Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Prayer of Jabez: All Evil Conquered in Christ

"And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.

"And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested." (1 Chronicles 4: 9-10)

God has not only kept us from evil in Christ, but He has freed us from the curse of the law, through which Satan was legally permitted to harass God's creation.

Yet before the Finished Work was accomplished, Isaiah prophesied a glorious protection for the believer:

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. " (Isaiah 54: 17)

We have been established in righteousness because of Jesus' death at the Cross. Solomon also prophesied of this great work in the live of every king (that's you and me (1 Peter 2: 9):

"Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness." (Proverbs 25: 5)

How did Jesus  do this? Paul explains the blessed effects of Christ's sacrifice at the Cross:

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

"In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

"Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 10-15)

The sins of our flesh have been removed from us. That's one immense source of evil take from us. He has brought us back from spiritual death by forgiving all of our sins, so that no shame, recrimination, or guilt can hold us back. More importantly, Christ Jesus fulfilled and ended the power of the law in our lives, "the handwriting ordinances that was against us," for by the knowledge of the law is sin (Romans 3: 20). This chief accomplishment ended the power of powers and principalities in our lives

In Christ we are more than conquerors (Romans 8: 37), and nothing, not one thing, can take us away from our victory-place in Christ (Romans 8: 38-39), for we are seated above every power and principality (Ephesians 2: 6), and in Christ we sit, waiting for our enemies to become our footstool:

"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

"From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. " (Hebrews 10: 12-13)

And of course:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

There is no terror, no trial, no trauma, no trouble that has not already been overcome in Christ. Satan is judged, finished, we reign in life, and nothing can remove us from Him!

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