Far too often the Christian believer forgets that we are in a war, a battle royale to the finish, between the forces of the Devil; and those of God our Father and His anointed, our Lord Jesus Christ. The terror which inaugurated “9-1-1” is nothing compared to that which had been waged since the beginning of time for the salvation of mankind as well as restoration to the original harmony between the Creator and the rest of creation. Souls are being lost while we tremble and cower before the seemingly unending onslaught from the satanic forces, and a relentless enemy who will stop at nothing to destroy us.
This should not be a cause of great despair or anxiety because of the encouragement found in I John 4: 4 says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Jesus says of His Church in Matthew 16: 18b: “And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” What we need are some reminders of what our privilege entitles us to, and to redirect and expand the focus of our mission. It is more than just the worship of praise, thankfulness, and offering supplication; but rather it is deadly serious. Although the Apostle Paul writes in I Corinthians 4: 20: For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power; but what good and benefit is all of that if we are ignorant of this great supernatural equipment for spiritual warfare or are afraid to use it?
Acts 3: 2, 6, 16
And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you: In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And His name, through faith in His name [‘Jesus’], has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness.
Acts 5: 17-20, 25, 27-28a
Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and they laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night, an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this Name [‘Jesus’]?”
John 1: 12
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the “authority” to become children of God, to those who believe in His name [‘Jesus’].
John 14: 12-14
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do because I go to the Father. “And whatever you ask in My name [‘Jesus’], that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask anything in My name [‘Jesus’], I will do it.”
Philippians 2: 9-11
Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and those under the earth [‘demons’??], and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Matthew 28: 18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Acts 10: 35
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
NOTE: The name of ‘Jesus’ carries within itself all the prerogatives of deity as conveyed in (Gr. ‘dunastes’-great responsibility or high position, rank; ‘exousia’-right or authority; ‘dunamis’-great force, might, or power; ‘kratos’-the right of a ruler or sovereign; and ‘energes’-unbounded energy to accomplish something.
I John 3: 8b
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the
works [‘all’] of the devil.
Luke 10: 17
Then the ‘Seventy’ returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name [‘Jesus’].”
II Corinthians 10: 4-5
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal [‘physical’], but mighty [Gr. ‘dunamis’??] in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing [even] every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Ephesians 6: 12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against (1) principalities, against
(2) powers, against (3) the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
(4) spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
May 26, 2009
pbks@hotmail.com
