Swallowed Up

Today’s Bible readings are Exodus 5:22-7:25, Matthew 18:21-19:12, Psalm 23:1-6, & Proverbs 5:22-23

Exodus 7:10-12

¹⁰ So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did what the Lord had commanded them. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a serpent! ¹¹ Then Pharaoh called in his own wise men and sorcerers, and these Egyptian magicians did the same thing with their magic. ¹² They threw down their staffs, which also became serpents! But then Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.

In this life we experience the forces of darkness. There are times when satan & his kingdom will attack us & our families. There are even times when those attacks can be very strong. There is no doubt that demons, principalities, & powers exist. We see that in our reading today. We see the work of satan & his kingdom operating in Pharaoh’s magicians. They were able to do supernatural things by that dark power he gave.

Moses & Aron probably acted like we would in a situation like this. They probably sat there & thought, “Oh no, now what do we do?” They had done what God told them to do & it looked like they had been matched by the enemy. It may have even left them feeling like there was nothing else that they could do.

This happens in our lives as well. We pray for our families & only see things get worse. We read the bible only to find the temptation getting stronger. We confess healing but our condition may worsen. These are times when it looks like the enemy has overpowered the people of God.

I want to take a moment to point out to you what the rest of the story tells us.

But then Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs.

Praise God! This is the picture that I pray sinks deep into your spirit. The power of God ALWAYS swallows up the power of satan. There is no match for our God. He is the ALMIGHTY! Satan may try to growl, he may even roar like a lion form time to time, BUT we must remember that Jesus has already pulled that lions teeth!!!

Moses & Aaron did all that they knew to do. They did what they were told to do. Satan responded with an attempt to strike fear into them. But God pick up the slack. He swallowed up the power of the enemy with a single gulp. It wasn’t dependent on Moses or Aaron to defeat the enemy. It was all on God’s shoulders. He gave the knock-out punch that day. He was beginning to show who really was in charge.

I know that some of you may be under great pressure & maybe even in the middle of a great spiritual battle right now. I give you a word from the Lord—Having done all to stand, stand therefore!!!

It is easy to forget that God is in control. We have to constantly remind ourselves of this very fact. There are all kinds of things that happen at all kinds of times to shake us. But we must not waver. We must not lose confidence in the fact that CHRIST has already defeated every principality, every power, ruler of darkness, & all spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places. He is victorious over all. He has triumphant over all things in his death, burial, & resurrection. Satan is a defeated foe. His army has been disarmed.

I declare over you that you are not weak & powerless. You are mighty in the Lord. You have been clothed with power from on high. The greater One dwells in you & by His power will make you overcome all things, in every situation.

Here are the facts of who you are in Christ:

1.      Sin has NO power of you.

Romans 6:14

¹⁴ Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

2.      You are triumphant NOW!

2 Corinthians 2:14

¹⁴ But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.

3.      You have been raised with Christ.

Ephesians 2:6

⁶ For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

4.      You are delivered from the power of darkness.

Colossians 1:13

¹³ For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

5.      His power is at work in you.

Ephesians 3:20

²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

This is your new identity in Christ. You are not who you use to be. You are truly a new creature with a new nature—God likeness! These are the things that the enemy works very hard to keep you from learning & believing. He is constantly maneuvering in a way to keep this light for dawning in you. Once this becomes alive in you the he loses all access. I speak this over every reader today. This word is going to penetrate every heart in Jesus name. You will see who you have become in Christ & you will live life out of that new position.  To God be the glory for now & forever more. AMEN!!!

Pastor Richard Schlotter