It's Time to Stop the Restraining Orders Against You.

I have been asking the Lord over the last few months about everything going on this past year alone to give an appropriate New Year’s message without making it sound like another typical New Year’s resolution. A New Year’s resolution is just actually what it stands for; something we usually want to accomplish in the next year.  The fact is we need a resolution that will last for a life time. There’s only one true resolution we should be seeking and that’s God’s covenant promises they are everlasting, not something that comes and goes. Now, this is a far better resolution than any other New Year’s resolution out there.

When I asked the Lord about this, he said, “It’s time to stop the restraining orders against you.” And then he told me, “Many Christians have allowed the enemy to gain territory that doesn’t belong to satan to start with.”  He continued, “Many of my children know James 4:7 ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’ The sad part is that they know it really well, but they just don’t see any real changes in their situations when they start working this scripture in their life.” I asked him, what it meant for the devil to have a restraining order on us and how it can be stopped.

Before we get started, I am going to use the word reading in place of the word hearing in Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  I want this message to be well established in your spirit on how important it is to remove satan’s restraining orders off of our lives. Don’t forget, the enemy comes like a roaring lion. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Let’s get sober and be on the watch for satan’s restraining orders.

The Lord told me. “Every time satan comes in and does his best to remove any covenant promise or causes you to talk negatively about your health, wealth, relationships, and most of all, to destroy your personal relationship with me it becomes a restraining order.” It’s satan’s ultimate goal to stop every covenant promise that the Lord has provided for us. We must understand that satan knows that those promises are very real. Yes, there are so many covenant promises provided for us that we can have right here and now. We will start off with James 4:7 and then go to Ephesians 4:27-30 just as the Lord told me.

First, we will break down James 4:7 to start get an understanding in what we’re looking for. It opens up with “Submit yourselves therefore to God.”

So, this means the enemy is working hard to get us to submit to him instead of God. Why?  In reality he wants to accomplish his agenda from the first part of John 10:10 and I’ve underlined it for you. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” That’s right satan’s goal is to get us to break our submission to God’s word. That’s where satan’s restraining orders begin. What does it mean to be breaking submission to God’s word?  It’s about a gateway for satan to enter into our territory that leads to mass destruction in our life. In a nut shell, it will put us in a place or position where we can no longer resist satan anymore. Here’s a thought, when we fall short in submitting to God’s word it weakens the power for us to resist satan. When it says “resist the devil” it’s really a command to put a stop to the devil. What happens when we can’t resist the devil anymore? It might be better said this way; we have defaulted on submitting to God’s promises or standing on God’s word like we’re supposed to do.  We got to understand satan’s restraining order is all about having access in stopping or eliminating the covenant promises God provided us through Christ Jesus. That’s why God sent his son Jesus to be put to death, raised from the dead to become alive again, so that we could be put back into God’s covenant.

So, where is the enemy trying to apply a restraining order against us at?  That restraining order is now coming against the ending of John 10:10 “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” This part of John 10:10 is about obtaining the promises of the Lord, which is life, peace even during trials and tribulations, including a healthy body, and so much more. This is so powerful, because in reality it positions us to stop the enemy’s restraining orders, because God’s word is about life. I will say it again, the ending of “John 10:10 is all about God’s covenant promises leading us to a victorious life.” It makes me think about our motto “Going from wilderness mentalities to God’s Kingdom Realities.” It’s time to start getting into God’s word and finding those promises. Yes, that means open up that bible and start reading it.

Now, let me ask you this question. What happens when we can no longer resist the devil?  We won’t see the enemy flee so easily will we. That’s right; the enemy will still be lingering around.  So, how do we know if we have broken the enemy’s restraining order?  We will see the enemy’s attacks start going away and begin to see “And he will flee from you” working. That’s how important it is to understand how James 4:7 works.

Remember the Lord wanted us to get a little deeper understanding on James 4:7, to do this, let’s look at Ephesians 4:27-30 about removing any restraining order that’s been placed on us.  I will break it down as the Lord showed me. It’s time we got the whole understanding and not a partial understanding.  This is a short passage, but it really does support James 4:7. Here we go!

Let’s look at Ephesians 4:27 “Neither give place to the devil.” What is this scripture telling us? First of all, it’s about whom we shouldn’t be submitting to “neither give place to the devil.” This is how important submission is. Exodus 20:3 explains who we’re to submit to. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Let’s just add verse four to. I think it’s important, because it tells us who we’re not to be submitting to. 4) “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:” I do believe this sums up “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” from James 4:7. I also want you to see that Ephesians 4:27 is about commanding satan to flee. Think about it. It simply states “Neither give place to the devil.” Meaning, don’t give satan place. It’s a message to satan that he needs to leave now and his restraining orders are now null and void. Now, this can only work when we submit to God’s word. Now, let’s take it a step further by going to verse 28.

