"Stop Giving Away Control"

"When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid."  1 Samuel 17:11

 

Yesterday we talked about having God-given control, power and authority over sin or anything in our lives.  Whatever it may be-- the devil, other people, our own lusts, wicked desires, sinful habits, bad attitudes, fear, resentment, anger, etc.--  it can have no control over us unless we give it control.  They have no power over us unless we relinquish it to them. 

 

So, how do we relinquish the authority we have over our own lives?  How do we give up control to something or someone else?  By tolerating it.  By allowing it to stay.  By trying to exist with it.  By trying to co-habitate with it. 

 

The Bible has a good illustration of this.  When the Israelites were in battle with the Philistines, each day the giant Goliath would come out and taunt them.  What did the Israelites do?  They did nothing.  They tolerated the giant.  They sat back and allowed him to continue each day to defy the army of God and intimidate them.  They had given him control. 

 

King Saul was anointed by God.  The army was God's chosen people.  God was on their side.  He was with them.  He had fought many times before for them.  He had called them to victory already.  He gave them power over the Philistines and their giant champion.  Yet, they did not take control over the situation-- they put up with it. 

 

Are you God's child?  Are you born again?  Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?  Then you have been given power and authority by God over all the powers of the enemy.  You have an anointing on your life that will set captives free-- including yourself.  Your strength comes from the Lord who gives you His strength, and He has no weakness.  Whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven.  Whatever you loosen on earth is loosened in heaven.  When you say to this mountain to be removed, it is removed.  You can do all things through Christ who infuses you with His strength and power.  But whatever sin, enemy or attitude is "taunting" you, it will not go away unless you take control/authority over it.  As long as you tolerate it, it will continue.  As long as you allow it to stay, it will.  You have to take control over it or it will take control over you.  It will make you its captive.  It will put you in bondage.  It will keep you from living victoriously.  It will destroy you in the end.

 

Have a great day.  You can't co-habitate with what you should be taking authority over.  You have to take authority over it and stop tolerating it or it will destroy you.