We are wrapping up a series entitled “The Power of the Cross.” I want to talk in this last message about the fact that the enemy has been “disarmed.” He no longer has the power over us to hurt/ harm us in any way. He does seek to steal, kill, and destroy but through the power of the Cross, he has been disarmed, that is de-weaponized, he has been rendered toothless.
One of the questions I have had regarding World War I which ended in 1919, is how could an aggressive country like Germany be involved in two world conflicts within a 20-year span. How could a defeated and demilitarized country once again become a military power and a threat to the world? By the end of 1933 Hitler had rebuilt the military and by 1939 he entered Poland and then France. It was unbelievable how quickly it had happened.
As you think about it there are three things that stand out: first of all, Hitler lied about his intentions, second, people underestimated his resolve and lastly, he had not been completely disarmed. But through the work of the cross in our lives the enemy has been completely disarmed. He will continue to lie to us about his intentions; we may underestimate his resolve in our spiritual lives but he has been completely disarmed.
Colossians 2:15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He (Jesus) made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
The work of the cross has accomplished 3 things relating to the enemy. It has disarmed the enemy, put the enemy on display as defeated and Jesus has dominated the enemy through it.
All the wicked powers and authorities have been disarmed, they no longer can enslave us and bind us in our sin. The Apostle Paul talks about the wiles of the devil. That word means cunning, deception or the craft meaning witchcraft…that is the ability of the enemy to deceive us, to cause us to question the word of God and the character of God.
But through the cross and the forgiveness that I receive; it is now my desire to please God. I see myself as having no good thing aside from the cross. My boast is in the cross through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. The world (lust of flesh, eyes, pride of life) is dead to me and I to the world. So, when the devil comes to entice me with his wiles…. I do not have to comply because I am dead to the world.
You see at the cross, the devil and his hosts who incited the high priest and the Romans to put Jesus to death, had a goal of shaming Jesus on the cross…. people who were there would say,” it's shameful that this is a criminal who needed to die for his crime.” But with our Savior’s resurrection from the dead, He has turned the tables on the devil and shamed him….He has overcome death, hell and the grave and the devil is now a public spectacle/shamed through the cross. Jesus has disarmed the enemy, He has put them on display as defeated, and He will dominate him finally at His coming.
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “Disarmed.”
Blessings,
Kevin
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