January 30 The Lord’s Strength

Luke 11:21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.”
 
ONE very constant theme in Western movies of the past is about a hero who overcomes the villain. Often some “bad guy” controls a town, allowing all forms of evil as the town’s good people are too weak to oppose him. He gathers as many possessions and as much money as possible, believing the more he has the stronger he is. For a time that is true.
    But then the hero shows up. He’s better with a gun. He’s smarter and more confident than the villain. He plans. He bides his time. Then he uses his strengths to remove or destroy the villain. The town returns to peace, and the hero rides off into the sunset.
    In this parable, Satan is the evil strong man. He has a few “possessions” or souls that he calls his own. He views his possessions as his strength and authority because no one is strong enough to take from him.
    But one day Satan discovers someone stronger than he has come to the house. Jesus has waited until the appropriate time. Then he comes in the power of God to remove Satan, who cannot stand against Christ.
    God promised he would send this “hero”, our conquering Lord through Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will give him (the Conqueror) a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
    Jesus is confronting Satan throughout his entire ministry. Remember Jesus proclaimed he would overcome Satan’s strength in Luke 4:18-19 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
    Yes, Jesus is the Overcomer, the Freedom-giver, the Satan-destroyer.
As Jesus’ disciple, you have the Savior’s power. Use it. Put to work the Word of God to drive out the “strong man” and release the captives. Be confident the Kingdom of God overthrows evil. Revelation 20:2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years…10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your great power that overcomes all opposition. You are King and Redeemer. Amen.