Break the Chains of the Midianite Cycle - It's Time to Cycle out of the Wilderness!

Break the Chains of the Midianite Cycle - It's Time to Cycle out of the Wilderness!

    

Have you ever been in a predicament?  I know I have.    In Judges 6:10 we see the root of a terrible predicament that Israel was in.  Actually, it was a destructive seven-year cycle.  I have written on this before, but there are some things worth mentioning again!  In fact, many of God's prophets are calling for a time of fasting, prayer and crying out to God because we are facing a possible financial crisis (according to several teachers and prophets).  I have always believed that God's children will be provided for, however if anyone is in a destructive  cycle that keeps re-occurring then you need to read this article! And/or if you want breakthrough then keep reading!

When we first  meet Gideon in Judges 6, the Midianites were plundering Israel and this had been going on for seven full years!   Each year at harvest time, the Midianites and some other tribes they were aligned with swept through Israel.  Their crops were stolen, livestock taken and their homes were destroyed.  Times were so difficult that many of the Israelites were living in caves.

     One of God's prophets sent word to disclose why this was happening again (over and over) to Israel.  The word from God was "Also, I said to you, 'I am the LORD your God; do not fear the gods of   the  Amorites, in whose land you dwell.' But you have not obeyed My voice." (Judges 6:10). 

     Israel's Patterns

     Unfortunately, Israel would obey God for a while and experience happiness and prosperity.  Then they would become disobedient, which cause them later to experience desperation.  The curse of the Midianites was one of these. 

     Gideon was hiding during harvest time, threshing wheat in a winepress, when an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, "The LORD is with the mighty man of valor!"  Now,think about it.  Gideon was not acting mighty at the time- yet God saw Him differently.  God saw BEYOND Gideon's fear, anxiety and doubt and then prophesied Gideon into a shift!  What was the shift?  Well, after the divine visitation, Gideon torn down  the idols in his family's back yard and rebuilt the altars  of God.  Then he called warriors together and went on to lead a victorious battle against the very enemy, the Midianites, which he was previously hiding from!  The seven year curse cycle was broken! Dear ones, it can be broken off of your lives also!

     Break the Cycle

     I want to encourage you to read some of my previous blog posts concerning the Midianite curse and the enemy that steals your breakthrough and harvest. Simply scale down and read the others. You will gain even more insight if you will do so.  But for now, I want to encourage you.  It is time for you to hear the Word of the Lord concerning your future and destiny.  The enemy has attempted to attack your ability to hear the voice of God and believe for breakthrough!  Position yourself to hear again.  Spend time with God and listen to His voice.  This will cause your spirit to shift and then your faith will arise to defeat the destructive cycle of the Midianite curse that devours harvest. 

     Secondly, examine your heart concerning idolatry.  I have written numerous books on spiritual idolatry.  The Jezebel Yoke is one that I recommend as well as Breaking the Threefold Demonic Cord.  Both of those books target issues of idolatry and empower readers to cycle out from its evil grip.  (Click on books for an explanation of the books and/or go to lifegatechurch.org to order). 

     Believer, I know it is your season of breakthrough.  Do not allow the threat of lack intimidate you from pressing into God and believing for your mountain to be removed!

Are You Being Vexed by the Enemy? (Repost from 2014)

This is a timely Reread! 

Vexation.  What is it?  How do I know that I am experiencing it?  These are questions that need answers.   I have been studying this subject for several years, and in fact, I have written about vexation in one of my latest books,  The Jezebel Yoke.   In this blog I will get straight to the point concerning the meaning of vexation and the evil demonic powers behind it. If you have been experiencing any of this it is highly possible that you have been vexed by the enemy:

• Feeling like you're at the "end of your rope!"
• Inability to concentrate and confused
• Feeling intense pressure
• Feeling as if you are under some type of "witchcraft" assignment
• Targeted by the enemy
• Struggling with manipulation and control
• Feeling oppressed
• Feeling cramped, (as if you are closed off from destiny), limited and cut-off
• Feeling bound up and unable to break free
• Loss of vision
• Battling a death structure
• Unable to get past your past

If you are experiencing any of this keep reading!  The Lord wants you to possess your Promised
Land and experience freedom!


Demonic Possession


Vexation in the New Testament makes reference to demonic "possession."  It is this writers opinion that a Christian cannot be completely "possessed" by the devil. However, I strongly believe that a Christian can need deliverance from a demonic stronghold or influence.   If you recall, Jesus even asked Peter how Satan had found an entrance to his heart.  Yes, even though Peter was a follower of Christ, he was still influenced by a demonic presence. We are in a season where we need to check our hearts and repent if we have opened a door to demonic opposition.  We often open doors through the  eye gate (not being cautious what we allow our natural eyes to behold),  and the ear gate (not being protective of what we listen to). 


Vexation is also linked with territorial spirits of lawlessness because, as I documented in my book, vexation can affect large masses of people.  So mobs of rioting and uprisings are often connected to demonic spirits which cause a vexation in others.



