Disarming the Enemy

In the famous children’s book Alexander and the Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day, poor Alexander dealt with one upset after another….. But they were problems a child might have and feel slighted by such as: There was no toy in his cereal box, he couldn’t sit next to a window in the carpool, the dentist found a cavity in his tooth, his teacher didn’t like his art work and so on. The point of the story is to teach children that disappointment and misfortune are a normal part of the human condition. In other words, we feel the need to teach children at an early age that life in this fallen world can be difficult!

How about you? Do you feel as if your life is one battle after another?  One problem gets fixed and then a different situation arises that needs your full attention and resources?  Are you putting out “proverbial fires” everywhere? Do you increasingly feel as if you are having many horrible, no good and very bad days? As adults many of our problems are truly more severe than Alexander’s childish woes.  When the enemy is pounding at your health, family, or finances like the winds and rain of a fierce hurricane; is it getting more and more difficult to keep your shield of faith lifted against this onslaught? When the seventy whom Jesus sent out to herald the nearness of the kingdom of God returned to Him, He gave them the authority over the power of the enemy. Although the trials of this world cause us to frequently forget, we have this same authority over satan and his wiles (deceitful strategies). We will be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand!

Luke 10:19 (AMP)

Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you. [note: serpents and scorpions = principalities and powers of the evil kingdom]

Ephesians 6:11-13 (TLB)

11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand safe against all strategies and tricks of Satan. 12 For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.13 So use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy whenever he attacks, and when it is all over, you will still be standing up.

The TRUTH today is that Jesus Christ already disarmed all of the evil kingdom at the cross.  We can STAND in the finished work of Christ and declare (speak) this truth into every area of our lives.  

Colossians 2:14-15 (AMP) (Jesus Christ)

14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of legal demands [which were in force] against us and which were hostile to us. And this certificate He has set aside and completely removed by nailing it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross.

Even if disasters continue in nature and in our personal lives, we must choose to “turn” to God, like Moses did with the burning bush, and God will make Himself known to us.  

Exodus 3:2-4 (KJV)

2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

When the world is raging around us, we do NOT have to be afraid.  God’s perfect love casts out all our fear. (1 John 4:18) Jesus Christ is our HOPE in this world.  He is the anchor on the boat of our lives, and when we grab ahold of HIM, He calms every storm in our lives.  

Hebrews 6:19 (MSG)

 We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go…

Hebrews 6:19 (NKJV)

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, … 

Yes, we will no doubt be facing some crummy days ahead. That is why we must always be reminded that through Jesus’ finished work on the cross, we are ‘more than conquerors’. (Romans 8:37) We have an assurance of ultimate victory for everything in our lives.

1 Corinthians 15:57 (MEV)

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

~ Joanne and Sarah