When the Enemy Comes in like a Flood Meaning – Isaiah 59:19

In this post, we will be sharing with you the meaning of when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

As Christians, we know that Satan (the enemy) is the great adversary of God and He works at all times to deceive mankind into turning away from God.

The whole world is constantly being tempted by the enemy, hence we need to be on guard and resist the devil as recorded in James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

See also: Bible Verses With God All Things Are Possible

The State Of The World Today

The previous verses in the passage talk about God's judgment upon those that have heard His Word and not obeyed it (Isaiah 59:1-2). It is not difficult to recognize how easily this can happen in today's society where many people are distracted from seeking a personal relationship with God.

• Ungodly people embrace sin because they do not know the truth concerning God's love for them plus the significance of why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to redeem mankind from eternal destruction by giving Himself as a ransom for our sins found in 1 Peter 3:18.
• Many people in today's world are simply unaware of their deep need for God and they seek Him only when they are distressed or fearful. The writer of Psalm 46 speaks to this idea when he wrote "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble". That means there is no situation, circumstance, or event that takes place on the earth that He cannot turn to good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28).

We can see why Satan works so hard to deceive many from making a connection with God because once someone has found God, Satan has no further power over them.

The Enemy Within Us

What makes it so easy for a man to turn away from God? The answer is sin. We are all sinners by nature, and our sinful nature leads us away from God.

• We are born with a sinful nature which is what makes it possible for us to be deceived and turned away from the Lord. Romans 8:7 (KJV) says "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

The King James Version uses carnal to describe our human nature and its attitude towards God because we were born with this nature and therefore we think and act in line with that nature.

One of the important truths we need to know and understand is that living a life separated from God leads to spiritual death (which is what the Bible says will happen to all those who do not know Christ as their Savior).

So then, knowing that we are sinners and that sin leads to spiritual death, only makes sense that we would see how Satan (the enemy) comes like a flood because his goal is destruction.

Our sinful natures keep us bound in opposition to God and the only way we can find freedom from sin's control is to be made new creations by God through the power of the Holy Spirit which is only possible when we have our sins forgiven.

When the Enemy Comes in Like a Flood - 10 Things You Need To Know

1. The word "enemy" in this verse refers to Satan or the devil.
2. Every Christian has an enemy out to destroy them, who is Satan. 1 Peter 5:8 says - "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
3. Satan is constantly at work to deceive us and get us to go his way, not God's way. Revelation 12:9 - "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
4. We need to resist Satan always so he can flee from us, and we can maintain our place in Christ. James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
5. When Satan comes in like a flood, it is because this is his strategy. He always tries to overwhelm us with his lies so that we are deceived into turning away from God. Floods are mostly destructive, bringing damage wherever they come. Likewise, Satan's lies are destructive and they aim to destroy the work of God in people's lives.
6. As Christians, we should do all it takes to stay anchored on the solid rock which is Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:24-27). We shouldn't allow ourselves to be deceived by the enemy into turning away from God, who is the source of our strength. 1 Corinthians 10:12 - "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."
7. When Satan comes in like a flood, there's an army that comes with him. That army is the evil spirits, as seen in Ephesians 6:12 - "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
8. When Satan comes into our lives like a flood, it is at times of weakness and trials that we are most vulnerable to his lies (1 Peter 5:7). At such times, we need God's strength more than ever before so that we can be strong in Him and resist the enemy's lies.
9. In Isaiah 59:19, the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard against Satan. The standard is an image of God's banner that He sets up to guide and protect His own in times of battle (Exodus 17:15-16; Psalm 60:4; Ezekiel 9:3). The standard gives the believers courage amid chaos and confusion.
10. When Satan comes in like a flood, he is not invincible and so when he attacks us, God's standard will always be there to save us (Psalm 18:28).

20 Ways To Stand Firm Against The Enemy's Flood

There are many ways to stand firm against the enemy's flood. But they all depend on our trust in God and His finished work for us on the cross of Calvary.

