Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. Daniel 3:19
Thousands of years ago there was war in the heavens and God expelled Satan from heaven’s courts. When Satan was expelled, he took a third of all the angels with him and from that time on, the enemy has wreaked havoc on the earth.
The wonderful news is that Jesus came to this earth to destroy the works of the devil so that we can be set free from Satan’s bondage! Colossians 2:14-16 gives us a picture of what Jesus did for us,” You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”
What is being said here is that the power that was stripped of Satan and his kingdom was the power to accuse humanity in the courts of heaven legally. Satan’s accusations no longer apply to those who trust in Jesus and His Blood. Satan can no longer hold over our heads an eternity of separation from God. We’ve been bought with a great price and that is reason for us to rejoice in the God of our salvation!
Now that Satan’s power to accuse us has been stripped, we can come boldly to the Throne of grace to obtain mercy in time of need. This doesn’t mean Satan is powerless. So many have wrongly taught the devil is a toothless adversary. 1 Peter 5:8 explains,”Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” Why would he be described as a great enemy and an enemy that can devour if he has no teeth or power? The power that the enemy has is over those who reject Jesus and also over those who open spiritual doors to him without repentance. But thanks be unto God who has provided a way of escape for us and a way to salvation through Jesus Christ. There is no power comparable to God and in knowing that, we also need to be aware that there are still evil powers that have come to rob, kill and destroy.
As of late, there has been an onslaught of attacks against God’s people from the enemy and I want to encourage you and remind you that Jesus has won the war of all wars for us! This doesn’t exclude us from the battles we still have while on this earth against the enemy, but we can be solidly sure that the outcome is “WE WIN”! The reason why the devil has been closing in on you is because something big is about to happen! The reason your fiery furnace has been turned up 7 times hotter is because something big is about to happen! The reason why hopelessness is trying to grab a hold of you is because something big is about to happen! The reason why sickness is trying to defeat you is because something big is about to happen! The reason why there are life shaking things taking place in your life is because something big is about to happen! Right before Jesus showed up in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, the fire was turned up seven times hotter. The furnace that the enemy has designed to destroy you, is the very place where Jesus will meet you to deliver you!
War through the heated furnace that you are in, expecting Jesus to show up and quench the very fire designed to consume you! One day, we will be looking down into a pit where Satan himself and all his kingdom will be burning for an eternity and at that moment we will look to our King Jesus and say,” Thank you for delivering me!”
Pastor Michael Cannatello
lazarusministry.com
