Page 90 - Overcoming Addiction

Without the Israelites having to enter into battle at all, God defeated these
two enemies in the land of Canaan. Yahweh completely drove them out by sending
hornets into their midst. This story finds its parallel in the lives of those men and
women who have been marvelously delivered from some besetting sin without
them ever having to fight a battle against it.
The Spirit revealed to me through Israel’s history that although He may
choose to drive out some of the enemies in the land of our flesh in this way, He
will never drive out all the enemies in this fashion. He will always leave some
enemies in the land that we might learn spiritual warfare. Yahweh left some
enemies in the land that Joshua’s generation did not drive out fully. He did so that
future generations might also learn warfare.

Judges 3:1-4
Now these are the nations which Yahweh left, to test Israel by them (that is,
all who had not experienced any of the wars of Canaan; only in order that
the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had
not experienced it formerly)... They were for testing Israel, to find out if
they would obey the commandments of Yahweh, which He had
commanded their fathers through Moses.

This is clearly a spiritual parable for the Christian today. Yahweh wants all
His children to experience spiritual warfare. In this way we will not only grow
strong and skillful in the weapons of our warfare, but Yahweh will prove those
whose hearts are fully given to Him. If we love God with all of our heart, soul,
mind and strength then we will not rest until all the enemies have been routed. If
we do not love God it will be revealed in our lack of vigor in seeking to rule over
the flesh. Yahshua said, “If you love Me you will keep My commandments.” He has
commanded us to rule over the flesh.
As you seek to overcome the desires in your flesh you must understand that
God would not have you to pray that He would take the desire away. If He has not
freely removed an enemy in our flesh, then He would have us to do battle against
it. To ask God to take away the struggle would be similar to an Israelite facing an
enemy and saying “God, I don’t want to fight this enemy. Please make them go
away!” God will not do such a thing. He wants you and I to learn spiritual warfare.
There are many Scriptures in the New Testament that pick up this analogy of
the Christian overcoming sin being like a soldier engaged in a battle. Our weapons
are not physical, like a sword and a spear and a shield. The Christian has been
given spiritual weapons.

II Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for
the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for
the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty
thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every
thought captive to the obedience of Christ...