“Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies” (Psalm 27:11). “Mine enemies” in Hebrew means those who observe me. The Amplified translation reads, “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain and even path because of my enemies [those who lie in wait for me].”
There are evil spirits that are present to observe us so they can learn our weaknesses and try to gain an entrance. If they observe that someone has an uncontrolled temper, they will position people around them to set that temper off. If they observe that someone engages in gossip, they will position people around them to feed that. If they observe that someone is fearful, they will feed that fear.
But Psalm 23:5 tells us, “Thou preparest a table before me in the PRESENCE of MINE enemies....” Who cares that the enemy is present? He is subject to us. We are his master. Just stay at the table of God’s Word and eat your victory right in front of the devil! Make him watch you eat your victory!
Paul warned us in Ephesians 4:27, “Neither give place to the devil.” The devil is present and looking for a place into your life – he’s looking for a point of entrance. Just because he’s present doesn’t mean we have to give him entrance. And if we have given him a place, we can take back the place we gave him.
In Psalm 27:11 is listed two defenses against the enemies that are present and looking for an open door into your life: (1) “Teach me Your way.” As we do things God’s way, then the devil that observes us has no point of entrance. When we are doers of the Word, the Word governs the way we live, so then the devil has no open door. (2) “Lead me in a plain path.” As we walk the path God has planned for us and stay true to His plan for our lives, then the devil that observes us has no point of entrance.
Philippians 1:28 commands us, “And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition [def. – doom], but to you of salvation, and that of God.” The Amplified transition reads, “And do not [for a moment] be frightened or intimidated in anything by your opponents and adversaries, for such [constancy and fearlessness] will be a clear sign (proof and seal) to them of [their impending] destruction, but [a sure token and evidence] of your deliverance and salvation, and that from God.”
Evil spirits are not all-knowing. They don’t know your heart. They can only hear your words, see your actions, and read your countenance – and they are observing you.
Don’t get up depressed, speaking words of depression or wearing a depressed look – for those demons who observe you will laugh with glee and stay around to feed your mind with fear and sadness. But rejoice and praise God for His great plan of redemption and for the Blood of Jesus – the Blood between you and all that’s yours from the power of the enemy, and those who observe you will flee in terror.
When you rejoice in the face of wrong circumstances, refusing to be terrified by your adversaries, that is to them “an evident token of perdition” [doom]. “Doom” means unavoidable adverse fate or destiny.
What is a token? A sign. When you rejoice in the face of the devil, it’s a blinking neon sign in his face saying, “You’re doomed! You’re doomed! You lose! You lose!”
Refusing to be terrified is also a token or sign to you “...of salvation, and that of God.”
When you rejoice, it’s a sign you’re saying, “I’m saved! I’m redeemed! I win! I win!” The fearlessness you show on your face, your countenance, is proof of their doom and defeat and proof of your salvation and victory.
When you rejoice, difficulties and problems break away from you. Rejoicing shows what you KNOW, not what you SEE. When demons observe you rejoicing in the face of wrong circumstances, they realize you know something, and they lose any advantage they are looking to gain. When they see you rejoicing, they know they can’t get it.
“And do not [for a MOMENT] be frightened or intimidated in ANYTHING by your opponents and adversaries….” Don’t be frightened by ANYTHING – whether it was caused by an attack of the enemy or because you opened the door to it and it is your own fault.
When fear strikes, we are not to let it remain for a moment! So many live in extended seasons of fear, and some don’t even realize that they are making decisions based on fear. But when we are thinking right, in line with God’s Word, fear can’t get in.
If fear has gotten in, it came in through wrong thinking and having our attention on the wrong thing. Any Christian who is in bondage is in bondage to an unrenewed mind, not to the devil. Satan has been defeated, and we have been delivered from his kingdom, therefore, defeat doesn’t come from him, but from wrong thinking. Problems come when the mind is not renewed to the truth that Satan is already defeated. But when we know that Satan is defeated and forbid fear in our lives, the devil is done pushing us around.
The renewed mind doesn’t respond to fear, but it responds to the salvation that the Word reveals. Respond to the victory Jesus won for you and not to the fear of circumstances. How do you do that? Focus on and put your attention on the victory Jesus made yours instead of on the fearful circumstances that come. Hold fast to your victory. People quit too soon. If they don’t see immediate results, people let go of their victory. Hold to it until your victory is seen.
Galatians 6:9 instructs us, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” “Faint” means ceasing to believe and resist, becoming less earnest and persistent. Just not being earnest and persistent causes us to let go instead of holding fast. The more stubborn Satan is, the more earnest and persistent we must be. Jesus won victory for us. We must hold fast to that. We must be interested enough in our victory to hold fast to it.
Quit Looking at the Wall
When driving through a construction area, there will be a wall or barrier put up on the shoulder that comes right up to the lane of traffic. Sometimes, drivers get nervous to have a wall so close to their lane. The way to be untroubled is to quit looking at the wall. The size of the lane didn’t change. Just keep looking at your lane and stay centered in it. Nothing changed that applies to you. Quit looking at the wall – it isn’t in your lane.
Proverbs 4:20-22 instructs us, “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”
This verse tells us where our attention is to be – on the Word. When circumstances surround your life like a wall, your lane of God’s provision, blessing, and victory didn’t change. Quit looking at the wall, and keep your attention on your lane. The wall of adversity can’t change the lane of victory Jesus laid for you. Just center up in that lane and quit looking at the wall of adversity.
Philippians 4:11 reads, “…I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.” We could say, “I have learned how to keep my attention off the wall and on my own lane.”
One aspect of bad drivers is that they are distracted by their surroundings and aren’t paying attention to what’s in their lane. An unrenewed mind has its attention on the surroundings and not on what’s in its lane, but a renewed mind has its attention on its own lane and not on its surroundings.
No matter what comes, remember that victory is already sure, so in nothing be terrified!