Eagles are large, powerful birds with incredible eyesight, which allows them to see prey from very long distances away. They are ranked at the top of the food chain and make their nests in tall trees or on high cliffs, which is well out of the view and reach of other animals.

Isaiah made reference to even young men growing faint and weary and falling due to exhaustion (Isaiah 40:30). But it is in waiting on God, that causes us to develop the strength and stamina of an eagle. Paul also reminded us that God has, “raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). Our seating with Christ Jesus is, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21).

Our positioning offers a privileged vantage point and changes our perspective from surface level thinking, to seeing in the realms of the spirit. Knowing who we are, the authority that we have in Jesus Christ and our place in Christ, takes our focus off the tests and trials. God has put all things under the feet of Jesus and as we are seated with him, all things are under our feet (Ephesians 1:22).

We have to maintain our eternal perspective and keep our eyes above the challenges. Stay seated near Jesus with the devil and his agents under our feet.

A.P.-Y.

In Joshua chapter 2, Joshua sent two men to spy out the land of Jericho, which they were about to go in to possess. A prostitute by the name of Rahab accommodated the men. When the King heard that the men were in her house, he sent messengers to tell her to send the men to him. This was because he was aware that they had come as spies. Rahab hid the men and told the King that they had already left. So the King sent men to look for the spies. Why would Rahab side with the Israelites when they were not even from her own country? She heard the stories about how they defeated all their enemies. Rahab confessed that she knew that God had already given them the victory.

“And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11). Rahab asked the men to promise, that when they came in to possess her country, that they would spare her family. The men made a promise to spare Rahab and her household, because she had shown kindness to them.

In this new season, God will cause even those who should be against us to be good to us. That’s called favour and walking in the blessing of the Lord. We have fought many battles before, which have come to the attention of others. Situations that people thought we would have never survived, left them shocked and amazed at how we come out of it alive. People were left confounded, about how we maintained our sanity and overcame such adversity.

A godly reputation goes ahead of us and creates open doors for us. Your name is being associated with good things and people are talking about your incredible gifts, talents and abilities. “The Lord your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes” (Deuteronomy 1:30).

A.P.-Y.

Following Cyrus’s declaration, regarding the freedom and restoration of the Jews in 2 Chronicles, the Jews returned to Jerusalem. They built an altar to God and laid the foundation to rebuild the temple (Ezra 3). In chapter 4, Zerubbabel and the builders experienced opposition from their adversaries. They first tried to convince the builders to include them in the work. When they refused, they discouraged the people and made them afraid to build. They also bribed leaders against them to frustrate their work (Ezra 4:1-6).

Letters were written to the King who caused the work to cease, until the second year of King Darius. Then the prophets prophesied over the Jews and Zerubbabel rose up and began to rebuild the house of God (Ezra 5:1-2). They experienced opposition a second time but they continued to build. The elders were again questioned about where they received permission to rebuild the temple. “And this was their reply to us: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and finished” (Ezra 5:11).

The elders informed the King of the decree which Cyrus had written, concerning the Jews rebuilding their city and the temple. The King sent men to search the archives and they found the decree from Cyrus the King. The King then gave permission for the work to continue. “And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia” (Ezra 6:14).

I notice how the elders moved at the anointed word of God through the prophets. As the word was prophesied over them, they prospered to complete the work. Although they experienced much opposition, they continued to build and were encouraged by the spoken word. When we set out to do anything great for God, we can expect opposition and discouragement. This is often an indication that you are doing something great and making progress. Surround yourself with people, who will continue to speak the life giving word of God over your situation. Encouragement is a strong antidote to discouragement and remembering what the word says, provides strength to build.

“Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah‬ ‭4:6‬).

A.P.-Y.

God spoke through Jeremiah concerning the enemies of his people. God declared his people a weapon of war to break the enemy to pieces and to destroy the kingdoms of darkness. We are God’s army and with understanding he teaches our hands to do war and our fingers to fight (Psalm 144:1).

God cannot be tempted of evil and he does not cause sickness, infirmity and oppression. The enemy is good at convincing us that God does this, so that we direct our anger towards God and not at him. There are spirits of darkness that causes infirmity and torment. We have nothing to fear when it comes to ate attacks of the enemy. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

We do not wrestle against flesh and blood and God has given us power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over ALL the power of the enemy and absolutely NOTHING shall by any means harm us (Ephesians 6:12; Luke 10:19).

We take authority against the spirits of sickness and infirmity and we bind every spirit of torment in Jesus Name. God says that he will rebuke the devourer for our sake. We know that the devil comes but for to steal, kill and destroy but Jesus came to give us life in abundance (Malachi 3:11; John 10:10).

