Be Strong in God

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

—John 10:10 (NKJV)

 

 

How does the enemy torment you? His purpose is to steal your passion—your peace—your joy—your healing. The enemy wants to destroy your faith in God. Jesus came to give not only eternal life but an abundant life now. The enemy is so jealous of anything Jesus has given you that he comes against you with sickness, fear, worry, despair, and every lie he can plant in your mind to keep you from experiencing the fullness of God. The enemy challenges everything Jesus has given you. He deceives you, trying to make you believe more in his lies than in the truth of God’s Word. He is afraid of you. He is aware that if you know God's truth, it will free you from his lies (John 8:32). When you realize you have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead living inside of you, nothing the enemy attempts can steal, kill, or destroy your faith in the unending love of God.

 

The thief that comes to steal from you can only steal what you possess. He can’t take what you don’t have. You have the fruit of the Spirit living in you—love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You have the healing of Calvary and freedom from the sin that defined you. Jesus paid the price for these things. Satan only fights you for what Jesus has given you. He tries to steal your peace, stir up fear, create frustration—make you angry, jealous, and impatient. He knows if he can destroy your confident hope in what Jesus has given you, you will have a defeated life. 

 

When we know our identity in Christ—who we are in Him—and what salvation has bought for us, it is difficult for the thief to steal what we possess. If we identify as children of the Most-High God, we start to look at our relationship with God differently. We realize that we are His beloved children and heirs to His inheritance of a life of joy and peace and healing and mountain-moving faith. 

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3, NKJV). The love of Jesus has blessed us with every blessing the gift of His precious life bought. That purchase is complete. It is not half-done. It is a finished and perfect work. We have the Resurrection power of God living within us (Ephesians 1:18-20). When we start believing in what is ours in Christ, we can rebuke Satan with the authority that Jesus has given us (Matthew 28:18, John 14:12, Mark 16:17-18).

 

When the naked man, terrorized by a mass of demons, met Jesus, everything in his life changed. He was healed and sat down peacefully at Jesus’ feet—right in his mind and fully clothed (Mark 5:15). When we realize that we can be delivered from Satan’s lies like this healed man, we no longer are naked with no defense from the enemy. We clothe ourselves in our new identity in Jesus’s finished work of redemption. We realize our authority and speak it. And we take back any gift the enemy has stolen. And these are gifts Jesus died for us to possess—joy—peace—healing. Jesus doesn’t have to die again for them to be ours. His horrible agony was enough. We need to take and believe and speak the miracle of grace we could never give ourselves. Jesus bought salvation and healing and provision for every need. He gave us the authority of the power of God. We make what cost Jesus His life worthless if we don’t use what He died to give us.

 

God wants you to have an abundant life. He wants you to have the life He died for you to have. Submit yourself to God, and resist the enemy. He will flee from you (James 4:7).  Whoever you submit to becomes the one to whom you listen—the one who controls your mind and your feelings. Yield yourself to God, the lover of your soul. 

 

You don’t fight flesh and blood but principalities and dark powers and evil that come to steal, kill, and destroy (Ephesians 6:10-11). If you try to wage war against the enemy as a human, you will lose. You wage war with the mighty weapons of your identity in Christ. Be strong in God. Know who you are in Jesus. Put on your whole identity in Christ. God promises you an abundantly joyful life, filled with all His spiritual blessings. The power of God within you wins—if you will fight with it. Rebuke and resist the liar who comes to steal, kill, and destroy your faith. Stand strong. God always keeps His promises. 

 

© 2021 Lynn Lacher

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