Even as a young child my dreams have always
seemed vivid and imaginative. One of the
weirdest involved everything in the world being made of stretched elephant skin…
enough said. Anyway, most of my bad
dreams involved high stress and fear, but only one that I remember involved a
human looking person that was chasing me.
In the dream I was exhausted, unable to keep going so I turned and
loudly said, “In the name of Jesus, go away!” and he did. I woke up right after amazed at how God had
shown me the power in the name of Jesus.
There is no greater name.
Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above
every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly
ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the
earth; Php. 2:9,10
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying,
Lord, even the demons are subject to us
through Your name. Lk. 10:17
There is another being who
preys on us, and that is our enemy, also the enemy of our Lord. Be not afraid, for Christ has the victory,
but we must be obedient to what God says if we are to survive the threats of
this ‘beast’. In one well known passage,
he is said to be like a roaring lion.
Be sensible and
vigilant, because your adversary the
Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour; whom
firmly resist in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions in the world are being completed in your
brotherhood. 1Pt. 5:8,9
(*for word definitions)
Think about these facts in
context of the Christian life. The lion
signifies strength as it has concentrated power in all its muscles. It cares little for the number of its foes,
or the weapons with which they are armed.
A lion often attacks those who are alone or away from the flock. He stalks and is patient with his prey. His claws are not critical as the weight of
its blow is sufficient to kill.
The lion can roar up to 114
decibels and it emanates power (pain begins at 125db). On a still quiet night, the sound can reach 7
to 8km away. The roar establishes his
presence, his territory and communicates to others. He stoops his head to roar which causes the
sound to roll like thunder and reverberate, thus it can be heard at great
distances without giving away its location thereby allowing it to better
ensnare its prey.
So all of this is to say,
take care, be vigilant for the devil seeks to destroy us and he’ll use any
tools he can: relationships, the world, power, jobs, human nature, electronics,
pride, lust, greed, addictions, desires, etc.
But we don’t have to fear because “greater is he that is in you, than he
that is in the world.” (1Jh. 4:4) and we CAN firmly resist him because of what
Jesus did for us: at the cross, with His resurrection and by sending His Spirit
to dwell with us (Rm. 8:11 ). For at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, and even the demons are subject to us through
His name.
JESUS!!!
Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and
he will flee from you. Jm. 4:7
Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Ep. 6:10
sensible-nepho- sober,
calm in spirit, circumspect
vigilant- gregoreuo- to
watch, take heed, give strict attention to, be cautious
adversary-antidikos-
opponent, enemy
walks about- peripateo- to
walk, progress, make use of opportunities
devour- katapino- to drink
or swallow down, destroy
firmly- atereos- strong,
immovable, rigid, steadfast
resist- antihistemi- set
one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose
afflictions- pathema- that
which one suffers, misfortune, calamity, evil
world- kosmos- world,
universe, human family
being completed- epiteleo-
accomplish, execute, complete, to appoint to, impose upon