One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Acts 19:15 (NIV)
How much of this world are we allowing to take root in our mind and heart; to come between us and God? How much of this passing away world are we allowing to influence and distract us from what is truly meaningful in life? Scripture is clear that there is so much more going on than merely meets our human eyes!
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even the angels long to look into these things. 1 Peter 10-12 (NIV)
Even the angels are intrigued with raptured attention at what God is doing throughout the ages and in times to come!
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder. James 2:19 (NIV) Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” Revelation 12:12 (NIV)
The demons know God’s Word, they know Truth, and it makes them tremble, shudder, for they know their fate and the reality of our overcoming Almighty God! And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:15 (NIV)
As a beloved child of God (Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – John 1:12 (NIV)) are we spending time getting to know the Word (who is Jesus Himself)?! (The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NIV)) Are we letting the knowledge of our Heavenly Father be surpassed by that of even the demons?!
In Acts 19 we find a story of those intrigued by the authority of Jesus’ name. They were enraptured with the power, popularity and praise that surrounded those doing miracles in the name of Jesus, so they tried to manipulate His name for their own glory and fame. When then came to try and expel evil spirits the demons responded to them with disdain and disregard. The demons were, and are, well aware of who Jesus is, and they know about those who are His true disciples, for they are given overcoming power though Him, over them; but to these men hypocritically walking in faith, the demons proclaimed them to be no threat! In fact they had no idea who they even were! The demons then proceeded to beat these men to a pulp until they ran naked and bleeding into the public streets!
Dear one, Jesus never loses sight of His own (see Psalm 139, John 10:27-30) and His eyes roam the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). The enemy is well aware of the overcoming power God’s children have through Jesus with His indwelling Holy Spirit. They know the victory we fight from and they tremble!! Are we missing the thrill of living for Jesus because we are distracted by this world, giving our affections away to the meaningless?! Are we bowing to the false gods of power, fame, fortune, popularity and praise from humans…?! Are we trying so hard to “fit in” when we were created to stand out?!
When you wake up in the morning and your feet hit the floor the enemy should say, “Oh no! (insert your name) is up!!” For they know the power you have access to and if you’re willing to navigate your moments from your position in Christ they’ve lost before they began! They know if you merely resist them they will have to flee in Jesus name!! Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (NIV)
You may have a million reasons in life why you should fear, back down, give up….but dear one, you only need one, one cross shaped reason, to stand fearless, firm and to keep on! Look to the cross and remember where your strength comes from, your validation, your priceless worth… If you are ever faced with, “but who are you?!” respond with God-fidence, I’m a child of the Most High God, The King of kings and Lord of lords knows my name and has me in His grip. My Father stands undefeated and in the name of Jesus I too stand. ALL that comes against me must bow at His name…all fear, depression, oppression, failure, death, trial and tragedy… For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
Don’t get beaten to a bloody pulp by the enemy who lives to make you think you’ve lost the game you’ve actually already won! Know the Word who is Jesus, take His Truth into the fiber of your being, live in it authentically and you’ll be set free from the deceptive chains of this fleeting world!
May the enemy never have to ask “but who are you?!” because we know the Word and live it out fearlessly with grace and Truth. Dear one, if you want to know who you are; get to know Whose you are. Your indescribable worth is found in Jesus, it is His love that defines you, precious and priceless.