When I first heard that Jesus died for my sins, I have to confess, my reaction was, yes, and! I had no idea what this meant. I initially thought it was simply a random act carried out by someone called Jesus some 2000 years ago,who simply wanted to show us that we were behaving badly and that we should repent and clean up our act.
I could not have been more wrong. After becoming born again in June 2009 it wasn't until 2010 that I started, only in part, to understand what the Cross meant and therefore what this planned event that Jesus undertook actually did for us.
If you've read my earlier blogs, you'll know that I recently started studying the Bible. I'd read it through a few times and could say that I knew where certain Scriptures were, but until now I hadn't looked at it in depth.
Yesterday my wife and I were discussing what we had read that morning. The Bible or should I say God, has a great habit of revealing his word when we least expect it.
A Legal Right to Make A Stand
Liz had started reading Colossians (I'd already read it a few weeks ago) and approached me at 6:30 AM saying, have you seen this? Yes, I was up as I was also reading too. Liz was referring to: -
Colossians 2:14-20:14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed[d] the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. 16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. 17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. 18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels,[e] saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, 19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it. 20 You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world.
is so easy to read this, accept it and move on to Colossians 3, but wait just a minute. You may completely get this but we are in a place of new revelation.
Colossians 2:14 - He cancelled the record of charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
There are eternal and spiritual laws. In the same way when we go to court, papers have to be drawn up and finally the judge makes an order, passing sentence and giving instructions.
What happened on the cross was that Jesus took the charges made against us by Satan and said that he was going to settle everything, he was going to take our punishment - which was death. If we sinned, we died, that was the law and Satan knew it. So Jesus took on Himself, the legal orders and received the sentence on our behalf. That is my understanding of the "WHY" and "HOW" He died for our sins.
The Blood Sacrifice is Not Needed
In the Old Testament, we had to make animal sacrifices to atone for our sins. Jesus became the blood sacrifice for us and atoned for our sins with his life.
Jesus took away the bad stuff that the enemy uses against us like; sickness, death, lack and bad relationships and because of him and his sacrifice he also gave back to us, the authority which Adam handed to Satan in the garden of Eden by eating the forbidden fruit. (Take a quick read of my Christianity Snapshot for more information on this!)
Colossians 2:15
In this way he disarmed all of the spiritual rulers and authorities. He Shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
Now some people reading this will say, well yes, of course, he died for our sins, we all know that. But what I didn't get was that Satan has ABSOLUTELY NO LEGAL RIGHT to infect our lives, to infect our families, to infect our health or to infect our businesses. The tape-recording in our heads that condemns us or makes us feel fearful or guilty is the enemy attempting to mislead us, because in the past he has been able to get away with it.
He knows full well that he has NO LEGAL RIGHT to condemn us {tip Colossians 2:20:: You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world.}(Colossians 2:20) {/tip} make us feel guilty, force us to live in poor health or to live in poverty or lack.
The lies of the enemy are not that frequently talked about, but nevertheless, we are told in {tip Ephesians 6:13::Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.} Ephesians 6:13 {/tip} put on the Armour of God. Therefore we must be under attack in some way or another, otherwise God would not have breathed this scripture as a command.
Luke 10:18-19
“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.”
Its Us, We've Been Given The Authority
It has dawned on me how insignificant the enemy was made. However it is the lies and deception of the enemy that goads people into doing something wrong, i.e. sinning. For Christians who believe, Satan can only be likened to a little bully who needs to be put in his place. And we have been given the authority {tip Luke 10:18-19::“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.”}(Luke 10:18-19) {/tip} do just that. Not only can we put him in his place, but we are told to give him an absolute kicking and nothing can touch us!
The reality is, the enemy knows that he has no right to condemn us but he tries it on any way, at every opportunity. And unfortunately we fall for it, most of the time, but not any more! At Margaret Thatcher's funeral, her granddaughter read out {tip Ephesians 6:13::Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.}Ephesians 6:13, {/tip} knew there are more things going on in this world than X Factor!
How can it help in our businesses?
Equipped with this new "legal" knowledge, we have to put it to good use. Just think, anything bad that is going on, anywhere, is because the lies of the enemy are affecting someone or something.
So its time we got back in the driving seat and started making a claim on all the things we want to start going right. Here are my suggestions:
Know your adversary; it's not the person sitting across from you at the board meeting or the next desk. Our adversary has been a dark voice whispering nonsense to us to make a start an argument, take advantage of someone or sin in one way or another. Once you're clear about who you're up against its easier to focus the mind. Don't forget its not the person you are supposed to be mad at, its the enemy within them - If someone else is behaving badly its not them that's acting up, its what is whispering to them it is making them behave the way they are! Proverbs 18:21 - The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit
Be careful what you say {tip Proverbs 18:21::The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit}(Proverbs 18:21) {/tip} what you say is negative in any way, the enemy will attempt to hold you to it, in the same way that we are told to speak things into being that don't already exist {tip Romans 4:17::17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.”[a] This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.}(Romans 4:17) {/tip} can't expect blessings from God on the one hand and think that we won't be held to our words by the enemy on the other.
Ask! It says seven times in John Chapters 14-16 We Are Told To Ask!: -
(1) 14:13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.
(2) 14:14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
(3) 15:7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
(4) 15:16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
(5) 16:23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name.
(6) 16:24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
(7) 16:26 Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God.} Chapters 14 to 16 {/tip} we are to ask for what we want, this does not relate specifically to material things but there is a pattern, it is what we SAY and it is also what we WRITE. Isaiah 55:11 So is my word that goes out from my mouth, it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire, and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Prayer & Petition; Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7::6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7, refers to pray and petition (a petition is a formal request to a higher power. We must be prepared and that means writing it up, again referencing the legal process). Everything that happens in court is done something writing. Why should we think that it is a different with God. Our petitions help focus our minds and prayers. They are not throw away quips. Remember {tip Isaiah 55:11::It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.}{/tip} specific prayers will return specific answers.
Bless Your Business Plan
It is not unusual to prepare a business plan, we all know that. But next time, commit it to God. Find the relevant Scriptures that can accompany your business and the desires you have for it. God wants your business to succeed God wants us to bring Glory to his name and expand the Kingdom by spreading the Good News. Don't forget who you're working for Colossians 3:24: Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.(Colossians 3:24) how we are going to be looked after!
As it says above Pray and Petition, with Thanksgiving, present your Request to God. We accept that everything comes from God, yes! therefore we must ensure that he is thanked for all the good things that happened to us.
When it comes to the bad things I see happening, I know to speak against the enemy and know that God only wants me to be blessed he wants my business blessed, my family blessed, and if it's not happening, I need to look at what is going on around me. I now know I need to get myself lined up with the will of God, which is the word of God – the Bible, find the Scriptures that are relevant to my situation, turn them into a confession (meaning something I am going to actually say out loud) and use all of this to whip the enemy.
Conclusion
I had to take stock and seriously meditate on my revelation (Don't forget, whilst God knows your prayers and thoughts, they cannot become seeds for change unless you actually speak them out). I knew I had authority but I also knew I didn't feel it. It's one thing saying it and an altogether different matter knowing it in your heart.
I recognise now where and when I had been taken advantage of by the enemy. It won't happen again!
I pray that you, reading this article, will understand the true lies of the enemy and also receive the revelation from God and that you will be able to share His peace and yours with anyone who is willing to listen. I also pray that your business will flourish and prosper so that you can become a blessing to others - In Jesus' name.
