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I will realize and act upon the principle that victory must lead to an occupancy. Merely to conquer a bad habit, to win over an alienated friend, or to drive doubt out of my heart is not in itself sufficient. I must follow up those triumphs with being "more than a conquerer," that is, seizing the territory so the enemy cannot recapture it.
When the Israelites conquered the Amorites, they followed up their victory by occupying their land (Numbers 21:21-32). This made any counterattack by the enemy impossible. I must nail down my victories in such a way that counterattack is impossible. Otherwise, as Jesus reminds me in His parable, the end may be worse than the beginning (matthew 12:43-45). The only way to crucify my fleshly desires is to drive them from my mind, then let the Holy Spirit create new, fresh desires in me. The only way I can conquer hate is to replace it with love. I cannot conquer bitternesss by confessing it; I must replace it with praise and thankfulness. In short, there must be no vacancy after victory! As Paul puts it, I must "stand." Too often I have withstood, only to fail to stand afterward. It does not take the enemy long to recognize an ungarded post and seize it.
I love the word Laban gave to his sister rebekah when she was leaving to marry Issac: "May your descendants possess the gate of those who hate them" (Genesis 24:60). The city gate was the city's most crucial defense; once lost, the whole city was lost. That is where victory will lead me to make inoperative those things that would keep me fom enjoying what Christ dearly bought for me! "The Lord your God will Himself cross over before you; he will destroy the [enemy] from before you... Be strong and courageous" (Deuteronomy 31:3-6, Berkeley).
"For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; in the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock" (Psalm 27:5). *AMEN*
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Dear Lord, we pray that you will continue to let us be the gate of the city. In saying this, defend your word. We ask that you will continue to strengthen and bring to us the understanding of your word so that we can use it in dire circumstances. We pray and ask all this in Jesus Name Amen.
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