You've Got the Power of Christ

 

You’ve Got the Power of Christ

By Rick Warren

“He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Colossians 1:13 (GNT) On the cross, Jesus destroyed Satan’s power to control your mind, your life, and your destiny. When Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30 NIV), Satan should have said, “I’m finished.” His days are numbered! Jesus has won the victory over death and Satan. But if you don’t have the power of Christ in your life, then you are defenseless against the Devil. Satan can manipulate your emotions. He can mess with your mind. He can get you addicted to all kinds of stuff. And you are powerless without Christ! Satan has two favorite tools to whip you around: temptation and condemnation. He uses temptation by minimizing sin: It’s no big deal! Everybody does it! You know what will make you happy more than God does! Satan doesn’t have to speak out loud. He just puts these ideas in your mind. When God gives you an idea, it’s called inspiration. When Satan puts an idea in your mind, it’s called temptation. Then, the moment you do that particular sin, Satan reverses strategy and, instead of minimizing the sin, he maximizes it: You did that! Are you kidding me? God will never love you again. It’s over. God can never use you. That is so big that you could never, ever be forgiven for it. First, Satan tempts you. Then, he condemns you. See his strategy? Minimize the sin before you do it and maximize it afterwards. On the cross, when Jesus Christ said, “It is finished,” he defeated temptation and condemnation. Jesus destroyed the irresistible power of temptation. He now gives you the power to resist it: “He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13 GNT). Jesus’ death and Resurrection were a fatal blow to Satan. If you have Jesus Christ in your life, then Satan has zero power over you except the areas that you choose to give him. When you choose to give in to Satan’s temptation through resentment, guilt, worry, or fear, then you give him a foothold in your life. But, if you choose to say no, he can’t touch you. With God’s power in your life, Satan can’t harm you. You are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3), and you are protected. You don’t have to listen to Satan. You have the power to say, “No.” You don’t have to be afraid! Talk It Over In what ways does Satan use popular culture to minimize sin? What are the practical ways the Holy Spirit gives you power to fight temptation? How does knowing God’s Word help you with temptation? What can you do today to know the Word better?