Devo Week 42 - Discerning the Unseen Realm

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” Matt.10:16

God is Our Shield - Like a Turtle Shell

Are you on the Lord’s side? That’s the most important question to ask in spiritual warfare. When the Israelites went into the Promised Land, they encountered an angel with a drawn sword at Jericho. “Are you for us or against us?” they asked the angel. The angel responded, “Neither. I am the Commander of the Lord’s army. Take off your shoes for you are standing upon holy ground.” (Joshua 5:13-15) It doesn’t matter who’s on your side, if you’re not on God’s.

WHO IS FOR US

The angel’s answer at Jericho reminds us of Moses at the ‘burning bush.’  “Take off your shoes for you are standing upon holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5) To be holy means to be separated unto the Lord. Holy ground is the place of separation geographically chosen by God where we take off our own strength or ‘flesh.’  God wants to redeem even the earth, but more than that He has chosen man as His ‘dwelling place.’ God does not dwell in ‘temples made by human hands,’ but rather we are His dwelling place. We must respect our body as the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit.’

WHO IS AGAINST US

Since our bodies are the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit,’ we should separate them unto God. Satan and his evil powers will oppose us, deceive us and try to trap us in our pursuit of Jesus. God Himself is our shield, not faith in our own ability to obey the law. This is legalism and does not lead to salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith, and this is not of ourselves. (Eph. 2:8-9) Paul tells us in II Cor. 5:7 that the ‘righteous will live by faith.’  This is faith in God and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. (Heb. 11:6) And so, the promise to Abram as he entered the Promised land was “I am your Shield!”  We may share in the sufferings of Christ, and some will be martyred, but God is our shield in this spiritual battle.

PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH

Father, thank You for Your grace and faith! Lord, help us to walk by faith and not by sight. Our spiritual battle is Yours, and we entrust ourselves to You. Our bodies are Your temple, and we offer them to You for cleansing and filling with Your Holy Spirit. As the enemy fires shots at us, we take refuge in Your shield which is more secure than a turtle shell. In Jesus’ name, Amen.