Captive
Judges 5:12 BBE Awake! awake! Deborah: awake! awake! give a song: Up! Barak,and take prisoner those who took you prisoner, O son of Abinoam.
It’s not enough for an enemy to be defeated. It would do no good to overcome an adversary if there were no ongoing restrictions or monitoring of his actions. Especially when one has been held captive themselves by their foe, he must be put into captivity himself and kept from any opportunity of return to his former ways. Where this does not take place there is great danger that he will again attack, occupy and imprison once again
One of the numerous scenes coming at us a few years ago from Middle East was the many, many Iraqi soldiers surrendering to our forces. This was actually a hindrance to the advance of our troops as something had to be done with the masses of men who just a few moments ago were armed and intent upon using their weapons for the destruction of the invading force. While a great many of these individual foot soldiers were allowed to convert their loyalties to the new government, there were some who were much more dangerous who could not be given any opportunity to return to their former ranks. Camps were established there in Iraq and also in more secure and secluded places where containment could be established until judgments made. Imprisonment of the enemy was an essential and strategic part of the successful occupation. Any ground gained was directly related to the removal of opposition and any threat they may continue to pose.
Though our victory and deliverance have been bought for us in Christ, there is a great necessity for our enemies to not only be defeated but imprisoned and kept from presenting any further threats. This is a most significant responsibility and any advance in the kingdom to the fulfilled occupation of the enemy’s former domain will require erecting containment and restraint barriers using the invincible resource of God’s Word. It may be much easier to just press on by to the blessings, but until captivity is established and maintained for those former captors, complete and total deliverance will never be realized. Rather than fearing what the enemy might do next, there is power in the Word to put restraints upon the enemy’s movement and mobility, rendering him powerless and without substance to his roar. The former captor of sickness and disease can be made captive himself and rendered powerless by the scriptures that proclaim the Father’s will and desire to heal. The oppressor of poverty can be taken captive by scriptures confirming the wealthy inheritance that is ours in Christ. That former slave master of sin can be totally confined by applying the blood of Jesus to the temptation and the failure and allowing the Father to protect and clothe us with the classy attire of righteousness. The requisite to freedom and victory for all aspects of living will be directly related to how much the enemy of that aspect is made to be a captive in the very place he used to dominate.
I’m so grateful for the deployment of Jesus that has brought deliverance and liberation to every area of life! I’m also grateful for the establishment of righteousness through the Word that disarms, disables and restrains that once feared and dominating oppressor of our souls. Not only is he defeated but through the applied blood and Word he can be made captive and totally incapable of returning to any of his former ways.
2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;