We will not allow the devil to continue to steal our joy and peace. God is teaching us how to fight and to take back what he has stolen. We take it by force as we use our weapons and the word of God to declare spiritual war. We command principalities and powers to bow in Jesus Name and we pray a blood covering over our houses, our families and everything that belongs to us. We command principalities and powers to lift off our minds and bodies in Jesus Name. Although the enemy pushes back we will not stop fighting until we take possession of this territory.

“Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff; you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the Lord; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory” (Isaiah 41:15-16).

A.P.-Y.

Gabriel’s conversation with Daniel gives us insight, into what happens in the heavenly realm over our physical world. How is it that while Daniel fasted and prayed, there was a war being waged in the atmosphere? This was between the Prince of Persia and Michael who is the chief Prince of war within the kingdom of God. Gabriel’s mandate is to bring answers and to transmit information. He also provides revelation and insight into the mysteries of God. While on route to Daniel he was withstood by a demonic Prince who reigned over the territory of Persia (Daniel 10:12-14).

There are principalities, powers and rulers of darkness that monitor specific regions and territories who will try to block our advances. As we continue to intercede and wage war through prayer, Michael and other heavenly assistants will fight on our behalf. The battle belongs to God and our posture is constant prayer and worship which are our weapons of war.

We feel exhausted at times and challenges sometimes knocks the wind out of us. We continue to fight back and pursue the enemy and recover what was stolen. “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue” (1 Samuel 30:8). This is what God commanded David when the Amalekites raided their camp and took their families. Pursue them and overtake and succeed in winning this battle.

“pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:17-18‬).

A.P.-Y.

We are a temple for the presence of God to dwell and for the Holy Spirit to inhabit. We are created for the establishment of the kingdom of God. We are not perfect, but we allow the Holy Spirit to live through us and we remain connected to God, for his purpose to be fulfilled in us.

Paul encouraged a daily sanctification and asking God to forgive and cleanse us from our sins. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Yet we are not sinners but we are the righteousness of God. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

So we are no longer slaves to sin, because through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we live in him and our bodies are under the blood of Jesus. His grace covers us and keeps us from falling into sin. We are not able to keep ourselves pure and sinless, but when we remain close to God and submit our spirits to him, then the Holy Spirit does the work to keep us pure.

Daily prayer, worship and reading the word keeps us in the presence of God, so that he can continue to refine us. We need fasting to help us to overcome some strongholds and the habitual sins that we struggle to get rid of. God is coming back for a Holy church without spot or wrinkle so we are holy because God is holy. “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple”
‭‭(1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16-17‬).

A.P.-Y.

Our assignment on earth is to advance the kingdom of God, to walk in authority and dominion and to take possession of everything that God has promised us. The enemy wants us to live broke down, depressed, oppressed and well below our potential. When we come into the fullness and complete understanding of who we are in Christ Jesus and the power available to us, we will no longer live with what the enemy is serving up.

Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead, to give us power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and over every power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means harm us (Luke 10:19). If you are sick, we recognise that healing is a promise to the children of God. “You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you” (Exodus 23:25). Daily tap into what the word says about healing, in order to build your faith in that area and then claim your healing in Jesus Name.

The bible provides prescriptions for healing from mental, emotional and physical infirmity. It offers hope and insight for lack and debt and hope and strength for the weary. Time is never an excuse for not studying the bible, when we find time for so many other distractions. Besides, when we come to the understanding of how we can use the word to win our battles, we won’t miss out on learning the word in order to claim from its promises.

God made us in his image to rule and reign as Kings and seated us in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). God’s promise is that he has made us the head and not the tail, above and not beneath (Exodus 28:13). We take our rightful seat of authority on this earth and refuse to settle for being restricted, held back and treated like second class citizens.

The enemy will not surrender territory willingly, so we progress violently through prayer and claim our rightly possession. We use the word of God as our weapon, which is quick and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword. Piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).

A.P.-Y.

I recently heard the word unflinching, used to describe the kind of support that I had provided for someone. Although I didn’t quite know the meaning of the word, the phrase that came to mind was Isaiah’s reference regarding ‘fixing his face like a flint.’ I believe in chapter 50 Isaiah spoke about waking daily to hear the word of God in order to speak a word to the weary (Isaiah 50:4).

Most prophets in bible days were not very popular people, because their message was often one of repentance and judgement. Yet Isaiah was convinced that he was not afraid of shame or persecution, but he would continue to stand firm in his conviction. This is because Isaiah knew that God was with him to protect and defend him.

