Power to Tread on Serpents

While the grand kids were here for the holidays, they wanted to go to the haunted house located on 76 Country Boulevard near the old Walmart store.  It wasn't what I would choose to do for an outing, but, I went along for the ride.  This time though, they insisted that I go through the haunted house with them, since I had never been inside.  Arm-in-arm we entered the dark passage way that takes you past all kinds of grotesque and scary looking monsters.  There were ghosts and vampires, demons and devils, the insane, surgery that had gone bad, and clowns.  A few added surprises were strange noises, things that jumped out at you, and even puffs of air that sent ear-splitting screams from the kids.  They huddled behind me, I said a prayer, and we inched our way through the maze of terror and death.  I have to admit it increased my heart rate and felt a little creepy, but, I spoke the name of Jesus and calmly lead my grand kids through the dark caverns unharmed.

The following day was Sunday and during the worship service at church the Holy Spirit reminded me of my experience in the haunted house.  Ephesians 6:12 tells us that we have an enemy, the devil.  "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world-forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."  We have a real enemy of our souls, Satan, and he wants to destroy us.  There is a war being fought right now, between the forces of good and evil, for the souls of men.  But time is running out for Satan, for 2000 years ago Jesus Christ, God's only son was victorious over sin and death.  His death on the cross paid the penalty for our sins,  winning for us forgiveness and a restored relationship with the Father.  Sin no longer has power to enslave us and separate us from God's holiness.  The way is opened by the blood of Jesus.  Three days later he rose from the dead, victorious over death and the grave and now we have the promise of the Resurrection from the dead.  "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"  1Corinthians 15:55.

As believers, Christ dwells in us by the Holy Spirit and because of him, we can walk into the dark places of the enemy without fear.  Just like when we were in the haunted house, we are surrounded by wickedness and darkness, but, praise God we have the light of the world that lights our path and we have the truth so that we will not be deceived.  Through prayer and the name of Jesus, we can release those who are held captive in a prison of sin.  When we were going through the haunted house, we never knew what was around the next turn.  Through Christ, we have available the armor of God, so let's take up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  The grand kids and I made it safely to the exit of  the haunted house, and  likewise, Jesus said in Luke 10:19, "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you."