Deposing The Oppressor

Throughout our journey so far, I have been careful not to set undue focus on the enemy and thereby magnify Him in our eyes and situations. But to deny the existence of the enemy is naivety that can lead to a disastrous outcome. The battles we face today are not battles fought with human hands and physical weapons. The Bible makes it clear that we wrestle not against flesh and blood. We are fighting spiritual forces in heavenly places. So, whatever contribution the enemy of our souls is making to the challenges we're facing in our health, marriage, childbirth, work, faith life or mandate, we will deploy the powerful weapons we have in Christ to dismantle and clear them.

If we look at the subject of childbirth, for instance, I've heard accounts of negative patterns and experiences which strongly suggest an evil interference with this natural process. Repeated bouts of sickness just around the time of conception, strange night encounters, and conditions that cannot be medically diagnosed during pregnancy have hampered many from realizing this blessing. Someone recounted that anytime she takes seed, some being sleeps with her in a dream, after which she bleeds and miscarries. For others, medical checks have indicated that recurring conditions like fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or low sperm are the cause of infertility for which they have sought remedies for years to no avail. Others have had strange ordeals with work or crucial relationships.

As such signs of the enemy's wickedness have persisted in people's lives, the righteous are being tempted to do wrong (Psalm 125:3). By reason of the distress and frustrations of childlessness, repeated heartbreaks, failing businesses or deteriorating health, some are nearing their limits and exploring options that, without God's intervention and restraints, may create more havoc than good. If the Son of God died to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) so we can live a rich and satisfying life, we can't rest until we see His victory enforced in our lives (John 10:10).

In our day and age, it is obvious in the media that there is a strong opposition against family life particularly targeted against children and the next generation. Such oppressive forces against children has been an ancient bane that the Bible speaks about. Right from the Garden of Eden, the old serpent has targeted the seed of women as enemies. Often, long before conception or birth, certain declarations, verdicts or agreements are made by forces in high places to endanger the lives of innocent children. Such was the case of the Israelite children born within the period of Moses' birth.

Imagine such wickedness! Pharaoh's insecurities about the numerical strength of the Hebrews made Him oppress people that had once blessed his kingdom. Sadly, there are forces of darkness who, out of envy and sheer wickedness, cast spells, and raise altars that call for the blood of children in families. In desperation and ignorance, some individuals and families made covenants with repercussions of infertility for future generations. This has become a legal basis for contention over the blessing of children that some couples should enjoy. But, thank God that we have a better covenant in Christ and a superior blood that is speaking better things over our lives. By this blood, every ordinance or verdict against conception and childbirth is cancelled. By our decree of the merits of Jesus' blood and the communion we take in remembrance of Christ's finished work, we overcome the enemy.

When my junior brother was born, he was very healthy until the third week when a relative visited my mother at home. Few days after this person left, some rashes like chicken pox developed on his skin and within a month it was a sad scene to behold. He could not be bathed or handled directly because his skin peeled or tore off when touched. Doctors couldn’t diagnose the cause, let alone give a remedy. But one afternoon, the senior pastor of the church I attended walked into our home saying God had asked him to come and pray for the baby. My mother was not a member of this church but God ordered his steps right into our compound. Had there not been a divine intervention, my brother would have died. Over the years, this relative proved to be an agent of darkness, a major oppressor in the family. Nothing good appeased her; she would try to destroy it. I believe the Lord wants to depose such wicked forces in many families and communities in Jesus' name.

For a period in Israel's history, they lived in a cycle of oppression and deliverance from neighbouring kingdoms. Bible recounts that these oppressors gained control because the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord but whenever they cried unto the Lord, He raised a deliverer for them. The oppressors took the possessions that God had given to the Israelites in their Promised Land. They dwelt in the land but could not enjoy its benefits. On one occasion, after eighteen years of oppression, God brought deliverance through a means that foreshadows our means to victory in Christ.

But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab. So Ehud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing ... Ehud walked over to Eglon, who was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you!” As King Eglon rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly. ...

Judges 3:15-16, 20-21

When he arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Ehud sounded a call to arms. Then he led a band of Israelites down from the hills. “Follow me,” he said, “for the Lord has given you victory over Moab your enemy.” So they followed him. And the Israelites took control of the shallow crossings of the Jordan River across from Moab, preventing anyone from crossing. They attacked the Moabites and killed about 10,000 of their strongest and most able-bodied warriors. Not one of them escaped. So Moab was conquered by Israel that day, and there was peace in the land for eighty years.

Judges 3:27-30

Ehud means 'he that praises' and he was from Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel then. When he deployed his weapon with a wisdom and courage that only God must have inspired, the oppressor was destroyed. As one Bible Commentary says: 'When meditation (Gera) gives birth to praise (Ehud), the world ruler (Eglon) is doomed by the sharp, two-edged sword (the Bible), even when the Word is used by a left-handed man.'

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Regardless of your stature and physical might, you can experience victory over every oppressive force or condition as you allow the Spirit of God to teach you how deploy the Word of God. As Ephesians 6:17 says, the WORD of God is the sword of the Spirit. It is sharper than any two double-edged sword and it cuts through physical and spiritual elements (Hebrews 4:12). When the Word is deployed in a spirit of praise stemming from a revelation of the greatness of our God, it is not limited in effectiveness. It goes where it has been sent to accomplish its purpose without fail (Isaiah 55:10-11).

Beloved, don't be downcast and don't despair because you have everything in your favour in the battles of life. Christ has secured victory for you against the enemy on the cross. He has cancelled every record that is against you and taken it away through the cross (Colossians 2:14). He has given you His name that is above every other name in heaven or on earth. At the mention of His name, everything with a name must bow: whether fibroids, PCOS, low-sperm count, divinations, enchantments, envy, curses, wicked orders or demonic forces (Philippians 2:9-10). So, take up His written word and decree it as judgement over every force or situation that is opposing the manifestation of His glorious promises in your life.

Stand in the authority in Jesus' name and exercise your divine privilege as a child of God. Surely, the blessings of God secured in Christ for you cannot be reversed by the enemy. So silence the voices of doubt and the evil declarations of forces of darkness with the powerful Word of God. The Spirit of the Lord is upon you so arise in a garment of praise and declare His judgements over the oppressor and enforce your victory in Christ. It shall be said of you, 'What wonders God has done for you!'

Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands — to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glorious privilege of his faithful ones. Praise the LORD! (Psalm 149:6-9, NLT)

No weapon that is fashioned against you shall prosper, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, says the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17, NRSV)

Who can snatch the plunder of war from the hands of a warrior? Who can demand that a tyrant[d] let his captives go? But the Lord says, “The captives of warriors will be released, and the plunder of tyrants will be retrieved. For I will fight those who fight you, and I will save your children." (Isaiah 49:24-25, NLT)

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it! No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the Lord their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king. (Numbers 23:19-21, NLT)

No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel. For now it will be said of Jacob, ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’ (Numbers 23:23, NLT)

Scripture Reading:

Judges 3:15-30, Ephesians 6:10-18, Psalm 149:6-9, Numbers 23:19-23, Isaiah 49:24-25