For the Joy Set Before Him: Our Call to Stand and Resist
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Be Strong in the Lord: A Call to Stand, Resist, and Believe
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might! Put on the armor of God so you can stand firm against the devil's plots and plans of death, destruction, and theft. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but is it against the rulers, powers, dark forces of this world, and the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places! Because of this fact, you must put on the full armor of God so you can stand firm and resist!!!! (Eph 6:10-12) paraphrased
Jesus Wrestled Before He Won
Before Jesus got to the cross, He wrestled in prayer. He asked His disciples to watch and pray, but they fell asleep three times. He told them twice to pray that they may not enter temptation. And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground. – Lk 22:44
As Jesus prayed, He said, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” - Luke 22:42
Jesus wrestled in His soul and warred with His Spirit to overcome the fleshly will for what He was about to endure. Because He endured and went to the cross, we are victorious over death.
Authority Passed Down to Us
Jesus transferred His authority to His followers and gave them authority over demons. He gave the power to heal the sick. Gifts to help them walk in signs and wonders. And the power to stand and fight the good fight of faith. All this was given to them to pass on to all those who would follow.
We were not given an idol made with hands to be our savior. We were given a Spirit of love and power. The Spirit of Christ is now residing in those who believe!
Death Has Lost Its Sting
“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” - 1 Cor 15:54–57
Death has lost its sting for those who are in Christ Jesus. This means that even though everything and everyone has a limited life, those who have put their faith in Christ will die physically but live for eternity.
The body will be put off, but the soul will arise to be with God. “What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position ‘a little lower than the angels’; and because he suffered death for us, he is now ‘crowned with glory and honor.’ Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.” – Heb 2:9 NLT
A Bible teacher named Derek Prince once said,
“Any religion that does not have a satisfactory answer to death cannot meet humanity’s deepest needs.”
What a powerful statement! We need an answer to humanity’s biggest health problem – death! Jesus said those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but the sick do. Jesus is the Great Physician! He came to save, not condemn. The world that does not believe is already condemned. Jesus brought a cure to sin and death.
“[Looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith… who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Heb 12:2 AMP
It is finished.
The Cross: God’s Redemption, Man’s Vengeance, Satan’s Failure
Crucifying a man on a cross may seem cruel, and it is, but it was God’s way of redemption, man’s way of vengeance, and Satan’s failed mission. In the end, God avenged Himself. There is no other record of a person being tormented and killed the way Jesus was and buried in a tomb that was under military guard, and then walking out alive.
Satan, using the will of evil man, devised the cruel punishment of the cross and the evil behavior leading up to Jesus’ death. God gave His approval for the sacrifice of His Son for the health of the world.
For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross. During the walk of shame, Jesus bore up under the burden of that heavy cross, the beatings, spitting, and crown of thorns all for us. And He did it with joy.
Do you think this might be why Jesus’ brother James wrote that we should “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials…” – Jam 1:2-4 NKJV
When Jesus hung on that cross, it was finished. Finished. Perfected. Complete. Lacking nothing.
Our Response: Take His Yoke and Believe
The salvation of the Lord is His burden. Your only response is to take His yoke, connect with Him in faith, and believe God. Walking it out is your portion, and that requires a choice to live like this world or invite the kingdom of God to live in and through you.
The Moment the World Changed
There were many who cheered on the death of Jesus and did not believe He was God.
The Bible tells us that from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness was over all the land. At about the ninth hour, around 3 pm, Jesus cried out to God, why have You forsaken Me?
God could not look on all the sin that in a moment's time was heaped on Jesus.
He looked away.
The Holy Spirit pulled away.
All the sins, sicknesses, and death were put on Jesus, and He felt abandoned, if only for a moment.
Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, the rocks split, graves opened, and after His resurrection, many came out of the graves as a sign that this was the One who would raise us up one day.
When an unbelieving Roman soldier and those with him saw these things, they said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” The regret. The shame. The fear that must have overcome those who crucified and cheered it on. God have mercy.
Don’t let this be you one day. Don’t let it be that you arrive at the gates of God for judgment, only to find out that you were wrong – Jesus is the Son of God, and you denied Him, or you believed but in theory only.
The Narrow Way
There is only one way, and it is narrow. There is a wide path that Jesus said leads to destruction, but His narrow way leads to eternal life. The fruit of your life will prove your faith.
All the religions and occult practices offer a variety of ways to become a god, get to God, or be greater than God. All are corrupt and are developed in demonic wisdom. They offer earthly rewards, but no eternal rewards.
Here are Five “I Am” Statements to Meditate On
Repeat them. Believe them and believe Him.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. - Jn 14:6
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. – Jn 10:9
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” - Jn 11:25-26
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” - Jn 8:12
“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. – Jn 6:35
Let's Pray,
Heavenly Father, if You touch it - it lives. I need a fresh touch from You today. Remind me of who I am designed to be in Christ Jesus. Fill me afresh with Your love that I may be a blessing to You and everyone I connect with. You are the reason I breathe. In Jesus name, Amen
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