“When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him” (Isa. 59:19 NKJ).
The original Hebrew word translated standard is this verse is nuwc (noos). It is an unusual word signifying something displayed in order to put to flight or to chase away opposition so that a person can escape or be delivered.
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard (nuwc) not only to turn back the floodtide of the enemy that comes against us, but also to deliver us and give us a way of escape. Our God not only promises to stop the opposition in its tracks, but to show us the way through to our next point of victory.
The image nuwc gives is that of a brake and an accelerator on an automobile. The Lord tells us that He will put the brakes on the enemy and at the same time will accelerate our forward progress. The enemy will go back to his starting place, turned back by the Spirit of God.
We, on the other hand, will get on with living. We will be set free to go ahead and fulfill the will and call of God on our lives. Satan goes backward while we go forward. This exchange puts us way ahead of the opposition and the competition.
Isaiah referred to “…those who turn back the battle at the gate” (Isa. 28:6 NKJ). As in the expression “the gates of hell” (Matt. 16:18), this alludes to the place from which Satan’s malignant forces issue.
To “turn back the battle at the gate” is to drive Satan back to his starting place. This action frees us to get on with our journey, to press on to even greater levels of victory and triumph in Christ.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Dick Mills was ordained at The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1949. He and his wife Betty traveled as evangelists all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Dick and Betty are now home in heaven.
In 1966 Dick and Betty became a part of the then-emerging Charismatic Renewal. Passing through all denominational barriers, Dick has had the opportunity to speak in thousands of churches of varied backgrounds all over the world.
He ministered within several Christian organizations, including the Full Gospel Business Men, Women's Aglow, Inter-church Renewal Catholic Pentecostals, mainline Charismatic groups, CBN and TBN television networks, and many other independent Christian TV stations.
Dick appeared on numerous radio talk shows, written several magazine articles, and spoke at many Bible conferences and universities. He served as an adjunct professor at six Schools of the Bible and Seminaries.
In addition, Dick authored and co-authored several books and tapes. Dick's ministry was characterized by the unique gifts God has blessed him with. His services informed, enlightened, and motivated people to a higher level of commitment to God.