More Than Conquerors

In this world it can be tempting to get involved in conflicts. We become rattled and want revenge on another person for their wicked behavior, but we must remember that our war is not against flesh and blood. The people of this earth are motivated by only two sources, The Lord God (Trinity) or the lord of the flies (Satan) and his legions of darkness. The true threat is not your coworker, but the cosmic forces motivating their thinking which in turn creates actions. The Apostle Paul said, "For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12). There are fallen angels (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 12:9) who wage war against mankind, who have even polluted the human race in days since past (Genesis 6:4-6), and they have offspring that disembodied spirits that had bodies and were called Nephilim or giants (Goliath was one) but now have lost their bodies since the Flood (Genesis 6:9 thru Genesis 9:17) and are called demons (See the following passages for proof of demons and them being caste out in Christ's name: Matthew 8:28-33, Mark 1:24-34, Acts 16:16-18, Luke 10:17-20).

The battle is not over sources of power in the visible, but souls in the invisible. The devil and his demons and fallen angels seek to enslave people. But Jesus Christ, God Incarnate (Colossians 2:9, John 1:1-15) has all power to drive these serpents of the spirit out! Christ has given us power of dark powers, to command them to flee and leave people, "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed." (Mark 16:17-18). We have been given these priviledges, to put turn the possessed into the confessed, the ill to the healed in Jesus' name! Evidence of this is found after Christ ascended, not just during His ministry, "we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour," (Acts 16:16-18), and "But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold for you. But I'll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk! Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man's feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened." (Acts 3:6-7). Even beyond that Jesus gave us resurrection life!, "Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up." (Acts 9:40). Through us, Christ can heal, deliver people from demonic oppression, and even raise the dead! For Jesus said, "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26). That Ressurection lives in us who is Risen Ressurected Christ! For the Scriptures tell us that the Savior, God Himself lives within us, "For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory," (Colossians1:27), "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me," (Galatians 2:20), "And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you." (Romans 8:10-12).

Christ who is Ressurection Life lives within us, that power at His Will and by faith can produce miracles! If we but have faith as small mustard seed, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you," (Matthew 17:20), "I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven, Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven," (Matthew 18:18-19)and "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!" (John 14:12-14). Christ has given us incredible authority in Spirit! If our hearts are bound to Christ and we Love Him with all we are (Matthew 22:27-38) He has promised us the right to do these things!: Caste out demons, heal the sick, drink poision and not be harmed, and raise the dead!

Certainly we must be careful of getting too big an ego over Emmanuel's gifts to us. We must remember that Christ holds keys to death and hades (Revelation 1:7) and we cannot simply just will what we want to happen in every circumstance; we must walk by faith and by faith do what Christ said we can do (see Scriptures above) but if the Lord says no, it is not for us to question or doubt that the power, the Ressurection power, is within us still, "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (never can be withdrawn)." (Romans 11:29). But we must be humble, we cannot command the Holy Trinity at our bidding, it is a partnership where we ask, lay hands, pray, and have faith; but Our Heavenly Father, Christ Jesus, and the Holy Spirit decide the outcome (do the healing, delivering, and raise the dead through us). If you are attuned you will know when Almighty is going to do a miracle, instead of emotionally making a scene and expecting the Lord to intervene. We must be bold and humble, trusting Lord but not fearing to believe and have faith that a miracle can happen!

It seems I digress, but this includes delivering people from demons. We are in wrestling match, a war with the unseen devils. But the war is won, "But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil," (1 John 3:8), and "He humbled himself in obedience to Gand died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father," (Phillipians 2:8-11). All demons, devils, and even Satan himself must submit to name of Jesus Christ, and will be judged on Great Day of Judgement! For it is written that Satan shall be judged and tormented in fire forever (Revelation 20:10), the fallen angels will burn as well (Matthew 25:41), and all demons will join them fallen in flame. But until that day we are in a war, but the war is has been won, and Christ who won the war lives in un us (1 Corinthians 3:16). So remember that you are more than conquerors through Christ, and that nothing, no devil, disease, or dark deed you did in your past can separate you from Christ's love, "What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31-39). We are on the winning side of Christ! Do not despair or fear devils, nor believe disease and death have power to stop the One (Jesus) who defeated death and can heal every disease! Have faith and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to teach you and use you in "greater ways" (John 14:12-14). Amen.