Man was created in the image of God. However sin entered the human race through the Fall and man lost his original place on earth. Man became a slave to sin. Sin thus controlled man, but Jesus came to reverse the power of sin over man. Yet man continues to suffer under the burden of sin. We are assailed by sickness and disease. We face death daily. Stress is a way of life for we face pressures from within and without. This is the state of man despite the salvation wrought through Christ. Who can deliver us from this state? God has provided the means.
We must take up our cross daily and follow Jesus. This is the only way we can overcome sin, the world and the devil. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. We are to do the same. Yet what we see is that the devil is destroying us. Why has the church lost its initial glory? The early church was full of power. Jesus did not leave us alone but sent His Spirit to indwell us. Yet we live like we are under siege. We live in fear rather than faith. We have wandered away from our first love. We excuse our lack of faith and blame it on the devil. It is time to wake up and take our place in Christ.
The only way we can do this is through total surrender. Jesus was dependent on His Father all the time. He only did what He saw His Father doing. We have to do the same. This is only possible as we turn from our own independence and walk in dependence on Him. We must disappear if He is to appear. As we become less He becomes more. There is no other way the Spirit can conquer through us. God has provided for us and we must depend on His provision. John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30) . This is the only way. Is this possible? It surely is. Only believe.
