Firstly, in the Bible, the original meaning of the word "now" is now, right now. Not 5 minutes ago, not 5 minutes later. Now is always now, so when we read "now" in the Bible, don't look at your watch, apply it to your life right now.



Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war and assembled at Socoh in Judah. They pitched camp at Ephes Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. (1 Sam 17:1-2, NIV)



Judah means "praised", and Socoh means "division". The enemy (the Philistines) tries to set up camp in the house of praise (church) to divide us. Azekah means "dig up" and Ephes Dammin, the place of the camp, means "do bodily damage".

One way the devil tries to divide and cause damage to the church (body of Christ), and also intimidate Christians, is to dig up their past mistakes.

The devil wants us to feel unworthy and useless, and tells us lies about what God thinks of us.

But the good news is about who I am becoming (like Christ) and not what I used to be like.

So tell the devil to "put a sock in it".



Goliath never fought David - he was all talk and show, with his mocking speech and impressive armour. ( 1 Samuel 17:8-11 ) Likewise, the devil can't fight us - all he can do is try to intimidate us. In the name of Jesus he is defeated. All of our enemies will one day have to fall prostrate, face-down, before the Lord and worship Him.



We need to go into the enemies camp and take back everything taken from us. All of the people, the power and the glory belong to God.