The Standard Is Lifted!

When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." Isaiah 59:19.

Wow! There's a key word in that scripture that I totally missed in all the times that I've read it and quoted it - the word "shall." Shall implies that something is inevitable and sure to occur. The definition in the Hebrew is, "to be about to, to intend, have in mind, think to, to be on the point of doing or suffering something." The scripture is telling us that Satan is sure to come against us with force (as a flood), but God is also sure to protect us from the enemy's schemes. How does this protection occur? What is this standard that the Spirit is lifting against the enemy on our behalf?

That phrase, "lift up a standard," means "to put to flight." When the enemy comes at us, the Lord will cause him to be put to flight! But I believe we have a part to play in that we have to speak the Word (the standard) to the enemy and command him accordingly. The standard that God has given to us to use as a weapon is His Word. Satan can not stand against the sure and true Word of God.

James 4:7 says, Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." We resist the devil with God's Word, not just by wishing him away. In the wilderness, Jesus had to use the Word as a standard against Satan and what did the enemy have to do? Jesus commanded him to go and he had to go. But the Bible tells us that Satan went away for a time. He will return with another strategy to attack with, but we have the assurance of the Lord that His Word is the standard that works against the enemy every time.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord, thank you for the standard of your Word that we use as our weapon against the enemy of our souls. You have equipped us with everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Help us to use the Word that you have given us to live the abundant life here that Jesus died for us to have. We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus and Jesus has been the example to us that victory is ours in every area through the Word that gives us life. We love you and we thank you. Amen.