What a weekend we have just come through. It all started Friday night as many hundreds gathered together with anticipation for a God encounter. It ended Sunday night with a foot washing of nearly 120 believing leaders who made the commitment to become “AS ONE” and “ALL IN”.

In between the start of Friday and the end of Sunday, we saw many people either return to the life of Christ or make a decision to join Him on the journey for the first time. We heard the release of worship in many demonstrative ways:  jumping as high as we could with excitement, waving banners as a heartfelt love ran through like a river, falling onto our knees and crying out to God (not because of personal condemnation but grateful hearts). One moment led to another as we heard God’s word come forth and move upon many in baptism of the Holy Spirit and divine healing encounters. When we felt we had reached the climax, a couple young ladies who had been saved Friday night wanted to get baptized Saturday night. Not forbidding water, we filled the baptistery Saturday night with the intentions of baptizing the two new converts only to be overrun with nearly 36 more hungry hearts that had arrived with no baptismal intentions, but surrendered to the moment, fighting past the obvious discomfort of wearing wet clothes home. One by one, the spirit of brokenness broke over the watery grave of baptism and God unleashed on us all. Wow is all I can say.

Oh how we love you Lord. You are so awesome. I love Christianity and our Christ. I love coming together with my brothers and sisters in Christ and experiencing God. There is nothing greater to me than simply watching God restore lives, strengthen moments, heal hearts and bodies, the list goes on and on. God you are soooooooooo good!

Come Sunday night it was time to crash and prepare for the week ahead. Waking up Monday the spirit of worship was as strong as the weekend and excitement permeated through my soul, knowing we were in a new moment. The longing for revival seems to be ending with the experience of it. My heart rejoices.

Then there’s the But! But the enemy is not lying down and allowing our new found place to be occupied easily. No, now we see the giants on the other side of the fence we didn’t have to deal with in our wilderness. A land flowing with milk and honey is always contended for by both the rightful owners and the one who comes to kill, steal and destroy. When the children of Israel reached the promise land, they found it full of giants who occupied the cities and houses; they were promised by God. God gave it to the children of Israel, but they had to occupy it! God would displace the enemy, but they had to believe Him to do it!

Jesus teaches us this- Mark 4:14-15 The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. So behind receiving is an enemy seeking to take away. I call this spiritual backlash. The power of backlash is either you lose what was given or you produce the power of it in your life. Listen to James comment on the faith that comes by hearing Gods word- James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Moments like this weekend have the potential to make us all stronger or cause us setbacks. Your response determines the outcome!

The bible teaches us that the enemy is an accuser of the brethren. So here he comes- you didn’t get anything, that wasn’t real, you’re not healed, your still in the same boat, look at how God blessed them, you deserve it more than someone else, God doesn’t love you. The accusations go on and on and on. Your response should simply be “take it up with God”. Or give the devil his own “But” kicking with- “yea but God said”. He can’t stand it when you remind him of what God said. The apostle said “resist the devil and he’ll flee”. This is exactly what Jesus did when He was being tempted in the wilderness.

A word for you today. Let your silence be your weapon. Take what has been given to you and protect it. Don’t let jealousy, envy, strife, unmet expectations, people’s words, disappointment- nothing- move you. What you have is real and it is for real. Don’t try to defend yourself when people accuse you, simply love them. Your defense will only broaden the conflict. Today you “make a place for wrath.” (Romans 12:19)

So be aware of backlash and use it to move forward. God bless you all Big!

-Anthony Daley