MINISTERING IN VICTORY

Shalom,

We must be confident that we can defeat the Devil because of the blood of Jesus (Revelation 12:10-11). The Devil can also be defeated if we have a strong faith (1 Peter 5:9a) by holding on to and practicing the Word of God like building a house on a rock (Matthew 7:24). Obviously, if we live out the Word of God consistently and tirelessly, we will be victorious without a doubt. Also, the manisfestation of victory will overwhelm us if we worship together and serve Him in unison. 

Therefore, the Word of God reminds us, “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). In other words, without God, we are weak and vulnerable to loss when facing the Devil’s attacks.

Our strength in the Lord starts with the grace and peace from God and the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1: 1-2) as experienced by Paul, an apostle who was sent not by men’s will, but by the will of Jesus Christ and God (Ephesians 1:1^a ; Galatians 1:1).

How was Paul’s early life? He was popularly called Saul (great) in his early years. Being a Jew by birth of the tribe of Benjamin, he was circumsized on the eighth day. As his name describes it, Saul was a respected figure, a scholar under his teacher Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) and a Pharisee who strictly lived up to the Law (Philippians 3:5-6). But after he repented, he was better known as Paul (small) and considered all of his titles of honor as dung (Philippians 3:7-8). His encounter with Jesus Christ totally transformed him. 

He no longer boasted about himself but rather realized how small he was before the all-powerful Lord. This is the impact of his knowing the person of Jesus Christ who had died for him. Paul then preached the Gospel of the crucified Christ to the Gentiles, including us, so that we will also know the person of Jesus Christ to gain salvation as he experienced it firsthand.   

Application: a person who has met and knows the person of Jesus Christ no longer focuses on himself, but rather directs his views on the things above so that he can testify about how deep the riches of heaven are and how awsome the Owner is. Then he enters the ministry in line with the truth of the Word of God (instead of his financial resources or expertise) while his life gets continuously renewed.

Please note that a person who has experienced a life transformation likes to to pray for others so that they will be saved as well. Many earnestly serve God without the right understanding because they do not know the righteousness of God (Romans 10:1-3). Take Peter for example. Not knowing the person of Jesus well (yet), Peter did not want his Teacher to suffer on the cross by any means. Jesus was not pleased to hear Peter’s sympathy, though. He even said,“Get behind me, Satan…, you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns”  (Matthew 16:21-23).         

We must change our paradigm of thinking. Instead of wordly matters, our perspectives should rest on the truth of the Word of God. That way, we will defeat the devil who is roaming around like a roaring lion, ready to find anyone to devour (1 Peter 5:7-9). The little David, for example, managed to defeat the loudmouthed giant, Goliath, in the name of the Lord of hosts (1 Samuel 17:45-46).     

We are able to conquer the Devil if our faith is steadfast. Illustration: a plant can stand strong and sturdy if the soil is good and its roots remain growing deep down into the earth in one place, rather than being replanted from one place to another. If the soil of our hearts is good, our faith will stay rock solid when it comes to understanding (Matthew 13:23), welcoming (Mark 4:20) and keeping the Word of God (Luke 8:15).

How can we possibly crush the Devil if we do not have the Word of God? Jesus Himself was tempted by the Devil (three times) and experienced victory because He had used the Word of God as His weapon (“For it is written…” – Matthew 4: 4, 6, 10). The knowledge of the Word of God should take a step-by-step process. It starts by confessing that Jesus is Lord and believing that God raised Him from the dead to save us (Romans 10:9). Jesus who did not know sin was made to be sin for us, so that we would be justified by God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Admittedly, we were once dead (spiritually) because of our tresspasses and sins, walking down the path of the world (Ephesians 2:1-2) and living in darkness (Ephesians 5:8). But after understanding the righteousness of the Word of God, we have become the children of the light and received the guarantee of the Holy Spirit that makes us God’s own (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Who is our ultimate enemy? Death (1 Corinthians 15:26). Now we are facing the attacks of the enemy from all directions (air, land and sea). How to face them? When a windstorm hit their boat, the disciples of Jesus got terrified. But Jesus taught them (and us) how to stay calm (fearless) and trust Him (Matthew 8:23-26) instead of getting panicked, sounding off about our problems and turning to men for help, rather than relying on the Lord. Hasn’t Jesus risen from the dead and defeated the Devil who has the power over death (Hebrews 2:14)?

Who can change our old bad characters? Nobody but the Lord. Stephen prayed for Saul (Acts 7:58-60) and got transformed when he met the Lord face to face (Acts 9:4-6). Following his repentance, Paul testified about his life trasnformation. Remember that the Devil was defeated by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimonies (Revelation 12:11).

Introspection: what do we have to testify if we do not believe in the sacrifice of Jesus? Those who do not believe in His sacrifice can only testify about themselves. On the contrary, we, who believe in Him, are sealed by the Holy Spirit to testify at our homes to begin with, later in our communities, and accross the city      over time, and so on.

In the beginning we were called out of darkness, elected and sanctified. If we stay faithful, we will be entrusted with a post. In the era of Moses, the requirements to be priests for the Lord included calling, selection and consecration (Exodus 29). We must be reconciled with the Lord first (2 Corinthians 5:20). Then we are able to fellowship/unite with others. If we serve the Lord with the right understanding, He will empower us to defeat the sting of death, that is, sin. In this way, we are able to stand firm and stay abounding in the work of Lord (1 Corinthians 15:56-58). 

Other than the right understanding, we must put on the belt of truth in order to stay steadfast and stand firm (Ephesians 6:14). Logically, a belt is put on around the waist close to the stomach. Why does the truth need to be put on around /close to the ‘stomach’ ? Phillipians 3:18-19 confirm,“For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.”

Application: Make sure that our activities and ministries are all related to and in line with the Word of God. Do not use the Word of God to cover up our motivation, that is, satisfying our own “stomachs.” The Word of God reminds us to seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness. Then everything will be added so that we do not need to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:33-34).

We should be thankful for having been called out of the darkness of sin through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, transformed by the Word of God and selected to be sanctified. Let’s keep on living in holiness and stay faithful to obtain a position and serve the Lord by using our God-given gifts and talents. If our ministries are sincere without any hidden motivations (satisfying the stomach), the reward of victory will await us all and our efforts will pay off. Amen.

By Lay Pastor Jusuf Wibisono

Lemah Putro, Sunday, January 21, 2018

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