Selwyn starts today’s study, by stressing the point that the Easter story gives us the assurance that Jesus has won the ‘final’ victory over evil.

I especially liked Selwyn’s conclusion: “… If you feel overwhelmed by what you read in the newspapers or see on television, as evil men and women seem to get away with so much, keep in mind that they are now in the first or second day. A third day is coming when evil will be swept from the universe and the kingdom of God is ushered in. Today meekness might seem like weakness, but it will not be long now before the meek, the terrible meek, will enter into their (eternal) inheritance.”

In these last days, I sometimes feel a deep sadness for the people I see on television, movies and internet – who are celebrating their godless life-styles; in apparent ignorance that their rebellion against God will result in their eternal destruction. They have lost the battle to live a life, free of truth and love; and, it’s only a matter - of a very little time, when they will have to face the consequences of their rebellion.

Your view?

Today’s study was one, which stood by itself – not much came to mind – by way of comment – when I read it.

I liked the verses for reading and meditation.

Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians 13:1-10 (NIV) – you can almost feel Paul’s emotion, as he expresses his view in these verses: “This will be my third visit to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time.

I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong – not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed.

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority – the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.”

Apart from the verse (highlighted), which Selwyn uses in today’s study; I also liked this one: “Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you.”

Jesus -  is with us and He is involved in all that we do – plus, He also knows what we don’t do; yet, should have done.

Your view?

Selwyn now looks at the issue of evil in this world.

He starts this study, with this introduction: “We come now to look at the issue: how do we remain calm and steady when around us we (appear to) see evil gaining the upper hand and the kingdoms of this world being broken up? Here again, we find a safe anchor point at the cross.”

In the Old Testament, God often allowed evil nations to reach the full measure of their rebellion, before He would bring them to a sudden end. In Genesis 15:13-16 (NIV): ” … Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”

In Genesis 18:20, we read: “Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous … “. These insights provide us with the assurance that when the evil in the world reaches a certain level – then God will bring sudden and complete judgment down upon the nations.

In a very real sense, the verses from Hebrews – below [an excerpt of today's text for reading and meditation] – highlights the point that our God of the Old Testament – acts in exactly the same way – as He does, in these days, of the New Testament: Take note, of the highlighted part of the last verse!

Hebrews 12:22-28 (NIV): ’ … you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.

You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.

You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”

The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain.Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” ‘

I think the world, will reach a point when the full measure of evil is reached – then our God, will return and consume all those who are evil – with fire. Do you agree?

Selwyn’s conclusion, is very good: “… the written Word of God, tells us that through the victory of the cross, the devil is defeated and is stripped of all his authority over the followers of Jesus. Attach yourself to this anchor point and I promise you, no wind of satanic opposition will be strong enough to capsize your vessel or cause it to be cast upon the rocks. Anchor deep, turn your eyes to Jesus on the cross, and hold on.”

It’s good to be aware of the different methods that the devil uses to frustrate our Christian journey. I’ll go through a few methods that he uses based on my personal experiences – I’m sure there are many variations.

I find that one of his common methods is to try and get me into a bad mood, just as I’m about to leave the house, to go to a Christian function. For example, a minor difference of opinion with my wife over a trivial issue; or, problems with the car, or, the dog does something which demands my attention, when I’m trying to leave on-time.

Another example: One of my close friends, often finds himself confronted with two competing demands: one case, was that he had received a call from a hospital advising that someone was close to death and was asking for him. Just as he was about to leave his house, there was a knock on the door by a church member, asking for prayer for what they saw, was an acute medical condition. My friend quickly sought God’s guidance – he prayed briefly for the person at his door and told him he would return as soon as possible. He then rushed to the hospital to be at the dying person’s bedside – just minutes before the person died, but time enough for that person to make peace with his God.

Final example: I sometimes find that just prior to an exceptional spiritual experience – I can suddenly feel very sick as if I’ve got a very bad case of food poisoning – and a nagging thought enters my head, which tells me to leave the venue - before I embarrass myself.

Once, I was at a closing ceremony of a very, special Cursillo (short course in Christianity): it was just approaching the time to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. All of a sudden I felt very ill – and I immediately prayed for healing; yet, I was surprised to hear a voice in my mind, say: ‘Keep on praying – you can win.”  I then changed my prayer to, something like: ‘Please Jesus, my Lord and God, drive this evil spirit away from me.’  I instantly felt the nausea pass from me – at that precise moment, the bread (the body of Christ) was offered to me, in the communion service. It was one of the greatest moments in my spiritual life.

