GOD IS WITH YOU Speaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: God will set you free from all the evil powers. Our Lord Jesus Christ came into this world in the form of a man to deliver us from all the evil powers.
When He departed from His disciples to heaven, He said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). He did not say, “I am with you everyday”, but He said, “I am with you always.” By saying that He means that He is with us every moment to protect us. He says,"Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” (Revelations 1:17,18)
He sets a wall of fire around us. The word of God says, “Our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29). The Prophet Isaiah says that God is a Spirit of Burning, who consumes our filth and makes us holy (Isaiah 4:3,4). He consumes the unwanted nature in us. Before sending this ‘fire’, the Lord Jesus had to pass through a rugged path. He once said, “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49).
He came into the world to give us this fire. So, He chose even to pass through the most cruel death on the cross.
An Architect and Historian named Josephus, who lived during the days of the Apostles, explained the cruelty of death by crucifixion (which was a Jewish and Roman practice that began somewhere around 400 BC) as follows:
“If the victim is tied with his hands extended over his heads and left hanging, death can occur within an hour or in minutes since his legs are nailed. He cannot use his arms to elevate the body to exhale. However, if the hands are stretched out and crucified, death occurs only after several hours or even days. Death in this manner would not be due to inability to breath, but due to hypovolemic shock (which means, stroke due to heavy loss of blood from the body).”
The Lord chose such a death for our sake. He rejoiced over the fruit of His death. In the words of Prophet Isaiah, He poured out His soul unto death; And He saw the labour of His soul and was satisfied (Isaiah 53:11,12). He poured out His soul so that we may be set ablaze by His Holy Spirit and we may shine like bright stars in this dark world (Philippians 2:15). He rejoiced to see us glitter as stars.
Once, a witchdoctor visited a young man, who followed Christ. He asked, “Sir, do you know better magics than me?” The young man was confused. He said, “Why do you ask me about magics? Well, I don’t know any such things.”
The witchdoctor immediately responded, “Sir, I have been trying to do some witchcraft on you under the direction of some of your enemies. But, the evil spirits whom I aroused against you returned with double force, terrified that they could not come near your house as they saw the fire surrounded your house.”
Immediately the young man realized that it was the protection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He explained, “Sir, every morning and evening, my wife and I pray to the Lord to protect us. It is the wall of fire that gives to all His children as protection that has guarded against your witchcraft.” The witchdoctor understood the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. He at once left his evil profession and began to follow Christ.
Dear friend, are you afflicted by the evil powers? Do not be disheartened. The Lord will surely deliver you from all the evil powers, when you seek Him diligently. Whatever be the afflictions you are faced with, always remember that Jesus Christ has destroyed the works of the evil powers on the cross for you. He will be with you as a fire, and no evil power can come near you.
Prayer:
Loving Lord Jesus,
You are always with me like a wall of fire around me and my family. You alone can deliver me from all the evil powers. Remove all the unwanted nature in me and help me to seek You diligently. I beg of You to grant me the anointing of the Holy Spirit so that I may live a life pleasing before Your sight in this dark world. Enlarge my territory and keep me as a source of blessing this day. May Your grace and mercy surround me always.
All honour, glory and praises belong to You.
Amen.
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