Crossing Thresholds: The Reason You Are Dealing with a Swirl of Warfare

There are many reasons we deal with spiritual warfare and attack.

Sometimes, we bring it upon ourselves through sin, or it has been perpetuated through something in our spiritual bloodline.  The good news is we can immediately confront and reverse this kind of warfare through repentance.  This immediately closes these doors to demonic attack.

But what happens when the warfare seems to be “out of nowhere” and, try as you might, you cannot discern any open door to the devil created by your own choices, or the choices of those before you?

I want to propose that there is one word that reveals the reason behind the ferocity of Satan’s attacks in this season. In fact, how we confront and navigate this kind of warfare determines the kind of Church we will become in the days ahead. There is a battle at the threshold.

While on a walk, where I do most of my prayer, the Holy Spirit clarified to me that the war is over crossing thresholds.  Here are some of the very words I wrote down that I believe the Spirit of God spoke to me:

Thresholds are key junction points for increase and advancement.

Often, when we hit threshold moments, we literally feel like everything is going to fall apart and crumble.  Why?

Because a threshold is a sign that you can no longer operate at this previous level…

You have a decision to make at a threshold.

Will you CROSS or will you CRUMBLE?

The enemy bombards believers at threshold moments, “effectual doors” as Paul would identify them.

There are enemies and adversaries at these doors.

They are many and often quite intense.  Why?

Hell does not want a believer to cross a threshold because that means “glory to glory,” so hell aims everything at the believer at the threshold so they crumble instead of crossing.

There is so much intensity right now for so many believers because the powers of darkness are terrified at the prospect of you, or your church community, crossing a threshold and actually advancing into fulfilled promises and seeing prophetic words coming to pass. 

The Apostle Paul used language that points to this, in writing: “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

I remember Irish prophet and author, Emma Stark, doing a teaching on how there are demonic spirits literally stationed at open doors of advancement.  Why?  They shudder to consider what will become of their influence and earthly impact if believers successfully navigate the to phase of their journey.  It’s all about what happens in the to.

Writing to the same Corinthian church, Paul describes Heaven’s intended journey path of the believer: “from glory to glory.” (see 2 Cor. 3:18).    

Pray and discern right now, “Holy Spirit, what threshold are You empowering me to cross right now?”  As a church, this is the main reason people do not experience sustained revival, or, foundationally, never step into a move of the Spirit to begin with.  We reach a threshold and instead of conquering the spirits trying to prevent our movement, we crumble under their resistance.

The Spirit begins to stir and move in our gatherings, in a supernatural and unusual manner.  I propose that is a threshold seeking bold leadership who will be willing to lead their people into a move of God, regardless of cost of consequence.

The Spirit begins to connect and align you with the right people.  Then, all of a sudden, you experience weird, random resistance.  Gossip.  Persecution.  Opposition.  Old voices trying to hijack your advancement into the new.  Keep pressing forward in the fruit of the Spirit, refusing to cave.

The Spirit opens doors of opportunity to you, and all of a sudden, seemingly “random” negative circumstances seem to sprout up left and right in your life or family.  The devil wants to wear you down so you just give up, stop trying, and just let “whatever happens happen.”  Keep pressing onward.

Kim Owens writes in her book Doorkeepers of Revival that “thresholds are places we come to where we either go forward or backward.”

How do you cross thresholds in the Spirit, advance from glory to glory, and defeat these attacks of the enemy?  Simple, not easy.  You keep moving.  You don’t cave or crumble or capitulate.  If you have a promise or a prophecy or a word from the Lord, and it’s experiencing opposition (which Jesus did assure), remember that the blessing is reserved for those who endure.

I pray right now for the wind of Holy Spirit to blow a fresh upon the sails of your life, empowering you to rise up, again, and keep crossing thresholds.