I looked up the word unflinching and it means, ‘not showing fear or hesitation in the face of danger or difficulty.’ I imagine that this word may have come, from having one‘s face set hard like a flint or a stone. A flint is a hard rock which has been used for centuries to make weapons. I suppose this stone is powerful and hard, so Isaiah’s reference was to having a determined perseverance in the face of difficulty and danger.

We need unflinching determination to do the will of God, to accomplish our life’s mission and purpose and to not be deterred by opposition or trials. We have to have our faces fixed like a flint, because we know that God is with us so we will not be ashamed. We have confidence in what God says in spite of what our circumstances look like. We speak light into the darkness and command things that be not as though they were (Romans 4:7).

A.P.-Y.

Let us take a brief snapshot from the story regarding Nehemiah. He rebuilt the walls in Jerusalem following the exile of the Jews. Nehemiah learned that there was a remnant of Jews, who escaped the exile but were in trouble and distress, because the walls were torn down (Nehemiah 1). He gained the favour of the King who he served as a cupbearer. The King allowed Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem, to rebuild the wall and also provided the equipment, which he needed to do this work.

Nehemiah gathered the people and the work progresses successfully, until he encountered opposition. In chapter 4, Sanballat and Tobiah were angry, that the work progressed and hurled insults at Nehemiah and the Jews. Nehemiah’s response was to pray and carry on building and the work progressed.

Again in chapter 6, when Sanballat and Tobiah heard that Nehemiah had completed the wall, they continue to conspire. This time they sent messengers 4 times to call Nehemiah to meet, but their intention was to harm him. Nehemiah saw through their conspiracy and his response was, “I cannot come down because I am doing a great work.”

When the first plot didn’t work, they wrote letters spreading lies and gossip about Nehemiah, saying that he wanted to be King. They even sent a false prophet to convince Nehemiah, to run to the house of God to hide because they wanted to kill him. On every occasion, Nehemiah saw through the conspiracies and recognised them as schemes, to distract him from the work. He maintained his focus and completed the work of rebuilding the wall, restoring the gates and the doors (Nehemiah 6).

We can learn a lot from this story about Nehemiah. (1) Stay focused on what God has assigned you to do and complete the assignment. (2) Do not entertain every argument or engage in every fight. (3) Not every “Prophet” or “prophetic word” is sent by God. (4) When God has asked you to do something great, expect opposition and persecution to come. (5) Stay in prayer, remain steadfast in your conviction and God will give you the strength to complete what you have started. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ”
‭‭(Philippians‬ ‭1:6‬).

A.P.-Y.

Zacchaeus was a tax collector who was unpopular among the people. When Jesus decided to go to his home, the people did not approve. “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner” (Luke 19:7). But Jesus’s decision to go with Zacchaeus produced a positive outcome. “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold” (Luke 19:8). Not only did Zacchaeus surrender his life to God and receive salvation, he also redistributed his wealth to those in need.

Jesus once stopped in the city of Samaria to minister to a woman who was an adulteress. His disciples were puzzled about why he was talking to the woman, as the Jews traditionally had no dealings with the Samaritans. After Jesus concluded his ministry to the woman, she ran to spread his message to the people in her town. Because of this woman’s testimony, many Samaritans met Jesus and believed and received salvation. ““Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him”” (John 4:29-30).

We see a similar narrative, when Jesus travelled to the country of the Gerasenes and healed the man possessed with legions. The man begged Jesus to allow him to travel with him. Jesus declined his offer and directed him towards another assignment. ““Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him”” (Luke 8:39).

Throughout his ministry, Jesus reached out to disciple those who people considered, among the worst of sinners. These were people who others had given up on, as being beyond redemption. What was amazing, was how powerful their testimony was in bringing others to Christ. Zacchaeus was an outcast among his people, because he collected taxes for the Romans. The Samaritan woman was won over by the realisation, that Jesus felt that she was worthy to be ministered to despite her failures. The man of Gerasenes had probably given up on being set free. His freedom first made him want to follow Jesus and then his testimony was powerful enough to transform a city.

Despite the history of these people mentioned above, Jesus considered them worthy of salvation. Nobody is perfect and no one is more worthy or salvation than another person. God takes no delight in the death of sinners, but desires that everyone would repent and have eternal life (Ezekiel 18:23). God created us all in his image and he loves us. Sin distorts the image of God in us and we have an assignment as Christians, to win as many souls to God as possible. “If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared”
‭‭(Psalm‬ ‭130:3-4‬).

A.P.-Y.