July 11 Know the Victory

Luke 19:47-48 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
 
A very common false teaching in our church and culture puts evil equal with God. You likely know the picture: the good angel is on your right, whispering the right thing to do while the bad demon is on your left whispering the wrong thing to do. Good and evil are pictured as two equal forces.
    Stop, now, to think of this. If this were so, would there be any hope of Jesus’ saving work on the cross? Is Satan’s evil equal with God’s goodness? Of course, God is above all. His goodness reigns to overcome evil. The sovereign Lord’s power defeats all sin. What then, keeps the Lord from reforming all the faithless into true faith? Why is he unwilling to put an end to evil?
    Oh, wait a minute. He is willing to end evil. That’s why Jesus persistently taught. the very attentive Jews and Gentiles in the temple courts needed to know of sin, repentance, salvation and eternal life. The Son of God is working in the Spirit’s power to turn hearts to the Father. This is the “I AM”, who is eternal to reign over all.
    Yes, the evil attacked the Holy One of God. Sin it seemed, did destroy the Good News Giver on the cross. But it didn’t. No way. The plot to kill Jesus was God’s permissive will to end evil in the souls of his chosen people. Since Eden, God had permitted evil, so Good would one day gloriously destroy evil.
    Yes, there is a battle between Good and evil. But it is not an equal fight. It is a war I AM oversees to restore his own into heaven. The Supreme Conflict will result in eternal victory through the eternal God. Hear and believe: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 
    May your heart, mind and soul know victory in these words. Go and live in Jesus’ promised victory.
 
Prayer: 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God! (You) give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. In his name we rejoice! Amen.
 
From Mercy Me: “You Are I Am”
I’ve been the one to shake with fear
And Wonder if you’re even here.
I’ve been the one to doubt your love and
Told myself you’re not enough.
 
I’ve been the one to try and say
I’ll overcome by my own strength
To fall apart
And start to question Who You are
 
You’re the one who conquers giants
You’re the one who calls out kings
You shut the mouths of lions
You tell the dead to breathe
You’re the one who walks through fire
You take the orphan’s hand
You are the one Messiah
You are I am
 
 
 
 
Bob James