1229. From Temptation to Authorization

From Temptation to Authorization

"And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,

"Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the Heavenly places" (Eph_1:19-20).

1. Christ in His ascension passed from temptation to authorization–that is Christ passed from all satanic testings, to a place of authority and power over satan.

During His earth life Christ was continually hounded by the devil.

When Christ was still a babe there was weeping in Ramah, Rachel weeping for her children and could not be comforted because they were not. Herod had ordered this slaughter with a maddened endeavor to slay the infant Christ. Of course, satan was back of Herod.

At His baptism Jesus was acclaimed the Son of God. Immediately after, He was led of the Spirit to meet the devil in the wilderness. Our Lord met satan's testings and victoriously overwhelmed him.

In many instances satan renewed his attack upon the Person of Christ. Satan was behind the effort to throw Christ from the brow of the hill upon which Nazareth was built. The effort to overwhelm Christ in the maddened waters of Galilee bespoke satanic ingenuity.

Satan sought to slay the Son of God through the efforts of the scribes and Pharisees. Ultimately satan entered into Judas and betrayed the Son of God into the hands of sinners.

In the ascension Christ passed up through satan's dominions and sat down at the right hand of the Father, far above all principalities and powers.

2. The believer in union with Christ in His ascension, is made a partaker of the triumphs of Christ. There is a terrific warfare which confronts every true child of God. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the world rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual powers in the Heavenlies.

Satan is the adversary of saints. He goes about seeking whom he may devour. He withstands every attempt of the child of God in his service for God.

If the believer wants cleansing, satan will resist him.

If the believer desires to yield himself wholly to Christ, satan will resist him.

If the believer desires to go on an errand of missionary activity satan will resist him.

There is no place where a believer will find himself free from satan's attack.

How gracious therefore is the promise of the Risen Christ that His own authority and power over satan is vouchsafed unto the believer.

In Christ, we are more than conquerors.

We are led in the train of His triumph.

His victory is our victory. We have been made to sit with Him far above satanic principalities and powers.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR