“Your enemies…shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways” (Deut. 28:7 NKJ).
This is God’s promise to us that the forces of our evil adversary will be scattered before us and their opposition turned into fearful flight. When the Bible states that our enemies will flee in seven directions, it is using symbolic language to indicate a rout so complete there is no hope of recovery or regrouping.
Seven is the Biblical number of completion, perfection, and termination. When wisdom is said to build seven pillars (Prov. 9:1), the picture presented is of an edifice so complete that nothing further could be added to it without being redundant or unnecessary.
An enemy fleeing in seven directions is the result of combining the believer’s faith with God’s power. When man stands forth courageously to fight the good fight of faith. God unleashes His ability on his behalf. The combination is unbeatable because it represents completion.
The number of man is four. God’s number is three. Whenever man’s faith is combined with God’s power, the enemy is always put on the run.
In Revelation 3:1, the Bible speaks of the seven spirits of the Lord. Some scholars believe these are the same as the seven eyes of Zechariah 3:8 and the seven lamps in Revelation 4:5. The names of these spirits are listed in Isaiah 11:2.
However, these are not seven different spirits of God, only the sevenfold ministry of the one Holy Spirit. Our foes may seem to come at us as a united front, but God has promised that His sevenfold Spirit will send them retreating in seven directions. What a promise of victory!
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.