"To Save Us All From Satan's Power"

"....You shall call His Name JESUS, for He will save...." (Mt. 1:21)

The up beat version of, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," which I sent to you yesterday reflects to me the joy of the Season and the life of a Follower of Jesus Christ.  "....Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day to save us all from Satan's power...."  Indeed, as our text declares, "He will save His people from their sins."  But, the reason we "Merry Gentlemen" can "rest" is that at the Cross Jesus went after the root of those "sins"---------------------------------------------- "Satan's Power!" 

Sin enslaved Adam and Eve because they yielded to "Satan's power."  Some of his other names give insight into this "power"---"Deceiver"--"Father of lies"--"And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon...."  This text from the Book of Revelation gives us perhaps the most chilling description of the great Enemy of mankind, King...of the bottomless pit."  The Hebrew word, "Abaddon," means, "destroying angel."  It is from a root word meaning, "to wander away, lose oneself, perish."  It sort of reminds me of a child at a mall during the Christmas season.  All the lights, the excitement, the gaiety are just too much.  He starts "to wander away" from his parents, an easy prey. 

So too you and I, wandering through life, caught up in the lights, excitement, and gaiety, even of "good" spiritual things, are easy prey to the "Destroyer/Deceiver," the one whom Paul referred to as, "the Prince of the power of the air," lurking for a wandering "child" who has lost his way------------ and site of the Father.  This "wandering" is in our DNA, what theology calls "the Adamic Nature."  Robert Robinson expressed it this way,
          "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
          Prone to leave the God I love."

But no matter "Satan's power" to destroy, deceive, lie, and eternally enslave as "King...of the bottomless pit."  Jesus, The One Whom Heaven calls, "King of kings and Lord of lords," is "King of" the "king...of the bottomless pit."  And, be sure of this; even though his "pit" is "bottomless," his power is not.  "One little word shall fell him." My only caution?------------------------------  Be careful the wandering.

Father, in Jesus' Name, I too am "prone to wander," but I sing,
     "Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
     Seal it for Thy courts above."  Amen.   
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*     As one of Christ's "servants of the Word," I am preaching in CCE's      "Service of the Word" this coming Sunday, Dec. 13.
*     Prophetic News:     www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com

Eighteen year old Norwegian, Peter Torjesen, "when he heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2