Flies! Who would have them? Horrible, horrible creatures. In the fourth plague flies were not only found in the Egyptian’s soup, but everywhere. On their person, in their homes even underneath their feet. The Hebrew phrase translated “swarm of flies” literally rendered is “a mixture of noisome beasts.” What kind of noisome beasts? Jewish traditions tell us it was the dog fly, a particularly difficult nuisance, but the Psalmist tells us that these flies were not limited to one particular kind. Psalm 78:45 reads “He sent divers sorts of flies among them which devoured them.”
Flies speak to us of filth, disease, contamination and nuisance. Some species destroy crops; they live as parasites under the skin of animals, causing blindness or infestation with fly maggots; and they carry such diseases as typhoid, anthrax, cholera, and dysentery. Mosquitoes carry malaria, dengue fever, and encephalitis. Today in this 21st century, we have a plaque of the “West Nile Virus”. It is a nasty disease caused by certain mosquitoes and sometimes causes death. In the scriptures satan (also called the devil or the enemy) is referred to as Beelzebub, meaning “Lord of Flies”. This term symbolizes the myriad of demons at his command and the filthiness of his and their nature.
Growing up I remembered my grandmother baking pies. When she wanted to cool the pie, she would put it on the window sill and let the wind cool it. The only problem was there were FLIES. I remembered that grandmother would take our her fly swatter and out swinging to protect her pie investment!
Today, we need to learn to come out swinging and fighting if we are going to walk in the victorious life promised through Jesus Christ. It’s time to remember that you are part of "God’s Swat Team". Many today are crying out for deliverance from the power of the devil only their lives. But the devil is not your problem. He has been defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ. It is only through permission that he has power over us. We give him more credit than he deserves.
In Luke 4:18 it reads:
"The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."
You have been given power over the enemy and now it’s time for many of us to be delivered from the mindset and close any open doors to the enemy having a foothold into our lives. In this message, I have defined three steps to lead to your personal deliverance in order for you to walk the victorious life promised through Jesus Christ.
Step 1 - Understand your “Authority As A Believer”.
Before you can understand your the authority as a believer, you must become a believer. Once you are a believer, you have certain rights because we are in the Kingdom of God.
We are far above all principality, and power, and might, dominion and every name that is named not only in this world, but also in that which is to come Ephesians. 1:21) and hath raised us up together (with Jesus) and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
The devil does not want you to know your place. Satan is under our feet if we are born again believers. Luke 10:19 says that Jesus gave us power over all demonic activity and nothing can hurt us. The word power means “authority” and authority means “delegated power”.
Since you have been given authority or delegated power through Jesus Christ, we don’t need to fight the devil, but we can exercise our authority as believers. Let’s read 1 Peter 5:8-9:
“Your adversary (opponent enemy, one irate against you) the devil wants to devour you.”
The word resist means to stand your ground or to stand. Satan has no power over you! Just stand your ground knowing that you have authority as a believer over the power of the enemy!
Step 2 - You must have “Confidence In God”.
As believers, we need to not QUIT ON GOD in the face of trials, tests, temptations, persecution, distress, famine, peril, or hard times. We need to be steadfast and unmovable. God never quits on us so why would we quit on God? We need confidence not to waver in our commitment and stay our course and be steadfast unmovable. Let’s read 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.“
We must learn to trust, rely, submit and be led by the Spirit of God. The word confidence means “the faith we have in the testimony of God (or His Word.). The "God confidence" is not self-confidence or power within you. We have no power of our own. God will deal with you in the areas where your confidence is not in Him. YOU WILL BE TESTED! Look at how Hebrews 10:32-38 reads from the Message Bible:
“Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion. It’s won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won’t be happy. But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.”
The devil tries to steal your confidence because he doesn’t want you to finish. The devil wants you think it’s impossible, illogical, and ridiculous. He will send others even other saints (or family) to discourage you.
This is confidence in God: When God says you are blessed, fifty million people in the world and fifty-million fallen angels cannot reverse it. If God says you are blessed, then you are blessed!
Philippians 4:13 states that we can do all things through Christ. God wants involvement in everything in your life. You must have confidence in God!
STEP 3 - You must understand the weapons of our warfare!
In understanding praise and worship, you must never forget what God has done for you. (See Psalm 78:4) The devil wants you to remember everything he has done to you and forget what God has done for you! Because if you remember, the devil knows your faith will be stirred up. You must remember that praise and worship is a decision and it’s also a weapon of our warfare. It’s a weapon of mass destruction! It’s your spiritual fly swatter - the weapons of your warfare!
Did you know that God has not only given praise and worship as a warfare tool, but He has given His Word to fight against the wiles (tactics) of the enemy. God has also given us other tools for warfare:
When I clap my hands, it’s a weapon of my warfare.
When I shout hallelujah, it’s a weapon of my warfare.
When I dance, it’s a weapon of my warfare.
When I shout hallelujah, all hell should shake -it’s a weapon of my warfare!
The enemy doesn’t want you to praise and worship and use your other warfare tools when times are tough. But that’s the time you should praise and worship the Lord. This is the time when you will rise up in the face of the enemy and remind him of who your God is and tell him who he really is: a defeated foe!
Isaiah 51:12-13
Forgettest the Lord”. Who Are we? Born again, blood washed, overcomer. Who is our enemy? Defeated, created being, under my feet, lesser one. Who is our God? Creator, sustainer, maker of all, good gifts giver, omnipotent, omnipresence, omniscience.
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The fly (satan, devil or enemy) must be swatted out. It’s time to get him out of the way and put him in his place in your life. He is under your feet and you have authority over him.
If you are feeling low or facing one of life’s challenges, I ask you this question: Are you using your fly swatter? Yes, you have all the tools to use and remember - you are part of God’s Swat Team! ZAP!
