“And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:15
Dear Ones:
Paul has a great deal to say about the spiritual warfare we are in, specifically because it is the same warfare that Christ knew, and knows. In the letter to the Ephesian believers, he wrote that we wrestle, “…against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (6:12) In his letter to the Colossians, he makes very clear that Christ, when crucified and resurrected, he triumphed over all the power of the enemy, specifically these principalities and powers. He demonstrated it in the most glorious fashion when, by the power of the Spirit, He rose from the dead. Not only did Christ deal completely, perfectly, and entirely with the enemy Himself, but He dealt the blow to the major effect and result of sin…death. He triumphed over it all to deliver man from the “power of darkness,” translating us into His kingdom,…into the kingdom of the dear Son of God. The fact of Christ’s total triumph is the foremost, and essential element, in the believer’s quest to know this life of victory, and triumph over the enemy of our souls. It is by virtue of the Father placing the believer in Christ, that Christ’s victory becomes his own. It is not a victory derived from one’s own knowledge of the truth, nor from any spiritual resources he may have in and of himself. His victory is only one, and it is that victory of Christ. In the measure that the believer understands this, lives by faith in Christ’s victory, made his by union with Christ, there will be the experience of that victory.
In the gospel of Luke, we find where the Lord Jesus gave to His twelve disciples, “…power and authority over all devils (or demons), and to cure diseases.” (9:1) Jesus did not give them power over a few, but all. In James’ letter, he wrote: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (4:7) Again, we see in a very practical manner how this total victory found only in the perfect, Almighty Victor, is communicated to the believer. It is as the believer submits to the authority of Christ, that Christ communicates, or gives, His power and authority for the overcoming of the enemy. In Revelation 12:11, we read: “And they overcame him (Satan, the Devil), by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” The basic truth by which this victory is realized is that of Christ having already defeated Satan, and made an open show of him. It is ONLY by the sole victory of Christ, that the believer can stand upon the merits and power of the blood of Christ, taking the position of faith in God alone according to the truth, that even death itself will not be a defeat, or failure, but the stepping stone, and entrance into Heaven itself, into the presence of the Victor. But then, how is the warfare to be waged? What is God’s way?
God’s way is God’s word, and the consequent working of the Spirit. As the Lord spoke through the words of the prophet Zechariah: “This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” (4:6) Victory over the enemy only is known and lived as the truth of the word of God is laid hold of, and the whole of one’s trust is placed in the Spirit of God as one’s power and strength. There is power in the Lords words: “So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth; it shall not return unto Me void, but is shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Is. 55:11) Here is true power and authority, as Jesus declared: “All power if given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” (Matt. 28:18)
Dear Father, Reveal the power of Christ’s life in and through us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad