Pastor Rick's Daily Hope

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 over 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. You are powerless without Christ!

Satan has two favorite tools: temptation and condemnation.

With temptation, he minimizes 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 ideas in your mind.

Then, the moment you do that particular sin, Satan reverses his strategy to condemnation. 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—you can 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 afterward to usher in guilt.

On the cross, Jesus defeated temptation and condemnation. He destroyed temptation’s power, giving you the strength 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 also destroyed the power of condemnation over you. Satan’s accusations no longer work because the Bible says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 NIV). You are a trophy of God’s grace, so Satan’s accusations don’t stick. You’ve already been cleansed. Jesus cancelled the payment. Jesus paid the debt. Jesus satisfied justice.

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 in the areas that you choose to give him. When you choose to give in to Satan’s temptation or condemnation, 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. “Your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3 GNT), and you are protected. You don’t have to listen to Satan. You have the power to say, “No!”

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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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