14 DAVID continued to succeed in everything he did, FOR THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.
15 WHEN Saul recognized this, HE BECAME EVEN MORE AFRAID OF HIM."
1 Samuel 18:14,15 (NLT)
• The more God Loved you, the more the devil hated you.
- Favour is a sign of God's presence in your life. God presence in David's life was the reason for his success. And that provoked envy.
- Your success is a THREAT to some people. Saul was threatened by David's success:
"WHEN Saul RECOGNIZED this [David's successes], he became even more AFRAID of him" (1 Samuel 18:15 NLT). - The devil would want to stir some people against a Believer who is succeeding or making progress in whatever he or she is assigned to do. However, If God is on your side, no persecution or affliction can abort God's purpose in your life.
THE main issue is, strive and endeavour to keep robustly your fellowship or communion with God.
• The presence of God in your life causes the devil to get jittered.
- When Saul realized there was an anointing of God on David, he was afraid of him.
- Every battle encountered by you, prepared you better for the throne.
YOU may have to be taken through challenges that are necessary for your rulership—the work God wanted you to do and the place He is TAKING you. - What you pass through would shape and mould you. Your mind would be sharpened and your thoughts would be made focus on God. Also, you will have approved character (Romans 5:3,4).
- When it becomes a known fact that the presence of God is in your life. The devil, who is the Believers' enemy, would want to come around to test and challenge you:
"BE sober-minded; BE WATCHFUL. YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL PROWLS AROUND LIKE A ROARING LION, SEEKING SOMEONE TO DEVOUR" (1 Peter 5:8 ESV).
READ: Job 1:9-12; Revelation 12:10 - If you do not want challenges, attack of the wicked people, do NOT bother to desire or ask for the power of God. The presence of God unleashes power, and the power of God in your life attracts the devil and his Loyalists to try or challenge the power of God in you.
- Be ready and prepare for challenges as the presence and power of God Increase in your life.
• What are the mark or signs of God's presence and power.
- There is this mark, sign, or Aura on you that makes demons and those who belong to the devil recognize you.
- When those who operate with demonic power sighted you, they either run or attempt to attack you.
- There is a covering, protection, or an hedge made around you as a Believer (Job 1:9-12); But then, God may allow tests and challenges for you to be strengthened and equipped spiritually through such confrontations (2 Corinthians 12:9,10).
- Through the attacks from the kingdom of darkness, you learn about spiritual warfare (Judges 3:1,2).
- Samuel had anointed David for some time, but it was not made known or manifest to the people—the whole Nation of Israel (1 Samuel 16:13).
- David uses the anointing on him to kill a Lion and a Bear in the forest (1 Samuel 17:34,35), but no one knew he had the anointing of God on him:
"SO the child GREW AND BECAME STRONG IN SPIRIT, AND WAS IN THE DESERTS TILL THE DAY OF HIS MANIFESTATION TO ISRAEL" (Luke 1:80 NKJV).
THE anointing on him became known when he killed Goliath and won some other subsequent battles (1 Samuel 17:48-51). - King Saul became David's enemy when he discovered the anointing on him, that God's presence was with him (1 Samuel 18:14,15).
• The truth is, God's anointing on you will attract opposition.
- Expect confrontation from the old prophets who may not want you to rise (1 Kings 13:11-24).
- It is not everyone who comes to you for help as a Believer or Minister actually loves you or wishes you well (Micah 6:5,6).
- Some who are singing your Praises will later be the ones looking or working for your downfall. The same people who sang Praises of JESUS, shouting Hosanna, also shouted that He should be crucified (Matthew 21:8,9; 27:22,23).
- To become a general in God's army, you must have fought and won series of battles.
- In every battle you learn new things—new techniques and strategies:
"HE TRAINS my hands for war, So that my arms can BEND a bow of bronze" (Psalm 18:34 AMP). - David did fight physical battles, But the Believers in the new testament fight spiritual battles. Believers wrestle with the power of darkness.
- The Believers are having the devil, the world, and the flesh to wrestle with:
"FOR WE DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD [human beings], BUT against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS in the HEAVENLY PLACES" (Ephesians 6:12 NKJV).
• NOTE: The devil is the Believers' archenemy, humans are not our enemy (Revelation 12:9,10). However, the devil would not operate without the assistance of human beings.
- The demons are disembodied spirits, they cannot operate on earth without a physical body, either of human beings or that of animals: "FOR WE ARE NOT FIGHTING AGAINST PEOPLE MADE OF FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PERSONS WITHOUT BODIES—THE EVIL RULERS OF THE UNSEEN WORLD, those mighty SATANIC BEINGS and great EVIL PRINCES OF DARKNESS WHO RULE THIS WORLD [2 Corinthians 4:4]; AND against HUGE numbers of WICKED SPIRITS IN THE SPIRIT WORLD" (Ephesians 6:12 Living Bible).
(i) The Bible teaches us to love our enemies and pray for them, but does not teach us to love the demons (Matthew 5:44).
(ii) If someone is operating with a demonic power, you would not say you love the person and not deal with the demon that operates through the person. Especially if the person is using the evil power against the person of you and whatever you are asked to do—your assignment (Acts 13:8-11; 16:16-18).
(iii) If someone with a demonic power is attacking you, you deal with the demon that is operating through the person. YOU bind the demon and tell him to desist from his Operations (Mark 16:17; Luke 8:29; Acts 16:16,17).
YOU decree that the demon(s) behind the affliction, or whatever the problem, will not prosper in his manoeuvres. - That said, Sin would be the undoing of a Believer or any Minister, thus, avoid Sin in your life that you may not be a casualty in the hand of the enemy—the devil (Acts 19:14-16).
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED