The battle of sin and the incessant injustice we see around us can cause us great anxiety, anger, and worry. As we battle for our very own souls and the souls of others, it can cause us to succumb to its prison. But I am telling you, we can finally, be dead to sin, its injustice and its nagging anxiety!
We no longer need to walk in the deeds of our flesh. Paul tells us so in Colossians 3:5, “Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead…” Did you hear that? DEAD. We are dead “…to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” Evil desire gives way to anger, anxiety and more injustice. Why? Because evil desire is about us! It’s about our ability to solve our problems. It takes our minds off of God’s riches in Heaven, and puts it on this world and its wisdom.
God calls us to “set our minds on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Colossians 3:2). This is to be every day, every hour, every minute, and every second. We are to never have our minds set on the things of earth. NEVER! Our life is hidden with Christ in God. That means that we have the mind of Christ in us (1 Corinthians 2:16).
It is in this mind we live our life.
Living with the mind of Christ and in the power of His Spirit we are able to walk our days without sin and materialize the justice needed where sin injures the innocents. Our battle against sin has been won and we need to live in that victory, but most often we live in defeat. Why? Because we feast on the wisdom of men and we dine at earth’s table. We partake of the hors d'oeuvres of doubt, delight in the dessert of reasoning, and divulge in the entrée of man’s limitations. When, instead, we are to feast on the wisdom of God and dine at Heaven’s table. God can and will bring the feast to us if we pray. He says so in His word, “Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life…” (Psalm 23:5-6). David is talking about his life here on earth, not heaven. This table from heaven comes down to a reality here where we abide. The feast comes filled with the extravagances of justice, honor, peace, grace, mercy, and love. Its main course is power. Its pastries are baked with the finest of spices: healing, liberty, and virtue.
How are we to get Heaven’s table on earth to where we are? How do we share in the feast of God’s riches? Through PRAYER! Prayer opens up heaven’s treasures and pours it down on us like manna in the desert.
I have heard all my life to rebuke satan with these words: “In the name of Jesus, flee from me, satan.” And certainly this statement is true, but God wants us to rebuke satan with not only the powerful name of Jesus, but also the supremacy of His Spirit. In light of this truth, it is effective to say, “In the name of Jesus and through the power of His Spirit, satan disintegrate from my presence; for there is only room for God’s Spirit in this place where I stand, because where I stand is holy ground!”
When we speak with this power, the light of God enters our presence and darkness cannot contain it. The darkness annihilates in the veil of God’s authority. Unfortunately, people often see prayer as “meditation” much like yoga. They see it as a way to calm the soul and dissipate the anxiety for a time, but prayer is an active force that brings the dominance of heaven to earth so that its light assaults the darkness and discloses God’s invisible qualities to a tangible reality. People then listen, they watch, they hear, and through the conviction of the spirit of God, they give themselves to Him. So, my dear friends, don’t hope for the feast of heaven, pray it down!
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