Closing the Gangplank on the Enemy
You’ve closed the door, but have you closed the gangplank?
Our loved ones constitute a major assignment in our lives. God has created a family accountability that each one of us must take part. So while you may have closed the spiritual door on the enemy, you still must take the extra step of closing the spiritual gangplank, which may be the link between your family and the world.
When there are ungodly ties between the world and your family the gangplank must be closed. The enemy looks for a potential stronghold or weakness in families from which he may attack. But God gives us the example for keeping our family from the enemy through the gangplank. A gangplank is an additional barrier between the door frame of our house and the outside world. This separation is the place where God fights for our family.
A Few Examples
Noah
In the book of Genesis, we find the example of Noah as a model for closing the gangplank. When the ark was built Noah took charge of counting the animals that entered the ark, making sure there were two of each kind for the offerings to the Lord (Genesis 7:1-3). Then Noah went on to oversee in verse 8 and 9, two by two they went in, other animals that would be be saved from the flood waters that would devastate the earth because of sin. Finally, Noah made sure each one in his family, his sons and daughter-in-laws, and his wife made it safely onto the safety of the ark before he himself boarded the vessel and closed the gangplank of the ark (2 Peter 2:5).
Noah’s job was to be the accountability for his family and put them in a position to be saved by God through his obedience.
Nehemiah
Nehemiah was a cupbearer for King Artaxerxes. He had a position of high honor in the kingdom. But he learned that the walls around Jerusalem, the place of God’s chosen, had walls that were falling down. In Nehemiah 4:13-14, it describes how he took on the accountability, because of his position, for the household of God.
We must keep a watchful eye over our area of responsibility and our family. Like the families in the book of Nehemiah that rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, they kept a sword at their side when they were rebuilding. We must keep a spiritual sword at the ready when maintaining and rebuilding the walls around our family spiritually.
Taking accountability for those we love is being in obedience to God. Closing the gangplank on the enemy is done by fighting for our family, because God will fight for you!
I want to encourage you today in the fight for your family. God’s love is never failing and his desire for you is to prosper you and provide a good life for you and your family. While we get to fight for our family, it is God that takes on the battle for us, because God fights for what is His!
Questions
- Do you know how to start fighting for your family? How can you begin to fight for YOUR family?
- Did you know that it is God’s desire to fight for you?
Jesus gave us an example in the Lord’s prayer found in Matthew 6:9-13 to start fighting for our family. If you are unsure where to start to close the gangplank to the enemy, stop now and pray the Lord’s prayer and pray it often.
Our Father, who is in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And set us free from our debts, As we set free our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For Yours is the kingdom and the power, And the glory forever. Amen
Watch Fight For Your Family to learn more.
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