For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire
to depart, and to be with Christ; which
is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh
is more needful for you. And having this
confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue
with you all for your furtherance
and joy of faith (Philippians 1:23-25).
This is inspiring! The Apostle Paul here was
trying to decide whether to live or to die. This tells us that death is subject
to us; we reign over death. Until Jesus came, Satan had the keys of death. Men and
women were all their lifetime subject to bondage because of the fear of death.
However, Jesus put an end to that through His victory over Satan, death, and the
grave. He thus liberated all men from the fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 says, “Forasmuch then as the children are
partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same;
that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is,
the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime
subject to bondage.”
When Jesus died, He went to hell, the devil’s territory,
defeated him and the cohorts of darkness, and took back the keys of death and
hell: “I am he that liveth, and was dead;
and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of
death” (Revelations 1:18). He dealt with the problem of death when He
arose triumphantly from the dead, ushering man into a new life. Today, no one
who’s born again need fear death, for Jesus has defeated death: it’s the last
enemy that will be destroyed, but already, it’s been defeated. Today, Satan has
no authority to take anybody’s life at will because he doesn’t have the power
of death anymore. He can only make empty threats, and try to deceive men or
make them destroy themselves. Refuse to let death have the dominion. Recall the
Master’s charge in Matthew 10:8; He said, “Heal
the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have
received, freely give.” He
gave us dominion, not only over Satan, sickness and disease, but over death as
well. Blessed be God!
Confession:
Christ lives in me; His life and immortality have been
unveiled in my spirit! I’m a
partaker of the God-life—a life that’s superior to
sickness, disease, Satan, and
death! I walk in dominion today over death and everything
associated with
darkness, for I dwell in the realm of life. Glory to God!
f u r t h e r s t u d y: 2 Timothy 1:8-10;1 Corinthians 15:55-57
1year bible reading plan: Psalms 135-138 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
2 year bible reading plan: Luke 18:35-43 1 Samuel 13
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