Bible League: Living His Word And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.— Colossians 2:15 NIV A great victory has happened. It happened at the cross of Jesus Christ. Indeed, it happened through the cross. Although it happened in that particular place, it has important implications and powerful repercussions that have been reverberating throughout the heavens and the earth ever since. What are they? For one, the powers and authorities have been disarmed. "Powers and authorities" in this context refers to the ranks of fallen angels under the leadership of Satan. Previous to what happened at the cross, these powers and authorities exercised virtually unchallenged spiritual dominion over the earth. They ruled over the hearts of human beings and blinded them to the truth. At the cross, Jesus disarmed them. That is, He defeated them and rendered their spiritual weapons ineffective. Although they still try to use them, they can't compete against the weapons of our warfare—the weapons that the Apostle Paul lists in Ephesians 6. Second, the powers and authorities have been made into a public spectacle. The Roman generals who led their armies to victory were given a public, triumphal procession through Rome with their humiliated enemies trailing behind them. Jesus Christ now leads a public, triumphal procession throughout the heavens and earth with his defeated, disarmed, and humiliated enemies trailing behind him. Where can we see this public spectacle? We can see evidence of it whenever evil is forced to retreat from a previous stronghold and whenever sinners are set free from bondage to sin. Jesus Christ triumphed over the powers and authorities by the cross. What they thought was a humiliating defeat for Him was actually the means God used to bring them down from the heights of spiritual power. By the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, made atonement for us before the Father, and set us free from their control. If we believe in what Jesus has done at the cross, if we accept him as the Lord of heaven and earth, then we get to participate in His great victory. We get to participate in His rule and reign from His seat next to the Father in heaven (Ephesians 2:6), we get to participate in His disarming of the powers and authorities, and we get to participate in making a public spectacle of them. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingNumbers 30, 31 Numbers 30 -- The Law of Vows NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Numbers 31 -- The Slaughter of the Midianites and Division of the Spoils NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Mark 9:30-50 Mark 9 -- Jesus is Transfigured, Heals a Boy with an Evil Spirit; Who Is the Greatest; Do Not Cause to Sin NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But then I recall all you have done, O LORD;I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. Insight Memories of God's miracles and faithfulness sustained Israel through its difficulties. The Israelites knew that God was capable and trustworthy. Challenge When you meet new trials, review how good God has been to you, and this will strengthen your faith. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Isaiah 48:10 I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.Comfort thyself, tried believer, with this thought: God saith, "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." Does not the word come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of the flame? Yea, is it not an asbestos armour, against which the heat hath no power? Let affliction come--God has chosen me. Poverty, thou mayst stride in at my door, but God is in the house already, and he has chosen me. Sickness, thou mayst intrude, but I have a balsam ready--God has chosen me. Whatever befalls me in this vale of tears, I know that he has "chosen" me. If, believer, thou requirest still greater comfort, remember that you have the Son of Man with you in the furnace. In that silent chamber of yours, there sitteth by your side One whom thou hast not seen, but whom thou lovest; and ofttimes when thou knowest it not, he makes all thy bed in thy affliction, and smooths thy pillow for thee. Thou art in poverty; but in that lovely house of thine the Lord of life and glory is a frequent visitor. He loves to come into these desolate places, that he may visit thee. Thy friend sticks closely to thee. Thou canst not see him, but thou mayst feel the pressure of his hands. Dost thou not hear his voice? Even in the valley of the shadow of death he says, "Fear not, I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God." Remember that noble speech of Caesar: "Fear not, thou carriest Caesar and all his fortune." Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with thee. In all thy fiery trials, his presence is both thy comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom he has chosen for his own. "Fear not, for I am with thee," is his sure word of promise to his chosen ones in the "furnace of affliction." Wilt thou not, then, take fast hold of Christ, and say-- "Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead, I'll follow where he goes." Daily Light on the Daily Path Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. • In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 32:8-10 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. • Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you. • Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him. Isaiah 30:21 Your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left. Exodus 33:15,16 Then he said to Him, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. • "For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?" New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
    |