Don't Give Up Your Territory
Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: "What do you have against me that you have attacked my country?"
The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah's messengers, "When Israel came up out of Egypt, they took away my land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, all the way to the Jordan. Now give it back peaceably."
Jephthah sent back messengers to the Ammonite king, saying: "This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites. . . . the God of Israel, gave Sihon and his whole army into Israel's hands, and they defeated them. Israel took over all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country, capturing all of it . . .
"Now since the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out before His people Israel, what right have you to take it over? Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever the LORD our God has given us, we will possess.
. . . For three hundred years Israel occupied Heshbon, Aroer, the surrounding settlements . . . Why didn't you retake them during that time? I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. . . . " Judges 11:12-27
The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah's messengers, "When Israel came up out of Egypt, they took away my land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, all the way to the Jordan. Now give it back peaceably."
Jephthah sent back messengers to the Ammonite king, saying: "This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites. . . . the God of Israel, gave Sihon and his whole army into Israel's hands, and they defeated them. Israel took over all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country, capturing all of it . . .
"Now since the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out before His people Israel, what right have you to take it over? Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever the LORD our God has given us, we will possess.
. . . For three hundred years Israel occupied Heshbon, Aroer, the surrounding settlements . . . Why didn't you retake them during that time? I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. . . . " Judges 11:12-27
You took my land three hundred years ago. You either give it back peaceably or you will give it up under the duress of war!
No! We will not give it back: "Whatever the LORD our God has given us, we will possess. . . "
I have both chills and tears as I read these words. I have chills because I clearly see the relentless spiritual warfare the enemy continually wages against God's children to dispossess them of their divine inheritance. I have tears because God has given us the power and authority to resist him but sadly we often give up the fight too quickly! In the process, we allow the Enemy to steal our blessings. Satan must not steal our God-given territory from us. We must resist him!
For three hundred years, Israel had possessed the Promised Land only to be confronted by a king who demanded that they give back their divinely allotted territory. Jephthah had the right response, "Whatever the LORD our God has given us, we will possess . . . " There is no giving up!
Satan has a way of lying in wait for the opportune time to surprise us with attacks aimed at dispossessing us of our blessings. As the Scripture says, we should be sober and vigilant because our adversary the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
What good is it to be blessed by God only to allow the Enemy to steal it away from us?
Unfortunately, the Enemy continually dispossesses us of our divinely allotted territories. He comes with trials, threats, attacks, lies, and discouragement and succeeds in causing us to give up our God-ordained blessings. That must not be the case. We must resist him fiercely until he flees!
We must fight him off our jobs, families, ministries, relationships, finances and every blessing! Don't give an inch of your territory to the Enemy. It is your rightful possession. Hold on to it!
No! We will not give it back: "Whatever the LORD our God has given us, we will possess. . . "
I have both chills and tears as I read these words. I have chills because I clearly see the relentless spiritual warfare the enemy continually wages against God's children to dispossess them of their divine inheritance. I have tears because God has given us the power and authority to resist him but sadly we often give up the fight too quickly! In the process, we allow the Enemy to steal our blessings. Satan must not steal our God-given territory from us. We must resist him!
For three hundred years, Israel had possessed the Promised Land only to be confronted by a king who demanded that they give back their divinely allotted territory. Jephthah had the right response, "Whatever the LORD our God has given us, we will possess . . . " There is no giving up!
Satan has a way of lying in wait for the opportune time to surprise us with attacks aimed at dispossessing us of our blessings. As the Scripture says, we should be sober and vigilant because our adversary the devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
What good is it to be blessed by God only to allow the Enemy to steal it away from us?
Unfortunately, the Enemy continually dispossesses us of our divinely allotted territories. He comes with trials, threats, attacks, lies, and discouragement and succeeds in causing us to give up our God-ordained blessings. That must not be the case. We must resist him fiercely until he flees!
We must fight him off our jobs, families, ministries, relationships, finances and every blessing! Don't give an inch of your territory to the Enemy. It is your rightful possession. Hold on to it!
Prayer: LORD, by Your grace, I will always possess my territory for Your glory. Amen