Overcoming the Enemy in Your Midst

"One Year Bible" Old Testament History Passage
I Chronicles 11:1-12:18

"But the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, 'You shall not come in here!'  Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David)."  I Chronicles 11:5 (NKJV)

Right in the middle of God's territory was a stronghold of the enemy.  It was called Jebus.  The inhabitants of this Philistine garrison had one thing to say to the newly crowned King David: "YOU CAN'T COME HERE!" 

That's the wrong thing to say to a warrior.  David certainly had his flaws, but one thing he DID NOT do was live with compromise.  He could not countenance the presence of enemy defiance in the midst of the promised land.

He set a reward for the first man to attack the Jebusites.  He declared war.  He proclaimed "open season" on all who defied God's rule.  As a result, this long-standing enemy stronghold came down.  He renamed this city, and it has become one of the most important in world history:  JERUSALEM.

Remember this: your Jerusalem is first of all a place of battle.  It must be won!  It will not simply wait for you to walk into it.  It is controlled by an enemy who defies you to try.  In order to win your "city" you must declare war.  You must have a certain kind of violence.  This is what Jesus spoke of when He said, "The kingdom advances with violence, and the violent take it by force" (Matt. 11:12).

So, are you violent today, or are you beat down?  The Spirit of the Lord says to you, "Rise up.  Do powerful things today."  God will fight for you as you take your Jerusalem.