This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis (ts@godspeak.org)

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Overcome the Strategies of The Enemy

This may not sound like good news, but I believe the Lord wants to alert us to what the enemy is up to lately. Then we can press in and get God's strategy to thwart the enemy's plans.

The Lord has been showing me that recently the enemy has begun to release a spirit of contention and division on the Body Of Christ. The enemy is causing mis-communications, and offense is being taken where none should be. And the goal of this season is to destroy the unity that the Holy Spirit has been building in the body. Just about every church and ministry I am personally in contact with of has been seeing a higher level of offenses, strifes and mis-communications this past month than at any the the whole year preceding it. This is because the enemy has released a strategic plan against the Body Of Christ.

But God is showing us the enemy's strategy so we can defeat him, and so that God's plan will prevail instead of Satan's. Satan is not nearly as powerful as God and he less resources than God does. Satan was counting on a sneak attack were we don't know what hit us when the strife comes at us and we get overwhelmed and don't think to fight back (against Satan's strategy). But God is showing us Satan's strategy to diffuse his plans.

So now we need to each individually seek the Lord and ask Him for our personal strategy and marching plans to keep the enemy from gaining any ground in this "all out attack". We need to guard our marriages, our families, our relationships at work and at church. God will show us how to do this because He wants to really embarrass and frustrate the enemy. And God's strategy is to empower us to walk even closer to Him and each other than before. His strategy is for us to walk in the POWER of His love.. the love by which all men know we are Jesus' disciples. God's strategy is to see His glory come forth in His church and His kingdom advance. And He wants to accomplish this strategy through us, His people.

So put on your marching boots. Get ready to do some foot stomping and trampling on the plans of the enemy. But be sure to go to God, hear Him, and get your directions from Him. Assume that any offenses that come you way are not personal, but are the general strategy of the enemy. So defeat him by refusing to become offended or angry at the person. Instead, rebuke the demonic attack. If we do this, Satan's strategy of contention and division will not stand. If we look to the Lord and walk in His power and in His love, God's strategy will prevail and our enemy will be once again defeated.

So, rise up as VICTORIOUS, because God has already given you all you need to be an overcomer. RISE UP, O mighty man and woman of God. This is your time to take some ground for God's kingdom. You have already been given the victory and the strategy. Now go out and appropriate it!