December 18 | Martial Plan
“This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil” - 1 John 3:8
A war of cosmic proportions has been waged against God. Heaven’s greatest angel went rogue and sought to dethrone God from His throne. Unsuccessful, God banished Lucifer from the heavens and plunged him to earth, together with two thirds of the angelic army (Revelation 12:9). On earth, Lucifer who became, Satan, began a reign of terror; stealing, killing and destroying mankind with impunity (John 10:10).
God had to act before Satan could plunge earth further into utter darkness. The Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was tapped and sent to earth with a martial plan: save mankind, build an impregnable fortress of the true church and destroy Satan, once and for all (1 John 3:8).
Distraught, Satan attempted to derail God’s plan by sending Herod, a maniacal and ruthless minion of darkness, to murder Jesus while He was still yet an infant. He didn’t succeed. Outwitted, Jesus, carried by his earthly parents, Joseph and Mary, escaped and lived for a time in Egypt (Matthew 2:14-15). Carnage then, ensued. Satan turned his wrath against the innocent of children of Ramah and slaughtered them (Matthew 2:16).
Satan had to find another way to kill Jesus and thwart God’s plan of mankind’s salvation. Conspiring this time with a host of evil men and one of the disciples of Jesus, Judas Iscariot; Satan prevailed over Jesus and hanged the Son of God on a tree. Crucifixion — death at the cross — was the ancient world’s most horrifying punishment. Satan won over Jesus.
Or so the wicked one thought.
But what was devised by Satan to ruin Jesus, God, in His pure love and power, transformed the cross into the very place of Satan’s own demise (Colossians 2:14). At the cross, God changed the tide of war. And from the tomb, where he was buried, Jesus rose from the dead freeing himself from mortal decay and destruction (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
The birth of the Lord Jesus and His subsequent death and resurrection were God’s martial plan. It was a demolition job at its very core. Jesus came and saw and conquered Satan, once and for all!
Hence, you are now free! The Lord has liberated you and has cut you loose from the bondage of sin as well as death! This Christmas, celebrate the victory Jesus Christ has given you!
God had to act before Satan could plunge earth further into utter darkness. The Christ, the only begotten Son of God, was tapped and sent to earth with a martial plan: save mankind, build an impregnable fortress of the true church and destroy Satan, once and for all (1 John 3:8).
Distraught, Satan attempted to derail God’s plan by sending Herod, a maniacal and ruthless minion of darkness, to murder Jesus while He was still yet an infant. He didn’t succeed. Outwitted, Jesus, carried by his earthly parents, Joseph and Mary, escaped and lived for a time in Egypt (Matthew 2:14-15). Carnage then, ensued. Satan turned his wrath against the innocent of children of Ramah and slaughtered them (Matthew 2:16).
Satan had to find another way to kill Jesus and thwart God’s plan of mankind’s salvation. Conspiring this time with a host of evil men and one of the disciples of Jesus, Judas Iscariot; Satan prevailed over Jesus and hanged the Son of God on a tree. Crucifixion — death at the cross — was the ancient world’s most horrifying punishment. Satan won over Jesus.
Or so the wicked one thought.
But what was devised by Satan to ruin Jesus, God, in His pure love and power, transformed the cross into the very place of Satan’s own demise (Colossians 2:14). At the cross, God changed the tide of war. And from the tomb, where he was buried, Jesus rose from the dead freeing himself from mortal decay and destruction (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
The birth of the Lord Jesus and His subsequent death and resurrection were God’s martial plan. It was a demolition job at its very core. Jesus came and saw and conquered Satan, once and for all!
Hence, you are now free! The Lord has liberated you and has cut you loose from the bondage of sin as well as death! This Christmas, celebrate the victory Jesus Christ has given you!
