Evil has no more Power

Evil has no more Power

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:12-13 NIV

I think that evil or sin, when it comes to its full maturity, is what sends us away from the presence of God and straight to Hell. Even though evil seems so pervasive, working itself out through the acts of men, evil is ultimately powerless. We know that evil was overpowered by the cross (John 16:33). We know that evil was undone by the empty grave of Christ. We know that where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20) for those who repent. And this same super-power that dethroned sin and uprooted evil lives in us! – 1 John 5: 4 & 5

Sin is the sore-loser that refuses to believe he has lost. Though sin rages on, always looking for a rematch, it has unequivocally failed and is doomed for Hell. Know that if we stand firm with Christ till the end, we will be saved. Know that to stand with Christ is to stand with the victor over every evil and every illness of body and spirit in this world. And the one that overcame sin and death lives in you through the Holy Spirit. Our hope has always been planted securely in Christ! And evil has no power to steal you from the hand of God when you have come to Him by way of Christ Jesus!

An Illustration of God's Love

An Illustration of God's Love

We love because he first loved us.

1 John 4:19 NIV

I was watching a television show where a mother and son were in the police department of a small town. The son was tearfully confessing to a vigilante killing, theft and an attempt to frame someone else for the murder. And as he sobbed his mother responded, "You are the love of my life, I love you son." The child responded, "I am a murderer and I don't deserve to be called your son." She sobbed and said, "You are my son and I love you."

Does this not look like God's love for us? Some of the more arrogant among us would say that we are better than or not as bad as a murderer. But the reality is that we have all fallen short of God's standards (Romans 3:23). We have all offended the righteousness of God and deserve hell-fire and brimstone, for eternity. And yet, God's response to our sin is to bludgeon His son, nail him to a cross and turn His back on him (Matthew 27:46). After we have done, said and thought enough things to be ushered right out of God's presence, He instead holds us close, looks us in the eye and whispers, "You are mine, and I love you."

In my opinion, love is not inherent, but is something learned. A person can learn to love incorrectly or in a twisted way that may seem well and good, but ultimately leaves a trail of false emotional connections to things that God does not accept nor approve. Now if a person learned love from God, then love presents itself in a way that is not self serving, breaks down barriers, lifts the lowly and restores the broken, even the worst of us.

Satan knows, but do we?

Satan knows, but do we?

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 NLT

I began thinking of how nearly every effort to do something godly is interrupted by doubt and fear. If I hear God’s call to bear witness of His name, then I also have thoughts of inadequacy. If God prompts me to give, I also worry about my limited finances. It seems that for every good thing (or I should say every God thing) I also get burdened with the lies that only Satan would create.

One thought that has never occurred to me before is that; Satan believes something about us that we do not believe about ourselves. We believers have a way of judging each other that can sometimes dampen the message of Christ. We judge people by their education, their appearance, their financial status and sometimes even by their weight or their color. Too many times we have decided the value of others and let them know in no uncertain terms that they are unworthy, unusable and unnecessary. But God has never said that about you, or me or anyone that has committed their lives to Him.

Satan knows that we can do everything (some versions of the Bible say ‘all things’) through Christ Jesus because he is the one that gives us the Strength! The devil knows that we are in the hands of the one that empowers us with the necessary equipment to do the good works He has planned for us to do. Satan knows, but do we? Have we forgotten about that which God can do through us?

Lift up your brother and encourage your sister. They have good and godly works to do that they were ordained for by God our King. We should not stand in the way of that godly work, but encourage it! 

Restoration of the Saints

Restoration of the Saints

I will restore you to health and heal your wounds. Jeremiah 30:17 NIV

The enemy’s main mission is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). Evil always looks for ways to steal our hope in Christ and to destroy the work of God in our lives. But, our God has overcome the enemy with His own blood. And He will not let the plans of the wicked prosper (Isaiah 54:17).

It seems like such a long time has passed since we were healed, since we rejoiced, since we were at peace. It almost feels like the Lord has forgotten us, but He hasn’t. You may have been sick and you may feel beaten down, but you have not been forgotten. The Lord remembers and He has never taken His eyes off of you. The Lord will keep His promise of restoration and healing.

“I will restore you,” says the Lord. When He heals your wounds, praise the Lord! When He restores your finances, praise God! When the Lord frees us from the grip of our sins, we will praise God for what He has done! The hurt and harm of the enemy does not hold sway over the people that belong to God. The Lord will restore all those who belong to Him in Christ Jesus.