The Truth Of Christ's Victory

 

When HE, Jesus, had disarmed the rulers, and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through him.
Colossians 2:15

My Personal Mission Statement:
Lifting Up Jesus, and Loving It!
Finding Freedom In Christ And Sharing It!
Dreaming God's Dreams, And HE will Make Them Happen!

I would like to briefly talk about the second part of my mission statement, and it might shock some; however, here I go: I want to talk about confronting demonic influences, in peoples lives, and to do the same in our own lives. And I want to talk about how to minister to these persons, and to minister to ourselves, in order for all of us to experience freedom in Christ. After all, did our Lord not talk about His liberating power when He said, "If the Lord makes you free, you shall be free ... INDEED. (John 8:36.)  And didn't the Apostle Paul say, "It is for freedom that Christ has set you free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourself be burdened by a yoke of slavery." Didn't John say, in 1st John 3:8, "The reason the LORD appeared was to destroy the Devil's work." Finally, in our opening scripture, in Colossians 2:15, we see that Jesus "disarmed the rulers, and authorities, and he made a public display of them." "Rulers and authorities = the Devil, and his demons. So, let's talk about helping Christ Followers be free.

First, prior to the Cross of Jesus, "All authority and power" had not yet been given to Jesus THE Christ. But Matthew 28:18 assures us that the resurrected Jesus, the Christ, is now the seat of All authority. Because of what Jesus accomplished on the Cross, because He died and was buried. And because He rose victoriously over the hell, death and the grave, broke the chains of bondage to sin and death, and brought us out of the strong hold of the Kingdom of Darkness, Satan was defeated, and Jesus made a spectacle of Satan and all his demonic forces. Satan no longer has authority over those who are IN Christ. When we first affirm the truth of Christ's victory, and Satan's defeat, we take the first step to combating the enemies  attempts to frighten, subdue or cause us difficulty, no matter what circumstances we are facing in life.

Second, once Jesus rose from the dead victoriously, we became participants in that same resurrection power the Heavenly Father used to raise Him from the dead. (Ephesians 1:18-23 NIV) We became "complete in Him, who is the head of all authority and power." (Colossians 2:10-11 KJV) We received the authority, and the power from Jesus that He possesses. (Matthew 28:18) The Spirit within us is far greater than "he who is in the world," which is Satan. ( 1 John 4:4b) 

Therefore, number 3, if get up, and give up (Roman 12:1-2) daily. If we "put off the deeds of darkness" so as to "behave decently, as in the day time," if "we cloth ourselves in Christ" each day (Romans 13:11-14), and if we armor up (Ephesians 6:10-20) We will be powered up, and able to walk in the Spirit powered power of God, and  we will have God's grace to "be strong in the Lord, and in His mighty power." We will be able to stand against the Devil's schemes." Because of all this being true, we can "Submit to God," and we can "resist the Devil."  Then "he will flee!"  This is the truth of Christ's Victory, and it's the truth about our ability to live free, indeed.

S o J o u r n e r