Pressure Upon Spiritual Leaders


Vexation in a local church can be applied pressure to a spiritual leader. All too often a pastor is vexed because leaders apply pressure to compromise for the sake of church "growth!"  I have witnessed situations where a congregation applies pressure for the pastor/senior leader of a ministsry or church (and this happens in business also!) to make decisions that go against his/her inner witness by the Spirit.

 At the same time- and this is most unfortunate- spiritual leaders can be vexing the sheep-applying undue pressure through forms of performance or legalism.   If we comply due to intense pressure we can easily become vexed and exhausted with a people-pleasing personality.  Take it from an "ex-people pleaser"...the vexation behind this will kill you- literally! Many times vexation is the result of a spiritual leader giving place to a Jezebel spirit. (Please, for more information on this read more in my book  The Jezebel Yoke and another book  Breaking the Threefold Demonic Cord ).  The Jezebel spirit's witchcrafts can be a form of vexation!


Past Failures


The enemy will attempt to vex us with our past.  How?  By reminding us of our past failures.  If you recall the wilderness wanderings in the desert, when God brought Israel out of Egypt He broke their yoke of slavery.  However, they could not enter into the place of rest due to their previous slavery mentality!  The did not trust God- they were still yoked with a fear of Pharaoh and would not trust God who desired to lead them.  In the wilderness Israel continued to act like slaves who murmured, complained and rebelled.  So we see, dear ones, how easily it is to become vexed if we maintain a slave to our past?


Vexation Over Your Promised Land!


When we determine to break free from Egypt, the enemy will apply even more pressure!  Numbers 33:55 (AMP)(ASV) documents God's directives for Israel to inherit their Promised Land.  One of the instructions for the Israelites was to "drive out the previous tenants" of their lands.  If they did not do so the enemy would rise up and "vex" them! Believer, please keep reading, I'm going somewhere with this.


This was a warning to Israel as to what would happen if they did not fully drive out their enemies. The word used to describe what would happen if Israel compromised and tolerated their enemies are that the enemy would be like pricks in their eyes and thorns in their sides!  When you study the word "vex" in this context we identify words such as  "to cramp, bind, oppress, (cause) distress."  

Dear one, this is not an hour to compromise.  God has given us a Promised Land- a rich inheritance.  However if we do not possess it with faith and drive the oppressor from our land we will be vexed with pressure, oppression and distress.  If our eyes are pricked we will not be able to see and we will lose vision.  Not good.  If we lose vision we can easily perish!  And a thorn in the side could easily be compared to what Apostle Paul experienced!  Not much fun either!

Let's remember that God has promised to remove our yokes of captivity.  If He has said that we can take our land- and we can!- then let's lock our faith into full possession!

 

Recommended Book:

 

Know the Wiles of the Enemy- Part Two (Repost)

Satan is a deceiver.  We all know that.  But how does he do it?  In the last blog I discussed the "wiles" of the enemy.  If you haven't read Part 1, I highly suggest you stop reading this, and go back and read it first because I lay a firm foundation concerning Satan's methods of attack.  For the sake of this current blog, we will discuss deception and how the enemy uses deception to defeat Christians.

 

Revelation 12:9 says that Satan deceived the entire world!  Yikes!  If he does that, we need to be forewarned that he is on the prowl NOW to deceive you and me.  If you think about the word "deception" we easily picture someone ( like ourselves!) believing that a lie is to be the truth.  Someone who is deceived is convinced that right is wrong and therefore wrong is right.  If Satan can convince us that God is a liar, that He will not watch over His Word and perform it, and that God cannot be trusted...then we have been deceived! 

 

Demons are constantly at work attempting to cause us to believe that God is a liar and cannot be trusted.  If we believe his lies, then we can conclude why unbelief structures are erected in our lives, over our businesses, families, churches, etc.  Satan perverts God's Word.  We must be on guard!  We must be determined to believe ONLY what God says and not be seduced by Satan's "wiles" to cause us to believe otherwise. 

 

Test the Spirits

We must learn to test the spirits that speak out of a man or a devil.  Believe me, there are many ministers that do not believe that God heals today.  But He does!  He states in His Word that He is our Healer!   How do we do test the spirits?  Well, we test by using the Word of God.   1 John 4:1 states, " Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

 

Many preachers and teachers are falsely prophesying.  Precious believer, if someone is teaching that God does not heal, bless, and restore His children,  then that teacher is falsely prophesying.  I believe that many of God's teachers have been deceived by the enemy.  We need to pray that their eyes be opened to God's truths.  We need not condemn  or judge them, but rather pray for them.  For us, we need to simply continue to test the spirits and align ourselves completely with God's Word. 

 

Our enemy will attempt to deceive us and tell us that God is to blame for our sickness.    But God does not put sickness and disease on His children.  He does not put sickness on us to teach us a lesson.  Our God is a good God.  He is our Healer.  He is our Deliverer!  He is our Provider! 

 

Dear believer, let's clothe ourselves today with God's full armor and live in the victory that has been provided for us at the Cross!  Believe and agree with the Word of God.  Be healed today.  Be delivered today!  Be restored today!  Put the enemy under your feet and take every inch of your Promised Land!

 

I believe!!!!  I know you do also!!!