07/01/2022 - THE GREATEST IN US

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You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  1 John 4.4

What a statement! The treatment is that of a father who loves his little child, takes pleasure in it, and treats it with love. When we are converted, we fulfill Jesus´ Word: And He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18.3). He knows what he is saying and treats us affectionately when he calls us little children. That is so good!

Whoever is of God will never be overcome by the evil one, because the Lord keeps him from all evil, but this does not mean that His beloved children will not be tempted. The heavenly Father wants to see them grow up to the stature of Christ, that’s why He gave His Church ministerial gifts: And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4.11,12). Realize the responsibility of those who exercise these gifts!

In Hell, the battle waged by Jesus against Satan and his demons took place on our behalf. There, the Lord annihilated them once and for all. Therefore, we have defeated the devil in Christ and no longer need to fight with him: Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it (Colossians 2.15). Every time the evil one comes to attack us, let us remember that we have already defeated him and that we must immediately rebuke him!

To make us His children, God gave His only begotten Son to go to the cross at Calvary in our place, to suffer our sins and die. Then Jesus went to the world of the dead, but He did not experience corruption. When He conquered the darkness, He was made alive, reunited with the Father again, and we went with Him at that same hour. Jesus was resurrected, and we too have been resurrected with Him and are seated in Him (Ephesians 2.6). What glory!

How to have the Lord dwelling in us? This is a good question, to which everyone would like to know the answer. But it was given to us through the lips of Christ, when He declared: If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and my Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him (John 14.23). The recipe is immutable and works for those who dedicate themselves to loving Him: to have and to keep His commandments!  

There are no words to describe the Lord, other than this one: greater. He is more than the human mind can imagine, more than we need, and is more than enough to defeat the devil’s onslaughts against any of the beloved children of His lap. Beware, for it´s at this point that the enemy is able to defeat the beloved children, causing them to relax in divine love. The Father loves those who love Him!

Why not live in the Lord´s promises, if we have nothing to lose, only gain? Knowing that Satan can no longer defeat us gives us security. With God, no one will wake up in eternal darkness. The heavenly Father will help His servants when they need. Then they will enjoy the abundant life brought by Jesus (John 10.10).

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares