30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 11 14-23 Citizens of the kingdom of Jesus Citizens of the kingdom of Jesus 3
📖 Luke 11:14-23
*Overcoming by His Holy Spirit* _Luke 11:14-23_
The church is in an engagement with the powers of darkness, the kingdom of satan. There is no option for dual citizenship. We must realise that everything in our lives that is of the flesh and of the world, is from the kingdom of satan and needs to be dealt with victoriously though the resurrected power of Jesus and not by our own effort _Romans 8:2._
When we are living victoriously by and through the Holy Spirit, we are marking ourselves as citizens of the kingdom of Jesus _Matthew 12:28._ Our God is waging war against the kingdom of satan. We, the church, are the redeemed of God and we must realise that we are in the age of the vengeance of our God over the kingdom of satan _Isaiah 63:1-4._ We follow Jesus in this warfare against the kingdom of satan _Revelation 19:11-16._
How is this warfare fought? We do not wage this warfare in the flesh but by His Holy Spirit, who resides in us. We must be aware that we are still in the flesh and there can be thoughts that emerge from the carnal nature. This is where the warfare happens. The carnal mind is in enmity against God and is not subject to God. We cannot overcome these thoughts by the flesh but by His Holy Spirit. The old man is crucified, dead and buried with Christ and we live in the newness of the resurrected Jesus _Galatians 2:20/Romans 6:4-8._ We bring every thought to into captivity to the obedience of Christ by His Holy Spirit _II Corinthians 10:3-6._ We then punish all disobedience to Christ, when our own obedience is being fulfilled.
This engagement is the function of the church. We are His because we believed in Christ and not because of our own righteousness. What is the high and lofty position to which God has raised us?
God the Father raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him and His right hand in the heavenly places. This is the place of power, of God’s rule and authority over all principalities, powers, might, dominions and every name that is named not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
This is what God the Father has done to Jesus but did it stop there? No. God the Father put all things under the feet of Jesus, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church. This is the high and lofty position to which, God the Father has raised us up, the church of Jesus Christ. The church is His body and the fullness of Jesus Christ, who fills all in all _Ephesians 1:19-23._
*Thought to ponder*
```I Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (9) Resist him, steadfast in the faith, …```