1. If we make the Lord our refuge and fortress, we will be able to stand against anything Satan tries on us (Psalm 91:2).
2. Our victory over the enemy is assured because our victory has already been won by Jesus Christ on the cross. 1 Corinthians 15:57 - "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
3. We cannot trust in our own strength but must depend upon God even during times of trial and persecution (2 Corinthians 12:9).
4. God's power is working in us and through us, strengthening us to stand against the enemy (Ephesians 3:20).
5. The fact that we are in Christ means Satan has no claim over us (John 10:28). And so, let your voice be heard and let the devil know that we will not be deceived by his lies (Romans 16:20).
6. We can stand firm against the enemy's lies by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
7. God helps us stand firm against Satan's strategies so that we can endure all things in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:13)
8. When we stand firm against the enemy's lies, God will turn the tables on Satan so that he becomes a mockery to those who oppose us (Psalm 59:12).
9. When we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, He will strengthen us and protect us against the enemy's schemes (Ephesians 3:16-19).
10. Resist the enemy and he will flee from you (James 4:7).
11. We can stand firm against Satan's lies by praising God, knowing that He is always on our side (Psalm 5:12).
12. We should rejoice when the enemy tries to flood us with his lies because that means that we are starting to get through to him (Luke 10:19).
13. God will protect us from the enemy's fiery darts and we can stand firm against them because we take our refuge in Him (Psalm 91:3).
14. As Christians, because we are on God's side, Satan is at enmity with us (James 4:4; 5:3-7). We overcome him not by our own strength but by drawing on God's power (1 John 4:4).
15. We overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). When we speak out against his evil, he will flee from us (James 4:7-8).
16. It is not by might or power but by God's Spirit that we are able to stand firm against the enemy's schemes (Zechariah 4:6).
17. Satan uses signs and lying wonders to deceive people, but we can stand firm against him by testing everything that he tries on us through the word of God (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
18. When we resist the enemy, he backs away from us because he knows that his time is short (Revelation 12:12).
19. When Satan tries to flood us with his lies, we can counter them by calling upon the Holy Spirit to help us fill our minds with truth (John 14:26). We will be able to stand firm against his tactics this way because God's Word is truth (Psalm 119:142).
20. Satan's lies are a feeble imitation of God's truth and so, we should not be surprised when he tries to lure us away from the Lord with them (2 Corinthians 11:14). Let us remember that we don't fight against flesh and blood; we fight against spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12).

The Need To Stand Firm

When Christians begin to awaken spiritually and realize what God expects from us as His children, we become stronger through our spiritual knowledge (1 Peter 2:2). However, if we choose to remain lukewarm and refuse to use the spiritual gifts that God has given us through His Son Jesus Christ, we become too complacent and vulnerable to the enemy's plan.

• The Apostle Paul warned those who would not work out their own salvation as found in Philippians 2:12-13 (KJV) which states "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure".

The truth concerning what God expects from us includes working out our own salvation plus keeping ourselves unspotted from the world (James 1:27) because many worldly things are deceptive.

• We read in James 4:4 "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God".

Is it any wonder that people are deceived through many worldly endeavors which lead their minds astray from the truth because they have become friends with the things of this world instead of staying separate from it as found in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18?

In this hour of great deception, we have a duty to work out our own salvation and stand firm against the enemy's schemes. This means being wise concerning what is going on in the world so that we will not be deceived by it or play a part in it (Matthew 7:15-16).

Isaiah 59:19 Translations

When the Enemy Comes in Like a Flood KJV

Isaiah 59:19 - "So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him."

When the Enemy Comes in Like a Flood NKJV

Isaiah 59:19-20 - "So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him."

When the Enemy Comes in Like a Flood Amplified

Isaiah 59:19-20 - "So [as the result of the Messiah’s intervention] they shall [reverently] fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives]"

When the Enemy Comes in Like a Flood NIV

Isaiah 59:19-20 - "From the west, men will fear the name of the LORD, and from the rising of the sun, they will revere his glory. For he will come like a pent-up flood that the breath of the LORD drives along."

Conclusion

Even though we are constantly being attacked by the enemy in different ways, God is always ready to set up His banner of protection over us when we call out to Him.

When you feel like the enemy is coming in like a flood, remember that God has no intention of allowing him to have victory over you. Stand on God's promises and know this for sure - the Lord shall lift up a standard against him!

God has already defeated Satan. When we come into this world, we become part of His victorious army which has nothing else to fear for He is the conquering warrior! So let’s pray:

"Heavenly Father, thank You for saving us through Your Son Jesus Christ. We are sinners who were destined to die in our sins because the enemy has deceived us with many lies. Please forgive all of our sins and heal our sin-sick hearts so that we can stand firm against the enemy's schemes in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!"

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