The Rules of Engagement

The Rules of Engagement

of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will give His angels charge concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things will I give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him. —Matthew 4:1–11, nas Notice Jesus fought with the Word of the Lord and brought His thoughts under its authority. You must do the same. The devil was after Jesus’s authority and dominion in the earth realm. He is after yours. Do not give it away. You must fight every thought that does not align itself with the Word of God and fight with God’s Word. Cast the thoughts down, and bring them under the authority of the Word and under the lordship of Christ. When the enemy created a mess of this world, according to the first chapter of Genesis, God used words (the spirit of His mouth) to bring the world back into order and alignment according to His original design and plan. Since we are created in the image and after the likeness of God, we too have the same power (Gen. 1:26). It is the power of the spoken word that gives you life or death and releases blessings or curses (Prov. 18:21). You must effectively use anointed words to destroy the works of the enemy in your life, home, ministry, community, and, ultimately, the world. Replace all idle, ineffective words with anointed words. Second Thessalonians 2:8 says that Satan will be consumed with the spirit of God’s mouth (words) and destroyed by the brightness of His coming (the anointing). Yokes will be destroyed, burdens will be lifted, your life and the lives of those you love will be revolutionized, your ministry will be energized, and the enemy will be horrified once you combine your two most powerful weapons—the Word and prayer—and begin to pray what I call anointed “word prayers.” These are prayers that combine key Scripture verses and the prayers you are led to pray by the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

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