What the Book Says - Part 3

​Jesus first came to earth for two reasons that are really one reason: to destroy the works of the devil, and in doing so, make a way for mankind to be free from the bondage of sin and be reconnected to God the Father, the Source of complete and fruitful life (1 John 3:8; Romans 6:22; 8:2).
 
Christ came as a Child born to us, to be given as a Son. His death and resurrection disarmed the devil and his spiritual forces, triumphing over them in it (Colossians 2:15). After His ascension He declared to us—His disciples—that all authority had been given to Him in Heaven and on the earth.
 
This means that for every person who believes in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, that same enemy is disarmed in each of our lives. It is up to us to walk in that reality for ourselves. We cannot force it on others, for God gave each person a will so that they could choose to love and be in a personal relationship with Him. Yet we can pray that their spiritual ears and eyes would be opened by the Spirit of God who is at work in the earth.
 
With Christ’s second coming at the 3rd Day, the Day of the Lord, that victory will be extended over all the earth as the Head and the Body are made complete at the rapture and we take our place as the immortal government. It is then that we have the privilege to pull down the evil spiritual hierarchy described in Ephesians 6:12 that now influences the earth through the god of this world.
 
The appointed time is very near, which is why the devil is giving this world everything he’s got. Jesus warned us that in this time we would see great darkness, persecution, and tribulation. The Church has existed in that tribulation for all its history. Yet we told to stand in the victory that each of us has until the appointed time for the heavenly reset and God’s restoration of His order over the earth.
 
We need not fear the darkness, for the Light of the World came into the world, and now shines through us, His lights, by the power of God’s Spirit in each believer. It’s time to let our lights shine so those around us can clearly see the lovely Child, the Son of Man, who died for us while we were yet sinners.

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