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).

Fall Like Lightning

 The 70 disciples came back to Jesus with joy saying, "Even the demons are subject to us through Your name."  Jesus replied, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."  (Luke 10:17-18)  Satan has fallen and is defeated.

Jesus, who declared that all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him in Matthew 28, also declared that we have been given the right to represent Him through use of His name. When He sent the disciples out He called them together and "gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."  With His authority what could possibly stop us from overcoming?

In the parable of the sower it is revealed that even though the Word is an incorruptible seed, it can be choked by the weeds (other thoughts and cares) that we allow to live in our hearts.  We see the same principle working in the situation (Mark 9) where the man brought the demon-possessed boy to Jesus.  When he asked Jesus, "If you can do anything?, Jesus replied all things are possible to him who believes.  Notice in the man's response that he did believe, but he also had unbelief.  These weeds, contrary thoughts and soulish cares that produced unbelief, choked his faith and rendered him powerless.   

Jesus is not impressed or moved by many words. He even taught us not to pray like the heathen who repeat many phrases or chants. He is moved by those who declare His Word with authority.  "Let your eye be single" suggests that our focus is on the truth and power of the Word, refusing to look at the waves and the wind that would cause doubt.  He who dies to himself, finds life.  Rejecting what our soulish nature, called our flesh, dictates through the natural senses and choosing to hear the Word which is spirit and truth, produces life. 

The Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus.  He leads us to know the truth of what Jesus has accomplished.  He further pours the love of God into our hearts so we can by faith understand the absolutely awesome gift of divine nature God has allowed us to share in Christ.  So much so that 1 John 4:17 states, "As He is, so are we in the world." 

Jesus established His church to bind and loose things on earth with the same authority and power of heaven, assuring us that the gates of hell would not prevail. He meant for believers who receive His free gift of righteousness to rule in this life.  He also gave us instruction of how to pray, including the imperative commands, "Thy kingdon, Come!" and "Thy will, Be Done!"  We as the Body of Christ are to do the works that He did and greater ones.  

How do we rule?  Jesus is revealed in Revelation as having a two-edged sword coming out of His mouth.  Likewise, Psalm 149 speaks of believers having the high praises of God in our mouths and the two-edge sword in our hands.   God has entrusted to His faithful ones the authority to use the Word, so He can confirm it with power and signs following.  Therefore, the Holy Spirit is teaching believers today to declare His Word over all situations, and to stand in His authority.  The climax of the armor in Epesians 6 is to "stand therefore, and having done all to stand, stand."  1 Peter 5 calls us to resist steadfast in the faith until God perfects, establishes, strengthens and settles us in the victory.  

 Satan has fallen from heaven like lightning.  Jesus made a public example of him (Colossians 2:15) by defeating him through His death on the cross, and triumphed over him through His resurrection.  The battle is finished, and God is looking for those who would believe it in their hearts and declare it with their lips.  Without faith it is impossible to please God.  Speak the Word in faith.  Fight the good fight of faith by refusing to let the weeds of unbelief detract you from standing strong in Jesus' name and authority.  Faith pleases God and causes us to overcome the world (1 John 5:4).  

 

Weary? Never Quit!

What is God saying to the church today? 

The Lord has been showing me the importance of putting on the armor of God (Ephesians 6) and taking authority over the works of the enemy, especially in the areas that the Lord has exposed to me.  It is easy to forget and get into the complaining and frustrated mode where the evil around me starts to depress me, rather than see this as a call to arms, to take the God-given authority that He has entrusted to believers to resist the enemy and cause him to flee.  Maybe we have fought for a while, but haven't seen instant results, so we get weary and slowly fade.

  So my Word this morning is from Galatians 6:9, "let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."  Faith and patience (same Greek word as endurance) inherit the promises.  We all know there is a spiritual battle going on, but for some reason (My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge) we get distracted or worn out and quit fighting the good fight.  In my spirit I sense that one of the major things God is doing in the church is uniting us to stand together as one in the authority of the name of Jesus.  Psalm 8:6 reminds us (as does Luke 10:19) that He has put all things under our feet.

 The word for church, "Ecclesia," means the called out ones, but it also has a political foundation from its root meaning in Greek, of those assembled to rule in the affairs of men.  Romans 5:17 would support this, "much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."

  

  It is not a little thing to put on the armor - there is a real battle going on.  Gird your loins with the truth of His Word.  Thank the Lord Jesus for the breastplate of His righteousness.  Set your heart to prepare your feet to walk in the Gospel of peace to all.  Above all, choose to stand in faith that Jesus has overcome which quenches all the fiery darts of the enemy.  And rejoice as you put on the helmet of salvation, remembering that He has delivered you from all the consequences of your sin.  Last, but not least, take up the sword of the Spirit by declaring the Word of God.  When you speak the Word you release God's power and allow the Spirit of God to move. He is waiting to be gracious to us (Isaiah 30:18).  What specific Scriptures are you declaring today?  May I share a few of my favorites:

    Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph, 

    My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory,

    By His stripes I am healed,

    He covers the righteous with favor as with a shield,

    No weapon formed against me shall prosper,

    He makes all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose,

    Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you,

    At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, in heaven, on the earth, and beneath the earth, 

    Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!

 Why should we continue to be diligent to fight?  My final exhortation is bedrock, because of Jesus.  Hebrews 12:3 declares "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."  Or consider the joy of Jesus speaking His praise to you as expressed in Revelation 2:3, "you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary." 

Taught to Know War

 Do you know war? More important, do you know how to use the weapons of your warfare and how to make sure you overcome?  The good news is "Blessed be the Lord my Rock who trains my hands for war,  and my fingers for battle" (Psalm 144:1)  The Holy Spirit will lead us and teach us how to fight the good fight of faith, because if God is for us, who can stand against us?

We are in a war, but not with flesh and blood.  This battle may be the Lords, but He clearly waits on us to execute the authority He has given us.   It is a lot like turning on the lights--unless you flip the switch, the electricity (the abundant power of God in my analogy) will not  illuminate the lights and dispel the darkness.  In Luke 10:19 Jesus states "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."  When God uses the word "behold," it is something amazing.  We may wonder why God wants us to have this authority, but He obviously will help us learn to use it well because in Revelation 12:11 it points out that "they (meaning us believers) overcame the enemy by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death."  Our testimony is receiving the Word with meekness and speaking that truth no matter what the flesh wants us to believe.  Romans 16:20 encourages us that He will "crush Satan under our feet."  

In the Old Testament, God left some of the enemy tribes in the promised land, so the young men who had not seen the miracles and deliverance of God over the Egyptians "might be taught to know war" (Judges 3:1-2).  Likewise in the New Testament, Hebrews 2:8-9 remind us that Jesus completely defeated Satan and everything is put in subjection to Him, "but now we do not yet see all things put under Him.  But we see Jesus,"  The point is that God wants us to use the authority Jesus has given us to stand against the devil wherever we see evil working. Our choice in the battle is really two fold, one) submit to God, and two) resist the devil and he will flee from you.  This same principle is found  Peter 5, "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith,"  And the conclusion is that God Himself will "perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."  

We are equipped with supernatural weapons, His armor, the blood of the Lamb, and the name of Jesus.  It is up to each of us to put them on and resist the enemy's lies and attacks.  Faith and patience inherits the promises and so does taking a stand and refusing to submit to the yoke of slavery.  Ephesians 6 bluntly states, "take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."  God is glorified when we choose to declare and trust His Word, and use the standing time as an opportunity to give thanks and praise rather than give up.  We serve a mighty God who confirms His Word.