“I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron.” Isaiah 45:2
Dear Ones:
In the book of Hebrews, we find written that Christ, “…through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God.” (9:14) In that one phrase is revealed a victory of such magnitude and power, that it eclipses all that was in opposition to it. One thing that is essential to see here is that the victory was “…by the Spirit.” This victory of Christ was by the strength, power, and authority of the Spirit of God, given by the Father. In light of the declaration of this victory, it is also important to know, and grasp, that Christ has overcome “…all the power of the enemy,” and committed this power and authority to His disciples. They become participants in this victory in the measure that they believe, and obey Him. How important is this matter?
In the book of Zechariah, we find Joshua the High Priest standing before God, clothed with “filthy garments,” the testimony of sin before God. We find at the same time Satan standing at the right had of Joshua, “…to resist him.” He stands at his “right hand,” because he possesses a certain authority over Joshua, since he is unclean. Joshua’s sin is a basis, and a point of leverage, used by Satan, to neutralize him. As long as the sin remains, Satan rightly, and persistently, accuses him before God. God, the Holy Spirit, cannot bless a servant of God if he has unconfessed sin in his life. However, God takes the initiative, very possibly because of the repentant heart of Joshua, and commands that his filthy garments be removed, and his sin also. He is then clothed with a change of garment, being rightly related to God, in a place of communion where the victory over his accuser, and the one who resists him, is now realized.
In the case of the body of Christ, and specifically the local church, the issue is the same. If Satan can tempt, or lead astray, a body of believers from the truth, and a walk and communion with Christ in the light, then he has leverage on that body. He is in a position to accuse that body before God, and thus neutralize it. There is no power of the Spirit of God which is operative at that time. However, when God moves upon that body, and there is repentance and a turning away from sin, then cleansing comes. Satan can still resist the body, but he cannot stop it, or deter it from fulfilling the will of God. Essential to this whole concept and realization of the victory of Christ over Satan by the church, is the issue of the “unity of the Spirit.” There are essential promises associated with unity.
The first promise has to do with prayer. “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19) Here is power, power with God. It is all based upon the unity of the Spirit that He gives two believers of the same mind. This “agreement” in prayer is the confirmation of the presence, power, and privilege of believing prayer. The second promise concerns the presence of Christ. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” (v. 20) The local church, that geographical congregated group of true believers in the body of Christ, is the means by which Christ’s presence is manifested, and where prayer is effective. It is as the body is unified, and prayer is made according to the will of God, there there is both the assurance given about the answer to prayer, and the confirmation of Christ’s presence. It is where there is unity, that, “…the Lord COMMANDS the blessing, even life forevermore.” (Ps. 133:3)
Dear Father, Forgive and cleanse us from all sin, granting us the unity of the Spirit. Then, we shall see the gates of hell overcome by Christ’s authority. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad