Victory From Defeat
I may have posted this before but repetition is good for you… Also this is a-biblical but I hope not anti-biblical…
The way I currently see the world, the Devil’s mission in life is to trick you into making decisions that are harmful to both you and others, and in fact would horrify you if you fully realized what you were doing. He does this (a) to rebel against God, Who loves you and wants only the best for you, and (b) because the Devil hates you with a passion and enjoys your suffering for its own sake, particularly if it is self-inflicted. Think of the cruelest, most sadistic person you have either known personally, or read about, and realize that the Devil was that person’s muse.
Now then, some 2,000 years ago, a Man walked around, teaching people to love each other, and not to worry about the trivial things of this life because paradise awaits. Oh, He also fed hungry people and cured hundreds (?) of their illnesses. Thus this Man catered not only to spiritual and philosophical needs but also those of the body. You literally could not imagine someone who was more useful or a better friend.
OK, so somehow, the Devil convinced these people to demand that this Man be tortured and then nailed to a piece of wood so that He could die an agonizingly slow death.
Note that I am not talking here about the religious elders and government authorities that concocted and then executed this plan. No, I am talking about the public–us–who cheered it on. These people weren’t being threatened by Jesus’ bold words in any way. No, I am sorry to guess that the main reason they demanded His death was simple bloodlust. The juxtaposition of their praising Jesus as a king earlier that week probably made their sin that much more delicious. (We all love it when a previous role model is brought down to our level.)
Well now, that is hands down the most abominable crime imaginable: The Son of God Himself comes down to teach and help us, and we repay him with torture, ridicule, and murder. The Devil would have every reason to believe that he had just won. What more could he do, to demonstrate the depravity and worthlessness of the human race?
And yet Jesus was able to say, at the Devil’s moment of apparent victory: “No you don’t win, because I forgive them.”
No, I don’t think it’s a-biblical or anti-biblical. Your last sentence is one of the primary themes of the New Testament!
Yes—Christ snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat! But let’s lock and load–NOW. The testimony of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophesy. Revelation 19:10.
It’s time for followers of Jesus Christ to enter into their spiritual callings–not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. 2ed Timothy 1:9.
ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness– 2ed Timothy 3:16. So scripture is GOD BREATHED. It’s ALIVE. IT’S LIVING SEED.
Our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29. If you think you can sit in a church pew and keep God at arms length, you’re only keeping yourself luke warm.; And Jesus said he WILL spew the luke warm out of his mouth. Revelations 3:16
Christ came to bring a baptism of FIRE. John 3:16. That baptism is fire, because fire is the only thing that will purify his followers and heat us up enough to get the dross out of our lives.
I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind—Romans 12:1-2a. And how are we transformed? By planting God’s word within our heart, and letting it change us into the image God has of us—which image is Christ.
So the Lock and Load part? That’s the Word of God. Load it into your heart, and lock it there—
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:20-22
In all thy ways acknowledge the LORD, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6
Jesus gave gifts unto men. Wild, untamed, supernatural gifts. Wolves in sheep’s clothing would have Christ’s followers be ignorant, deceived and misinformed about those precious gifts. But know that God would never give a gift you didn’t need.
And yes, I am talking about entering into all the gifts of the Spirit, which we must do if we are to be effective. To overcome the demons of hell his followers do need to be, ‘so to speak,’ nitrous injected, turbo-super charged and sold-out to God. And the door way to all the gifts of the Spirit is the gift of tongues. Those that believe will speak in new tongues–Jesus Christ–Mark 16:17. The 9-fold gifts of the Spirit are those of 1st Corinthians 12:7-11.
When God designed the plan for your life, the Holy Ghost was THERE. If you let him pray through you, yes, in tongues, he will pray the perfect will and calling and purpose of God into your life—perfectly.
See Dave Roberson’s excellent book on praying in the Spirit for more instruction. He offers it as a free down-load, with a paper book also available. “The Walk of the Spirit the Walk of Power.”
Jesus Christ—Awesome God—Mighty Savior—the Great I Am—King of Peace—Prince of Peace—The Lamb of God—the Resurrection and The Life—PRAISE BE TO HIM! Of His Government ther shall be no end! The Father and the Son are One! Come LORD JESUS!
“No man cometh to the Father but by me.” Jesus Christ John 14:6. “If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Jesus Christ John 14:23. “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.” Jesus Christ John 15:16. The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant. Psalm 25:14. Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he will teach sinners in the way. Psalm 25:8.
The end of the matter is that you must dig to find treasure in God’s word. Then you must hold that treasure deep in your heart until it work it’s miracle of transformation in you—from the inside out.
Oh that you would commit your life to Christ and NEVER un-capitulate!