Why is it so difficult sometimes for us to recognize and believe the amazing
work that Christ did for us on the cross? Let me tell you a story first that
relates to the question. A Christian friend of mine lived most of her life in
fear and insecurity for many years. She had been abused emotionally and
physically by her father, which left inner scars. The enemy of her soul, the devil, used this situation
as a strategy to keep her trapped in a pit of despair. Every once in a while, she
would surface and find joy, but her arch enemy lied to her about her
unworthiness and pitched her back down into that pit. This happened over and
over for many years because her fear gave the enemy a foothold in her life. Then
one day she broke lose!
She attended a special retreat. The love she experienced there
was so intense and real that it broke the chains of bondage! Her face radiated
peace and joy, so different from her usual countenance. Unfortunately, this is
true for many Christians today. We don’t realize that God is on our side, loving
us immensely while we often lay trapped in prison. We have listened to the lies
of the enemy who delights in robbing our peace, stealing our love and killing
our joy. Like many others, she had fallen prey to Satan’s schemes because she
was unaware of his devices. The Bible warns us, “Lest Satan should take advantage
of us, for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthian’s 2:11).
So why does it appear Satan has been allowed to roam free in our
life? In the case of my friend, it was because she unwittingly allowed him access
to her life. Her fear kept her a prisoner until love set her free. It took the love
of God, often demonstrated through others, for her to realize and fully believe
what Christ did for her on the cross. The word believe is derived from the
Greek word pisteuo, which describes an active belief that changes a person’s
heart and actions. Many of us have not been fully persuaded that God loves us,
so we live in bondage.
We don’t grasp the reality of Christ’s love for us and the
work that was accomplished on the cross. Through Calvary and the blood of Jesus,
we have been set free from the bondage of sin… all sin: fear, hatred,
bitterness, loneliness, jealousy, envy, strife and lust, which leads to various
other sins—murder, slander, maliciousness, anger etc. We may believe God is out
to get us and we’re angry at Him. This is one of Satan’s favorite deceptions. This
can keep a Christian under the devil’s thumb for their entire life! Another favorite
tactic he uses is to make you feel guilty for all your shortcomings and sins,
and believe you are just a lowly worm. If so, then you are at least a caterpillar,
waiting for the day to be released from your cocoon.
Yet some Christians use this belief to wear a false humility
based on a poor self-concept. This is also bondage, another clever device and strategy
of the devil to keep us bound. So how do we break out of the confines of the cocoon
Satan has woven around us? First, a solid belief (pisteuo) in the fact that God,
through His Son Jesus Christ, loved you so much He stretched His arms out on a wooden
cross and died for you while you were still a sinner!! That is the starting point.
He already bore all your iniquities, all your sins, all your down fallings and
uprisings. He took it all and nailed it to the cross!
Next, we must be aware of the devices of the enemy. We should
not attribute him more power than he has, but neither should we bee unaware of
his tactics. When he attacks our identity as children of the King, a ready
verse to counter his assault is essential. One such as, “For we did not receive the spirit
of bondage, leading to fear again but you have received the spirit of adoption,
by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).
Finally, whatever situation we find ourselves in, our sword,
The Word of God, needs to be readily available and sharpened. When we start feeling
the chords of depression or anxiety, we can speak to the devil. “God has not
given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1"7).
Our sound mind stems from our belief that what God did for us on the cross is
complete and His word supplies all of our needs. To make it through all the entanglements
and traps Satan has laid for us, we must believe His promises are true. “God
will supply all our needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians
4:19). This is our greatest weapon against Satan, our heart felt belief in the Word of God.
Start with this deep seeded belief and use it in times of need. Though we face tribulations in the world, Jesus overcame the world for us. It is finished!
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