Text: Matthew 3:16-17; 4:1
Memory text:
âYou shall increase my greatness, And comfort me on every side.â
ââPsalms⏠â71âŹ:â21⏠âNKJVâŹâŹ
We all pray to have a positive change in our condition or to move forward from where we are to a better place. Except for one who is not ready for any increase, every new level will attract a bigger challenge.
Donât forget that you have an enemy who doesnât want you to make progress in life. Abraham and Sarah remained barren for 25 years; the woman with the issue of blood suffered for 12 years; the woman with the spirit of infirmity was afflicted for 18 years; and the paralytic by the pool of Bethesda remained helpless for 38 years. Thus, anytime you breakthrough limitations to move to a new level, the devil rises to stop you. He positions a new devil for every new and higher level that you attain. Like Tyrese Gibson said, âFor every level, there is another devilâ.
Paul said, âFor a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.â (ââI Cor⏠â16âŹ:â9âŹ). This door was definitely opened in answer to his prayer (Col 4:3). An open door is a God-given opportunity. While not every door that opened is an open door, yet not any door that closed is a closed door. According to Paul, even though God had opened a new and greater door of ministry for him, he saw that many devils had been positioned to close the door. The adversaries were either completely new ones or they had increased in number compared to the ones at the former level.
The Philistines seemed not to be bothered when David was made the king of only the tribe of Judah, but as soon as he was anointed king over the whole Israel, they rose to fight him. His new level attracted greater adversaries. âWhen the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. (2 Kings 5:17 NLT). What about our Lord, Jesus? According to our text, as soon as He was publicly announced, the devil positioned himself to tempt Him.
Since every new level attracts a new devil, both Jabez and David had to pray that God would keep them from the evils of the new level (1 Chro 4:10; Psa 71:21).
Friends, have you attained a new level in any area of your life? Return to the house of prayer. Donât relax or go on leave of absence. Rather, pray that God will defend you against the adversaries of the new level. Also, take the offensive position in prayer to attack and incapacitate the enemies of your new level.
Prayer points
1. Father, please, defend me against the adversaries of my new level, in Jesusâ name.
2. I paralyze and destroy every devil positioned to stop me in my new level, in Jesusâ name.
Todayâs declarations
1. As I pray to God for increase and for a new level, I also pray against the adversaries of the new level.
2. Since I know that my new level will attract new enemies, then I wonât be caught unprepared.
Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng