"For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."
--I Corinthians 16:9 (NKJV)
Whenever God opens a door of opportunity, there will always be opposition. Why? Because the enemy never wants us to walk into our God-given destiny or purpose! He never wants us to experience the abundant joy-filled life that comes with being in covenant relationship with our heavenly Father.
Do you have a dream? Is there an inner burning desire to advance to move forward? Is there an undercurrent of suspicion in your soul that there must be more to life than this? Are you silently frustrated because you feel stuck; at an impasse? It could be that you are dealing with an adversary. The Greek rendering of adversary in I Corinthians 16:9 is antikeimai (Strongs 480), meaning "to be set over against", "opposite", "to oppose", "to withstand", "to lie opposite", "to be contrary".
Are you able to identify adversaries that may be opposing your walk through a door of opportunity?
Common Adversaries
So, the adversary has been identified, now what?
Good question, I'm glad you asked. Apply God's word! The word of God is our truth. The kingdom of darkness opposes through lies, scare tactics, and deception. We, as human beings, can also do a pretty good job of thinking ourselves out of an opportunity. The word of God will cut through all of that:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
--Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)
Pray. Prayer is a weapon! Prayer can literally send the enemy running:
"The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven."--Deuteronomy 28:7(NIV)
If God has opened a door of opportunity to you, everything you need to go through the door is onboard. Simply align yourself with heaven. As we identify our adversary, apply God's word, pray and activate our faith--we are guaranteed to overcome opposition. And, in so doing, courage hits our hearts.
"True courage is whetted by opposition."--Matthew Henry
Prayer
Father, in Jesus' name, may we be empowered by your word to go through every door of opportunity that you open for us. Reveal every adversary. We pray for grace and strength to do the hard work to defeat what is opposing us in the spirit realm. Thank you that your word is greater than any opposition. Your truths are greater. And by your greatness we are able to conquer and overcome every adversary. Thank you for your promises in Deuteronomy 28:7. We declare your word over our lives. Amen and so be it.
Do you have a dream? Is there an inner burning desire to advance to move forward? Is there an undercurrent of suspicion in your soul that there must be more to life than this? Are you silently frustrated because you feel stuck; at an impasse? It could be that you are dealing with an adversary. The Greek rendering of adversary in I Corinthians 16:9 is antikeimai (Strongs 480), meaning "to be set over against", "opposite", "to oppose", "to withstand", "to lie opposite", "to be contrary".
Are you able to identify adversaries that may be opposing your walk through a door of opportunity?
Common Adversaries
- Fear
- Doubt
- Disbelief
- Past failures
- Insecurity
- Worry
- Pessimism/"Stinkin' thinkin'"
- Negative and/or toxic people
- Discouragement
So, the adversary has been identified, now what?
Good question, I'm glad you asked. Apply God's word! The word of God is our truth. The kingdom of darkness opposes through lies, scare tactics, and deception. We, as human beings, can also do a pretty good job of thinking ourselves out of an opportunity. The word of God will cut through all of that:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
--Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)
Pray. Prayer is a weapon! Prayer can literally send the enemy running:
"The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven."--Deuteronomy 28:7(NIV)
If God has opened a door of opportunity to you, everything you need to go through the door is onboard. Simply align yourself with heaven. As we identify our adversary, apply God's word, pray and activate our faith--we are guaranteed to overcome opposition. And, in so doing, courage hits our hearts.
"True courage is whetted by opposition."--Matthew Henry
Prayer
Father, in Jesus' name, may we be empowered by your word to go through every door of opportunity that you open for us. Reveal every adversary. We pray for grace and strength to do the hard work to defeat what is opposing us in the spirit realm. Thank you that your word is greater than any opposition. Your truths are greater. And by your greatness we are able to conquer and overcome every adversary. Thank you for your promises in Deuteronomy 28:7. We declare your word over our lives. Amen and so be it.
