Hear the Lion Roar!

 A Lion is roaring (Amos 3:8), who can but respond to His majestic voice and spring into action?

“There is a snake in the grass,” my son reported.  Children play in our yard, so it didn't make sense to keep sitting in my easy chair and pretend there was no problem. This threat was real and demanded action. Therefore, with determination I got a shovel and went into the yard and hunted until I found the snake and took care of it.  

However, many believers hear Jesus’ message that the devil is roaming about to “steal, kill, and destroy” and yet do nothing.  The Word in James 4:7 tells believers to “Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  Paul reminds us that the victorious Christian life calls us to “fight the good fight of faith.”   2 Corinthians 10:3-4 points out that we are fighting a war, not in the flesh, but using the spiritual weapons that are mighty in God. The reality of our present situation demands action, that we fight.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Since He only did what the Father showed Him, clearly it is God’s will to destroy the works of the devil.  In Luke 9:1 when Jesus sent out the twelve disciples, the first thing He gave them was “power and authority over all demons.”  Likewise, after the seventy return they excitedly declared, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name.”  

Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing by any means shall hurt you,”. Furthermore, Jesus’ final instruction in Matthew 28 was “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”  Jesus has overcome the devil and we are commanded to “go therefore” in His name  releasing the power and authority of Jesus over sin, sickness, and the devil.

Rather than staying comfortable in our easy chair ignoring the onslaught of the devil, it is time to hear the Lion roar!  In the authority of God’s Word and in the name of Jesus, take your God-given authority and command the devil to stop.  In the words of Jesus when tempted, “Be gone, Satan.”

The Lion of Judah roars and seeks for willing servants who in the same divine intensity hate evil and the destruction of the evil one enough to cast out demons and take authority over all the power of the evil one.  Rule in the midst of your enemies (Psalm 110:2) until every tongue in heaven, on earth, and beneath the earth confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.  (Philippians 2:10-11).

Come, Thy Kingdom!

 The torch has been handed to you.  "I have given you authority" (Luke 11:19)  God established His kingdom with the designation that you have His authority to declare with your mouth "life and death" (Proverbs 18:21), and tells you to "Choose life" (Deut. 30:19).  Both the phrase They kingdom come and Thy will be done are actually imperatives, translated in common English to read "Come, Thy kingdom" and "Be done,Thy will."  These are declarations that we as believers are instructed to make so God's power can be released on the earth.  God confirms His Word that we speak. (Mark 16:20)

Jesus declared repeatedly in His ministry that the kingdom of God "is here" and "has come."  It refers to God establishing a whole new order of life where Jesus is Lord and all things are transformed to submit to His love and rule.  When Jesus declared, "It is Finished," Satan was defeated and all the consequences of sin were totally paid for.  However, Hebrews 2:8-9 reminds us that even though everything is now in subjection to Jesus and under His feet, we don't see this complete victory manifested yet.  God calls on us to agree with His Word, to cry out "Come, Lord Jesus!", and to "hasten the day of His coming" by our declaring this simple request, Come, Thy Kingdom!  Revelation reveals the day is coming when the kingdoms of the earth will become the kingdoms of our Lord, on earth as it is in heaven.  Every enemy of love will be removed.  Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.  Amen, let it be so.

Jesus also told us that the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:21)  Paul describes the kingdom in Romans 14:17 as "righteousness, peace, and joy of the Holy Spirit," and in 1 Corinthians 4:20 as "not in word but in power."  Those who receive Jesus Christ, and believe in His name, have been given power  to become the sons of God (John 1:12).  Through salvation we have been made temples of the Holy Spirit and so the very presence of God dwells in us.  We speak and release the power of God to be "king" in us, that His righteousness, peace, and the joy of the Holy Spirit would dominate our lives.

We also call forth that His will be done.  We purpose to obey His Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit.  By praying this phrase, we align our will with His will, and "pick up our cross daily."  The cross is where His will and our will cross.  We choose and declare to walk in the Spirit of holiness and obedience as we will forever in heaven.  

Furthermore, we can extend this prayer petition to others.  May His kingdom (righteousness, peace, and the joy of the Holy Spirit) come upon our spouses and children, on our leaders and pastors, and on those whom the Spirit brings to mind.  It is releasing the power of God to bless and transform those whom we love.  May His will be done in their lives.  3 John 2 encourages us that He desires above all things that we prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers.  Obviously, Jesus' kingdom extends to those who accept His saving work and leadership (making Him Lord.)  We become the Lord's ambassadors who cry out for all men to be reconciled to God and choose to do His will. 

Pray that His kingdom come on the earth as it is in heaven, and that men everywhere turn from their selfish fleshly desires to choosing to do His will.