Clap your hands, all you people! Shout to God with joy! The Lord Most High is wonderful! He is the great King over all the earth. He defeated nations for us and put them under our control. He chose the land we would inherit. (vs. 1-4)
God stripped the spiritual rulers and authorities of their power. With the cross, He won the victory and showed the world that they were powerless. (Colossians 2)
My dear children, you belong to God and have defeated them; because God's Spirit, Who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world. (Woot!!!!!! 1John 4:4)
Every day I quote Colossians 2 to the enemy of my soul lest he think he has the upper hand with me. I don't always remember that he has no control over me, but the Spirit within me does! I remind the enemy that he has been STRIPPED of his authority by the cross of Christ. I love the word "stripped" because it is the way my Savior hung on the cross...stripped of His dignity, shamed by my sin, naked and bleeding for me. It seemed to the world that Jesus was stripped of His calling as Messiah, also. That was on Friday, though. Come Sunday....Clap your hands, people!!!! Stand up and shout!! The war was not over until the grave was empty. The Lord Most High is wonderful beyond compare!!
If Satan has lost, why is he still winning battles in our lives? What is it that we are missing? I think it is the recognition that we have the same Spirit Who raised Christ from the dead living within us. Satan is in the world. His spirits cling to earthly, worldly things and ideologies. It is impossible to go outside even to the grocery store and not bump into at least one of his minions cloying at our peace and joy. Trying to draw us in. It doesn't look like war, though, huh? It seems like going to the grocery store. Or the movies. Or even to church. The enemy is lurking everywhere luring, lying and licentious. A little bit here. A little bit there. Saving the big artillery for when we are lulled into his web and don't know how we got there.
It seems to me we don't understand the nature of the battle or the fullness of the victory. If you, as a soldier, have just vanquished your arch enemy and are savoring the victory, why would you then listen to his taunts to come join his side again? That would not make any sense at all!! But that is what we do. Why? We forgot we had to be vigilant in victory. We need to be on offense once we win. The aggressor is still going to hate us, regroup and try again. That is why we must stand firm in the victory we have in Christ, resist the devil and make him flee. Remind the enemy of who you are - Who lives in you. Remind yourself that the rulers of the world are powerless against you because He Who dwells IN you is greater than the enemy. Stand up. Look around. Don't be caught off guard. Know the Word and use it as the sword it is. Put up your shield, trusting in the One Who has won.
One day every knee will bow every tongue confess -- even Satan's! -- that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. Lots of clapping and foot stomping!! Victory cries and applause! We can start now! No need to wait to understand how great is our Savior Who has vanquished every foe and led us to victory in this life and in the life to come! The wonderful Lord Most High is our Abba! We are kids of the General of Heaven and Earth! As such we are vanquishers along with Him. Stand up and shout. Take your victory to heart and know that "no weapon formed against you will prosper."
God stripped the spiritual rulers and authorities of their power. With the cross, He won the victory and showed the world that they were powerless. (Colossians 2)
My dear children, you belong to God and have defeated them; because God's Spirit, Who is in you, is greater than the devil, who is in the world. (Woot!!!!!! 1John 4:4)
Every day I quote Colossians 2 to the enemy of my soul lest he think he has the upper hand with me. I don't always remember that he has no control over me, but the Spirit within me does! I remind the enemy that he has been STRIPPED of his authority by the cross of Christ. I love the word "stripped" because it is the way my Savior hung on the cross...stripped of His dignity, shamed by my sin, naked and bleeding for me. It seemed to the world that Jesus was stripped of His calling as Messiah, also. That was on Friday, though. Come Sunday....Clap your hands, people!!!! Stand up and shout!! The war was not over until the grave was empty. The Lord Most High is wonderful beyond compare!!
If Satan has lost, why is he still winning battles in our lives? What is it that we are missing? I think it is the recognition that we have the same Spirit Who raised Christ from the dead living within us. Satan is in the world. His spirits cling to earthly, worldly things and ideologies. It is impossible to go outside even to the grocery store and not bump into at least one of his minions cloying at our peace and joy. Trying to draw us in. It doesn't look like war, though, huh? It seems like going to the grocery store. Or the movies. Or even to church. The enemy is lurking everywhere luring, lying and licentious. A little bit here. A little bit there. Saving the big artillery for when we are lulled into his web and don't know how we got there.
It seems to me we don't understand the nature of the battle or the fullness of the victory. If you, as a soldier, have just vanquished your arch enemy and are savoring the victory, why would you then listen to his taunts to come join his side again? That would not make any sense at all!! But that is what we do. Why? We forgot we had to be vigilant in victory. We need to be on offense once we win. The aggressor is still going to hate us, regroup and try again. That is why we must stand firm in the victory we have in Christ, resist the devil and make him flee. Remind the enemy of who you are - Who lives in you. Remind yourself that the rulers of the world are powerless against you because He Who dwells IN you is greater than the enemy. Stand up. Look around. Don't be caught off guard. Know the Word and use it as the sword it is. Put up your shield, trusting in the One Who has won.
One day every knee will bow every tongue confess -- even Satan's! -- that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. Lots of clapping and foot stomping!! Victory cries and applause! We can start now! No need to wait to understand how great is our Savior Who has vanquished every foe and led us to victory in this life and in the life to come! The wonderful Lord Most High is our Abba! We are kids of the General of Heaven and Earth! As such we are vanquishers along with Him. Stand up and shout. Take your victory to heart and know that "no weapon formed against you will prosper."
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