WOW! Defeat the Enemies Within.

"Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan." (Judges 3:1)

The book of Joshua was a book of Victories. Much of the book of Judges is a book about defeat. God instructed Israel as they entered Canaan to completely destroy their enemies. But they did not obey. In Judges 2:2 God tells Israel that what they were not willing to do in obedience to Him, He would not do for them.The enemies they failed to destroy absolutely became a constant thorn in their sides and continual snares to their living in Victory.

God has provided for those who are Christians everything that we need for living a Victorious life. Sin is our great enemy, and it conspires against us through the flesh. Whatever we fail to conquer by full surrender to Christ becomes the stronghold in our life from which Satan wages continual war on us. That is why Paul admonishes us in Eph. 4:27 not to give the devil any opportunity in our life.
That is why God has provided for us weapons that are mighty to pull down strongholds. (2 Cor. 10:4).

As we end the year 2009 let me challenge you to take inventory in your life. What enemies remain to be conquered and are thorns in your flesh? Sin addictions. Some little compromise here or there. It could be subtle in form, and we hold on to it. Like the Israelites we will discover those unconquered enemies lead us to spiritual adulteries.

Get alone with God and let Him lead you to deal with the areas of your life that are thorns in your flesh and keeping you from Victorious living. Determine that in 2010 you will live surrendered fully to Christ as Lord of all.