What It Means to be Filled with the Holy Spirit # 49

"Neither Give Place to the devil" (continued)

However, Abraham was now in total control of the situation, the Philistines and their antichrist activities were no longer a threat; from here on, the Philistines had no power over Abraham. And this is because Abraham was walking in the way of the Cross, the way of self-denial: - Abraham would not allow his natural man to control him any longer. Therefore Abraham, empowered by God's Spirit, took back the ground these antichrist agents had gained; he took back the inheritance of God's people.

From the beginning of Abraham's walk, God had said, "Unto thy seed will I give this land" (Genesis 12;7). And God commanded Abraham to walk the length and the breadth of the land of promise (Genesis 13:17); which speaks not only of the nation of Israel's right to the literal land, but it also points to the full inheritance of those who are in Christ. The antichrist spirit of satan had tried to take the inheritance of God's people and failed. This attempt to steal the inheritance of God's people failed because Abraham, through the power of the Cross of Christ, walked in faith the length and the breadth of the land of the Promise. Abraham could walk in the Power of the Cross because, in God's sight, the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20, 21).

The enemy failed to ultimately overcome Abraham because of the work of the Cross in Abraham's life; Abraham had come to the place where he was not looking  for an inheritance in the earth realm, he was not looking for that which would satisfy the natural man. He was not looking for the wealth, health, power and influence which are so in demand in the churches today. No! No! No! Through faith in all that Christ is, "He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Hebrews 11:10). Thus, Abraham and Sarah joined the ranks of all the other overcomers of every age who through faith "...desire a better country (a true home), that is an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city ... and the city had no need of the sun, neither the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the Light thereof" (Hebrews 11:16; Revelation 21:23).

~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 50 - "The Natural man Receiveth Not the Things of the Spirit of God")