Put Up Your Dukes!

As most of the descendants of Abraham moved into the Promise Land and took possession of their inheritance, there were seven tribes, that for some reason had failed to receive their inheritance. It is important to understand that when it says they had not “received” their inheritance, it means is that they had failed to drive out the enemy.  

The land that had been promised to them by God was inhabited by people who opposed their right to the land.  For them to receive their inheritance, they had to take it from the enemy.  The land belonged to the children of Israel by right of inheritance, by promise, but it was occupied and dominated by their enemies.

Listen to Joshua’s words:

“How long are you going to sit around on your hands, putting off taking possession of the land that God, the God of your ancestors, has given you? (Joshua 18:3 MSG)”

The point is:

·        The land had been given to them by God

·        It had become occupied by an enemy force

·        Now, it was their responsibility to take possession of it.

Joshua was asking them how long they were going to hang back, and put off, possessing their inheritance.  How long were they going to be lazy, afraid, and unwilling to engage the enemy and take possession of their birth-rite?

We find this same spiritually lazy and fearful culture in the church today.  The word of God is full of His promises toward His children.  We are also by faith the seed of Abraham, and we are heirs to the blessing of Abraham, Gal 3:29, “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

We have been filled with the Holy Ghost, and we have received power to drive out our enemy. Oh yes, friends, I said enemy! Our enemy is real, his name is Satan, and he roams about like a roaring lion seeking to devour those who allow him to.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (I Peter 5:8)”

As it was then for Abraham’s seed, it is true for us today, our enemy does not want us to take possession of our inheritance, and unless we enjoy living substandard spiritual lives, receiving only the crumbs that fall from the table, wandering about in this world like spiritual nomads, we must be willing to fight for what is ours. Not just make a meager defense against the enemy’s constant attempts to devour us, but we must be willing to pursue our enemy, through fasting and praying, and tear down the devil’s strongholds and drive him from our lives forever!

Jesus told us that He has given us authority over all the power of the enemy, and nothing can harm us (spiritually). He said that we would receive power when the holy Ghost comes upon us. So we have the authority of God over the enemy, and the power to defeat him.

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. (Matthew 11:12)”

One reason many of Gods people are cheated out of their inheritance is: because they do not know what belongs to them, they are unfamiliar with the will, Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”

Another reason is: we are just plain slack, lazy, unwilling to fight for it.  Many Christians would rather live the mediocre self-preserving life of a spiritual pauper, than to have to engage the enemy in spiritual warfare.  It’s time to recognize and start admitting that we “have not” because we ask not, and won’t stand up and fight for what is ours! 

Our inheritance is not in heaven waiting for us to die so we can go and get it!  Our inheritance is in Christ, it has been paid for by His blood, now all we must do, is drive out the enemy in the mighty name of Jesus, and take back what the enemy has stolen!

I remember a cartoon when I was a kid, Snagglepuss. The cartoon feature a lion, and whenever the lion faced opposition from an adversary, his favorite line was, “Put up your dukes, put up your dukes.”

But then when his opponent stood their ground, he would flee the scene with another famous line, “exit stage left!,” and then he would run away!

It’s time to tell the devil to put his dukes!