Hebrews 12:1-2 (Amplified) – Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us…
It is time to lay aside the old and all of the things that continue to entangle us and hinder our walk with the Lord. Let us strip off and throw aside every unnecessary weight so that we might walk with Him and fulfill His plan with patient endurance and steady and active persistence.
Acts 28:3-5 – And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, no doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
Shake off the beast. Strip off all of the things that cling to you and keep you from moving forward.
Isaiah 52:1-2 – Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake yourself from the dust; arise, sit [erect in a dignified place], O Jerusalem; loose yourself from the bonds of your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.
Judges 15:14 – When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him. Then the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him; and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands.
When the Spirit of the Lord comes upon you, rise up and shake off the ropes binding you. They will be like flax burned with fire and break loose from you. There are times when the Spirit of God is moving in freedom, move with Him in whatever action He is leading you to do, and freedom will come to you.
Isaiah 60:1 – Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
Arise, put on your strength, shake yourself from the dust, arise and loose yourself from the bonds of your neck. Shake off the beast, and it will have no harm on you.
It takes spiritual and emotional strength to shake yourself free. If you are in a habit of shaking off the enemy when he attacks, and it doesn’t seem to work, something may have diluted and blocked your spiritual strength; your connection with the Lord may not be as strong as it needs to be. Get close to the Lord and remove the obstacles and it will work again.
If it has never worked to shake something off, put on your strength. Build the word of truth and presence of God into yourself in that area till you are strong enough, and then shake off the enemy.
