"In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem and besieged it.

2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god."

 

When kingdoms engage in warfare, victory becomes a possibility when weapons of war, strategy, and superior intelligence are employed. Typically, nations engage in surveillance to obtain high-level information that is used to compromise the integrity of their adversaries.

 

As believers, when we are engaged in spiritual warfare, we often wonder, like David, what strategy God would expect us to deploy against our enemy. This is understandable, at times. At other times, rather than God giving us a strategy, He makes us the strategy.

 

As prophetic intercessors, we understand that the real advantage of prayer is for it to be sent ahead to program the future or engineer atmospheres in the spiritual.

 

Daniel had an effective prayer life before he was sent into the Lion's den. So also the three Hebrew boys.

 

Are you developing an effectual and fervent prayer life?

 

*Daniel 1:5-6* declares that "And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat and of the wine which he drank, so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 6 Now among these the children of Judah were: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah."

 

We notice here that it was only Daniel and his three buddies that were intentional about their consecration to the God of the whole earth. Perhaps children chosen from other tribes probably ate the daily provision of the king's meat and of wine…not realising that “What you eat shapes your destiny.”

 

*Your sacrifice today is an investment in deliverance of tomorrow.*

 

*Proverbs 18:16*

"A man's gift (not his education) makes room for him and brings him before great men.”

 

*Proverbs 22:29*

“Do you see a man diligent and skillful in his business? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.”

 

Your gift attracts the attention of two classes of men: Those who have the capacity to promote you (consider Pharaoh and Joseph) or attack you (consider Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel).

 

But even when men think they are attacking you, if you love God, have faith in Him, and align yourself with *Romans 8:28*, God is able to make all things work together for you. Remember, you are God's strategy, a challenge may be God's method of elevating you. Do not despise a challenge!

 

You are God's strategy to confound the enemy in your region.

 

*1 Corinthians 1:27*

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 

 

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are empty.

And the base things of the world, and the things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not to bring to nought things that are.”

 

Father, according to *Proverbs 24:5-6*, the wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength. I receive the spiritual wisdom and intelligence to excel in every challenge I may encounter in my marketplace.

 

In verse 2 of Daniel 1, God delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, with part of the vessels of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

 

- With the vessels of the house of God under Nebuchadnezzar’s control, he assumes that you are now totally under his control - your thoughts, ways, allegiance, service; and that you are under the sway of his forces and management 

- The enemy is after the gift or treasure in you, knowing this is God's investment in you to establish Kingdom influence, reveal Jesus, and glorify God. *2 Corinthians 4:7* states that "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us."

 

In establishing Kingdom Influence in the seven significant areas in the marketplace, we need to understand that we are currently transacting business within a Babylonian system.

 

Babylon is derived from Akkadian word 'Babilu' meaning "gate of god." The Akkadian Empire was the first ancient empire of Mesopotamia. As a type, Babylon represents the counterfeit of God's eternal city. She is totally opposed to God's rule, kingdom, and authority.

 

Secondly, in the book of Revelation, Babylon the Great, commonly known as the Whore of Babylon, refers to both a symbolic female figure and a place of evil. Her principal weapon is seduction to give wealth, influence, and (trade the) souls of men.

 

Currently, the Body of Christ is doing well in the area of Priesthood, interceding and contending for the souls of men, but doing poorly in the area of wealth and influence (Kingship and dominion).

 

It took only one day for God to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt (*Priesthood*). But it took 40 years to get Egypt out of the children of Israel for them to establish dominion (*Kingship*). In *Joshua 1:1*,  “After the death of Moses (*Priesthood*) the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua (*Kingship*) the son of Nun, Moses' minister, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land which I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.”      

 

*Prayer Point*

Father, according to 2 Corinthians 4:7, I shall not be seduced by the enemy. I declare I'm a vessel unto honor set apart for the Master's use. I walk in the reality of my priesthood and kingship.

 

*Isaiah 47:8* states, "Therefore now hear, thou that art given to pleasures, and dwellest carelessly, She saith in her heart, I am, and none else: I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall know the loss of children. But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day: the loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments."

 

*Prayer Point*

Father, we thank you for the spirit of discernment that helps us to uncover the plans of the enemy. I come against any form of sorcery and enchantment in the region you have assigned me to supervise. I enthrone the Lord Jesus Christ and exercise Kingdom influence in his name.