Ephesians 4:28 “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Wow! This scripture states right off the bat; we shouldn’t even let others steal from us; surprisingly, this including our self. So, yes, we have to include resisting our self, because of our own negative talking or thinking. This will be explained more in verses 29-30. Now, what does this have to do with James 4:7?  It’s the same application of “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Can you see how it ties into John 10:10 by stopping those who try get our eyes off of God’s promise, because they are acting just like the thief towards us?

This verse opens up with command what is the command? Don’t let other people steal from you or from our own selves. So, actually this strengthens verse 27 in reminding us to stop any type of restraining order that comes against us.  Mostly importantly, keep in mind satan’s or any other attackers mission is to flat out one way or another to stop our promises from God. We can no longer, I am going to say it again, we can no longer give satan or any attacker room to bring a restraining order against us anymore. Please understand it’s the enemy’s agenda to find a way to cross that line and steal what’s rightfully ours through Christ Jesus. Please, grab a hold of this truth. I know it’s encouraging me at this moment.

Now, what does verse 28 say next “but rather let him labour, working with his hands the things which is good”. This is spiritually saying that these individuals should be working the word of God in their own life and in other people’s life. How can this spiritually work with James 4:7? James 4:7 opened up with “Submit yourselves therefore to God.” This is to remind us were to be working with God’s word meaning to submit to God. This is also opens a door in resisting satan’s or any other restraining order against us. The objective is we got to be more focused on God’s covenant promises; than any attacker who is tries to put a restraining order against us. Whatever you do don’t deny satan’s or any other attacks. It’s going to be testimony that God’s word works for us. Just give God glory as he turns our situation around. Should we be interested in people just as God is interested in taking care of us? Yes. We’re   supposed to be a willing vessel for the Lord and a representation of him. That’s how verse 28 ends “that he may have to give to him that needeth.”

This truth needs to be spread abroad among the nations again.  This is awesome how it works with James 4:7 when submit, resist, the enemy flees and the promises begin to work in our life.  This is a principle application of what a Christian should be doing and looking like. What I like about this ending is it works closely to word “abundantly” from John 10:10. Why? It’s all about God’s covenant promises for us.  Let’s look at God’s abundance from Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Can this really fit with James 4:7? Yes it can. Do you see submission? Yes, from “seek ye first the kingdom of God”. Does it mean “abundantly”?  Of, course it does “and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Does it make “that he may have to give to him that needeth.” true?  You better believe it! It comes from “his righteousness.” Meaning it fits with James 4:7 because we submitted and that submission helps resist the enemy and that brings in the promises. Let’s finish up with speaking or speaking negatively with verse 29.

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Wow! This opens up about no corrupt  communication or negative talking. Why? This gives place for satan or it opens the door for him to be a thief again.  It can mean remove negative thinking to. To me, negative talk is like taking God’s word in vain. How? Its steals the truths on what we’re to be doing in the first place like submitting to God James 4:7. This doesn’t help the non-believers get closer to God either.  It starts killing or weakening life out of us from John 10:10 ending. It destroys how we view Matthew 6:33 and the ending of Ephesians 4:28. The bottom line it becomes a loop hole for satan to steal those covenant promises that God has provided for us. The truth is negative words or actions don’t edify, but positive words or actions do. That’s what we see next in verse 29 “but that which is good to use of edifying”. Positive words or actions edify God’s love during challenging times. It’s hard to be an over comer and see God’s grace or mercy working, when we play around with negative words or actions.  Verse 29 ends with a truth about how powerful God’s word and grace is for us “That it may minister grace unto the hearer.” In this case the readers.  Wow, God’s word is full of power and grace that allows us to become over comers through Christ Jesus.  Let’s face it choosing positive words or actions point to submitting to God, while negative words give place to satan. Which type of words should we choose? Hopefully, we will choose positive words. It’s time for the final verse.

Ephesians 4:30 says, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” What does this mean to us? First of all, this tells me don’t be submitting to the flesh, instead submit to the Holy Spirit who comforts us.  Secondly, don’t give place to satan it quenches the Holy Spirit. It’s time to cling to the ending of verse 30 “whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Why? It’s God’s plan to redeem us from the attacks of the enemy or completely restore us back into our rightful place. That’s God’s grace and covenant plan for us all along.  I hope and pray you got a better understanding in what  James 4:7 can do for us when we work it right.

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