Saturday, May 6, 2006

The Triumphal Procession

Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. (2 Corinthians 2:14 NIV)
There is a parade going on right now, and has been for almost two thousand years. It is a triumphal procession, a victory march. The battle has been won and the Lord Jesus Christ has cleared the way before us. He has destroyed the works of the devil, just as He came to do:
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)
This mission has been accomplished. It may not seem like it to many Christians, but that is simply because so many have failed to appropriate it, to take their place in the triumphal procession. Paul said,
Yet in all these things were are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor power, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)
Paul didn’t leave out a single thing: there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from the love of God, which has been demonstrated toward us through the Lord Jesus Christ. In Him we are overcomers:
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5)

So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the devil and satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:9-11)
The battle has been won and satan has been cast to the ground, defeated. He has not authority over us. All he has are lies and accusations, and God does not listen to those, so neither should we.

Now, notice how the saints overcome. In 1 John, we see that it is by faith, believing in Jesus, the Son of God. In Revelation, John gives this overcoming faith even more definition:
  • They overcome by the blood of the Lamb. That is how the works of the devil have been destroyed, by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
  • They overcome by the word of their testimony. They speak the truth concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. They give evidence, producing proof that He is who He said He was is and did what He said He would do.
  • They overcome because they do not love their lives to the death. That is, they love the Lord Jesus Christ more than anything else, even their own lives.
If you know the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible calls you More Than Conqueror and Overcomer! You do not have to listen to the lies of the devil, the fears and accusations he whispers in your ear. Jesus has already taken your past and nailed it to the cross. He has carried your sins and sicknesses and nailed them in His own body to the tree. He has dealt the death blow to the bondages and strongholds of your life. He has destroyed every form of poverty and completely destroyed the works of the devil in your life. You no longer have to submit to them, but you can now overcome them by faith in Jesus Christ.

The great victory march has begun. Have you taken your place in the parade? By faith in Jesus Christ, open your mouth and declare:
I am More Than Conqueror through Him who loved me and gave Himself for Me. I am Overcomer. I now take my place in His triumphal procession and rejoice in His victory. The works of the devil no longer have any right to me, to afflict me, to steal from me, to destroy my life in any way. I no longer listen to his lies and accusations; I drown them all out with joyful shouts of victory and celebration, because Jesus has destroyed those works and won the victory for me. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:01 PM

    Thank you! I heartily agree that we are overcomers and conquerors in Jesus. God has been opening my eyes to recognize the triumphal procession he is leading me in, displaying his great goodness and power through my little life, and it all keeps amazing me and overwhelming me! God bless you and make you fruitful as you share the beautiful truth of his word:)

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  2. I discussed the Triumphal Procession with my kids(12&8yrs) this morning at breakfast (Romans 8:37). What a joy to be ale to share this with them, give them a mental picture of a parade with confetti and throngs of celebratory supporters as they walk through the day. Thanks for the great post.

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