However, it’s important to keep these type of spiritual attacks in perspective – they are not common, everyday experiences; and, upon some prayerful reflection – a reason for the attack is usually, easily identified.

Always keep in your mind the fact that the devil has been defeated by Jesus; as Selwyn points out in today’s key verse, 1 John 2:13, ‘I write to you young men, because you have overcome the evil one (because Christ is in you).’

Jesus loves you, and He will always be close to you – during these difficult times.

Any comments?

In today’s study, Selwyn talks about the six stages of conquest - regarding Jesus’ victory over the devil – as described by John Scott, in his book The Cross of Christ.

A summary of these stages – as described by Selwyn, with some editing, follow:

1. ‘The conquest predicted. The Old Testament contains most of these predictions, starting with Genesis 3:15.
2. The conquest begun. The earthly ministry of Jesus – Satan made a number of attempts to divert Jesus from His mission; and failed on each occasion. [Matthew 4:8-11 (NIV): " ... Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him."]
3. The conquest achieved. Our Lord’s ordeal on the cross.
4. The conquest confirmed and announced. This took place through the cross and the resurrection. The cross was the victory won, and the resurrection the victory proclaimed and demonstrated.
5. The conquest extended. As the Church carries the message and spreads it around the world.
6. The conquest consummated. The last day, when Jesus returns and puts down all rebellion – the end of evil.’

Perhaps there are some people who think that the devil has the power to do what ever he likes to God’s people, however, this is not the case. Jesus has the fore-knowledge and the power to not only frustrate the devil’s attacks, but to also turn these events into situations where we grow in spiritual maturity.

I think this excerpt, from the verses set for reading and meditation, are well worth your time to dwell upon and to capture the main points for future use.

Paul’s letter to the Colossians 2:6-15 (NIV): “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.

Jesus is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.

He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

I think that the various points, as highlighted above – are really fantastic – they present a concise, snapshot of the gospel. In addition, the last verse leave no room to doubt the complete victory of Jesus over the forces of evil.

Your views?

I think that today’s study covers a mystery that only few Christians actually live the truth of what this mystery contains.

Let’s first look at what Selwyn has to say in his introduction: “Even a casual reader of the New Testament could not help but notice that the letters of the apostle Paul are punctuated with dozens of references to the defeat of the devil. At the cross Paul tells us, Jesus disarmed and triumphed over the devil, and the principalities and powers at his command.”

He then uses an excellent quote of A.W. Tozer’s, to illustrate the power of Christ within: ‘The secret of overcoming the devil is to hang on to the fact that Christ is in you, the hope of glory. I’m not foolish enough to say I am not afraid of the devil. He has got some judo holds I have never heard of. But he can’t handle the one to whom I’m united; he can’t handle  the one whose nature dwells in my nature.’ As Selwyn says – this is the mystery – we are in-Christ.

In John 14:15-21 (NIV), we see these great words, spoken by Jesus: ” ‘If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” ‘

It’s is through Christ’s victory, that we can survive the devil’s attacks.

Your view?

[My original post for this day appears to have disappeared.

Well, let me have a second attempt.]

Selwyn starts by saying: “Now that we have looked at some ways in which Satan woks, the next question we must ask ourselves is this: How do we overcome him?

We overcome him in the same way that God’s people in the book of Revelation overcame him – through the blood of the Lamb (Jesus). Every accusation Satan levels at us must be met by the blood of Christ. … All you need to do is point to the blood that was shed for you on Calvary and the accuser cannot say another word.”

As Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins He has completely broken the power of the devil over us – that is, those, who believe in Jesus. In revelation 1:4-6 (NIV), we read: “Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

God has made us, members of His kingdom – therefore Satan (after his defeat) cannot enter His eternal and holy kingdom and take possession of any of God’s servants That’s just impossible. God’s love is such that he will always protect His flock – He is the perfect shepherd.

However, we must remember it is Jesus who protects us; we cannot enter into combat with Satan by ourselves – depending solely, on our own strengths. In Jude 1:9, we note the following: ‘ … the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” ‘

It’s in the name of Jesus that we overcome the devil. Do you agree?

I think it’s very clear from these words found in John 17:10-11 (NIV), Jesus praying to His Father, before his death: “All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you.

Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.”