. I am righteous, victorious, bold, sanctified, filled with the Spirit and Jesus is still the Lord of my life.
FURTHER READING (NKJV)
EPHESIANS 1: 3-7
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
[4]just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
[5]having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
[6]to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
[7]In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace