NEWS Where the Real Power Lies
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me." (Matthew 28:18)
and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. (Colossians 2:10)
From time to time, I hear Christians - even ministers and pastors - talk about Satan and the forces of darkness having authority over us here on earth. Every time something goes wrong in their life or with something in their church, they are quick to blame Satan. But Satan is not to blame. Satan is only doing what Christ allows him to do. To believe otherwise conflicts with God's word. The truth is very simple:
Christ is in charge of everything.
Well, the darkness we see has one purpose. It is designed to bring us closer to Christ. The only purpose the darkness serves is as contrast to His light. Darkness (you can substitute the word 'evil' for darkness) provides the contrast that enables us to recognize and experience God's never-failing love.
Consider what would happen if the Lord wrote a message to you with white chalk on a white chalk board. No matter how hard you tried, you would not be able to see it. Without the blackboard of darkness/evil, all the love and light the Lord is trying to illuminate to us could not be seen or recognized.
We can look at the Gospels and see how effective the darkness/evil is to the Lord. Consider the relationship between Jesus and his disciple, Judas. Judas certainly betrayed Jesus, but it turns out that in doing so, he became the Lord's best publicity agent. By his dark act, Judas made Christ eternally famous. Hallelujah! If you ever doubted the brilliance of the Lord, consider the relationship between Jesus and Judas and doubt no more!
Jesus knew the role He had to play, and all that was going to happen to Him in order that He might demonstrate the love and greatness of God. A villain was necessary for Christ to increase mightily on earth. We all know what happened to Judas. God dealt with him in an appropriate manner. Jesus was exalted as the Christ, not Judas.
Take a look around today. Is there darkness in your life? Has somebody done something to hurt you, perhaps even though you think you have done nothing wrong to deserve the pain you are experiencing? Well, the darkness we experience has one purpose and one purpose only - to bring us closer to the Lord.
He must increase, but we must decrease. (John 3:30)
God's eternal plan is summed up in John 3:30 - in a simple sentence containing seven words. The Lord's love must increase in our hearts and whatever is not of Christ must decrease. The place this happens in on the Cross. The Cross is the foundation of our love walk. Without the Cross, we cannot walk in His love. It is simply impossible.
Christians celebrate the power of the Cross every Easter. Followers of Christ celebrate the power of the Cross every single day. The Cross is the foundation of everything in the kingdom of God.
The Lord told us very clearly that we must all carry our own crosses daily if we are to follow Him. Each day, more of us has to die. When we go to the Cross and allow the Lord to crucify what is not of Him in our hearts, He replaces the darkness with His love, light and life. It's a beautiful exchange. We may not feel worthy of His grace and mercy at all times, but He desires for us to have it. That is the divine nature of His never-failing love. It is given freely to those who take up their crosses daily and follow Christ.
Beloved, on this day of Easter, 2008, let this little note be a reminder of where the real power lies in the universe. Christ is the head over every power and authority. Satan's purpose is to serve Christ, as much as the prince of darkness hates doing so. The power Satan has over us is the power given to him by Christ.
If you are upset with the way the Lord is dealing with you through the darkness in your life, it is a certainty that the Lord is trying to take you higher in His love. After all, HE MUST INCREASE!
The pain you experience during times of darkness is associated with the Lord increasing in your heart, and in the process, you (self) are decreasing. Remember another thing: There are no padded crosses. As the old saying goes, no pain, no gain. There's a great deal of truth to this in the spiritual realm.
Christ has all authority in the universe. Never forget this eternal truth.
May you see Christ as Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
Agape,
Steve
and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. (Colossians 2:10)
From time to time, I hear Christians - even ministers and pastors - talk about Satan and the forces of darkness having authority over us here on earth. Every time something goes wrong in their life or with something in their church, they are quick to blame Satan. But Satan is not to blame. Satan is only doing what Christ allows him to do. To believe otherwise conflicts with God's word. The truth is very simple:
Christ is in charge of everything.
The Scriptures above - Matthew 28:16 and Colossians 2:10 - make this abundantly clear. Satan only has power to the extent that Christ has granted him. There is and can be no doubt about this fundamental and eternal truth.
So, you may ask, why all the darkness in the world today?Well, the darkness we see has one purpose. It is designed to bring us closer to Christ. The only purpose the darkness serves is as contrast to His light. Darkness (you can substitute the word 'evil' for darkness) provides the contrast that enables us to recognize and experience God's never-failing love.
Consider what would happen if the Lord wrote a message to you with white chalk on a white chalk board. No matter how hard you tried, you would not be able to see it. Without the blackboard of darkness/evil, all the love and light the Lord is trying to illuminate to us could not be seen or recognized.
We can look at the Gospels and see how effective the darkness/evil is to the Lord. Consider the relationship between Jesus and his disciple, Judas. Judas certainly betrayed Jesus, but it turns out that in doing so, he became the Lord's best publicity agent. By his dark act, Judas made Christ eternally famous. Hallelujah! If you ever doubted the brilliance of the Lord, consider the relationship between Jesus and Judas and doubt no more!
Jesus knew the role He had to play, and all that was going to happen to Him in order that He might demonstrate the love and greatness of God. A villain was necessary for Christ to increase mightily on earth. We all know what happened to Judas. God dealt with him in an appropriate manner. Jesus was exalted as the Christ, not Judas.
Take a look around today. Is there darkness in your life? Has somebody done something to hurt you, perhaps even though you think you have done nothing wrong to deserve the pain you are experiencing? Well, the darkness we experience has one purpose and one purpose only - to bring us closer to the Lord.
He must increase, but we must decrease. (John 3:30)
God's eternal plan is summed up in John 3:30 - in a simple sentence containing seven words. The Lord's love must increase in our hearts and whatever is not of Christ must decrease. The place this happens in on the Cross. The Cross is the foundation of our love walk. Without the Cross, we cannot walk in His love. It is simply impossible.
Christians celebrate the power of the Cross every Easter. Followers of Christ celebrate the power of the Cross every single day. The Cross is the foundation of everything in the kingdom of God.
The Lord told us very clearly that we must all carry our own crosses daily if we are to follow Him. Each day, more of us has to die. When we go to the Cross and allow the Lord to crucify what is not of Him in our hearts, He replaces the darkness with His love, light and life. It's a beautiful exchange. We may not feel worthy of His grace and mercy at all times, but He desires for us to have it. That is the divine nature of His never-failing love. It is given freely to those who take up their crosses daily and follow Christ.
Beloved, on this day of Easter, 2008, let this little note be a reminder of where the real power lies in the universe. Christ is the head over every power and authority. Satan's purpose is to serve Christ, as much as the prince of darkness hates doing so. The power Satan has over us is the power given to him by Christ.
If you are upset with the way the Lord is dealing with you through the darkness in your life, it is a certainty that the Lord is trying to take you higher in His love. After all, HE MUST INCREASE!
The pain you experience during times of darkness is associated with the Lord increasing in your heart, and in the process, you (self) are decreasing. Remember another thing: There are no padded crosses. As the old saying goes, no pain, no gain. There's a great deal of truth to this in the spiritual realm.
Christ has all authority in the universe. Never forget this eternal truth.
May you see Christ as Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
Agape,
Steve
posted by Steve at
11:08 AM
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