Focus: UNDERSTANDING AND DESTROYING INVISIBLE BARRIERS TO OUR ADVANCEMENT IN LIFE

Zion or God’s house is His appointed city of refuge where His people can run to for help and protection. God’s house is His rescue centre from all the attacks of the wicked. In 1Sam. 21:1-9, despite the anointing of Samuel upon David, the oil of God upon His head (he had the anointing and prophetic mandate on his destiny), yet Saul the reigning King took it upon himself to hunt down and kill him so that the prophecy will not come to pass. God will not deliver you into the hands of that enemy seeking after your life (Is. 7:5-7, I Sam. 23:14).

David was a fugitive, being pursued by the wicked agent of the devil – Saul. He ran into the house of God and he was given two things by the priest (1Sam. 21:6). First, he was given hallowed bread. Hallowed bread is the bread that is sanctified, placed in the house of God. Bread connotes sustenance, strength; it gives hope and courage to a man to continue his race. Spiritual bread gives courage to move on while physical bread gives strength for today.

In John 6:5-12, Jesus gave the people physical bread – so physical bread is part of the Ministry of the Church. In John 6:48-51, Jesus talked about the spiritual bread – that is Communion. So when you come to church, expect to be fed, given strength and courage to go ahead and face the battles of life.

Second, in 1Sam. 21: 9, the priest gave David the sword. The Church also has a mandate to equip you to fight your battles. Life is a warfare, it is battles before titles. No battles, no titles! It takes battle to move from one stage of life into another. Every stage in life is a battle (Eph. 6:12, 17). Every time you are given the word of God, you are given a sword to go deal with the devil (Heb. 4:12).

The best way to help any man is to teach him how to fight his battles. It takes warfare to prevail in life. Those who depend solely on welfare will not fare well in the journey of life. There is a time for welfare, and there is another time for warfare

Invisible battles are real, they are the hurdles that the devil has placed on our paths to advancement and progress in life. Ps. 91: 5-6: there are arrows that flieth by day.

Horns represent invisible forces. Invisible forces are targeted specially at God’s people (Zech 1:17-21). The mission of invisible barriers is to make the children of God not to rise or make progress in life (Zech. 1:17- 21, 1Cor. 16:8-9).

Invisible barriers come in the form of satanic arrows (Ps. 91:5). An arrow is a deadly weapon that is often projected from afar. They can travel long distances. Often times these arrows are specific in nature – sent to specific persons to hit the exact target. There are also cases of unspecific targets that someone who is originally not in the plan but in the environment at that time can become a target – if he is not a child of God.

The classification of satanic arrows

1. The arrow of death – 2Kings 4:18-22. The boy in this story was under the arrow of death, but thank God the mother knew it was an attack and she approached the Man of God.
2. Arrow of affliction – Luke 8:43-48. This type of arrow will drain the person of funds and the person may still end up dying.
3. Arrow of confusion and division – In Acts 13:2-4 the Holy Ghost Himself put Paul and Barnabas together and paired them to do His work. In Acts 15: 36-40 the arrow of confusion and division struck and divided them. When the arrow of confusion and division wants to work, it creates confusion between you and your destiny helpers.

Gen. 12:4-5, Gen. 13:2, 5. Abraham was Lot’s destiny helper and then there was strife between their herdsmen which led to their separation. As soon as Lot departed from Abraham, he started going down. When the enemy identifies our destiny helpers, he can create a problem between yourself and them to bring you down. Arrows of confusion goes into families, spouses, churches, etc. I discover that wherever there is no agreement, there is no progress.

4. Arrow of character disorder – John 13:2, 26, Acts 1:17, Judas would have been promoted like the other disciples but the arrow of character disorder destroyed this. When the arrow of character disorder enters into people, they start misbehaving and most times this happens at the verge of their promotion. In Esther 1:10-12 – Vashti, the Queen had a character disorder and was dethroned. In Lk. 15:13-17, shows that before the progical son came to himself, he was under some influence. Even after Judas betrayed Jesus, he came back to his senses and regretted his actions and committed suicide. Your weakness will not stop your progress in Jesus Name.
5. The arrow of devourers –This is sent to destroy people’s wealth or resources by invoking certain mishaps, like what happened to Job (Job.1). When you see people doing very well and suddenly things collapse, it is the arrow of the devourer. Those problems will not leave until the resources go down, it is not ordinary it is the devourer at work.
6. Generational stronghold and curses – These are misfortune and calamities that follow a man. Like Gehazi in 2kings 5:20-25, because of his misbehaviour, himself and generations after him became leprose.

CAUSES OF THESE ATTACKS

1. When we are not saved or live carelessly as believers – this makes us become vulnerable to satanic arrows (Eccl. 10:8)
2. Lukewarmness and Prayerlessness – Matt 13:25-28. When men slept (became prayerless) the enemy came and sowed seeds. When u r weak u become vulnerable to d devils attack
3. Walking in bitterness and unforgiveness – Eph. 6:13., Matt 18:21 – 34. When you live in bitterness and unforgiveness, God delivers you to tormentors. Unforgiveness and bitterness opens u up to the tormentors of life.
4. Fears

WAY OUT

1. Rededicate your life to God, surrender your life fully to God
2. Keep serving God and the interest of His Kingdom – 2Chron. 15:12-15
3. Be committed to a lifestyle of prayer and fasting (Is. 58:6-12)
4. Engage a lifestyle of Praise (ICor.10:10). Murmuring opens you up to the destroyer, be smarter than the devil.
5. Believe and receive the Ministry of the prophet sent to you (Zech. 1:21). Prophets are agents of liberation (Hos 12-13, Ex.3:7-10). By a prophet, Israel was brought out of captivity and by a prophet they were preserved.

Whatever arrow is working against you, freedom is coming to you today in Jesus Name. Amen!