MAKING A SPECTACLE: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 17TH AUGUST 2018

MEMORISE:

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:15

READ: Luke 10:17-24

17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

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.

20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.

23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

MESSAGE:

In other to show that our Father is in charge of the affairs of this world, it may be necessary for children of God to engage in some spiritual fireworks that would lead to a spectacle.

To demonstrate His supremacy over Satan, before the whole world, our Lord Jesus Christ made a public spectacle of Satan while He was on earth. He cast demons out with just a word, He commanded unclean sprits and they obeyed Him, and to crown it all up, He made their master, Satan fall as lighting from heaven (Matthew 8:16, Mark 1:27, Luke 10:180).

To show that His superiority over the devil was not a fluke, He also empowered His disciples to make a spectacle of the kingdom of darkness, which they did. He went to the domain of the kingdom of darkness when He died, and boy, were there fireworks! The highlight of this event is seen in Colossians 2:15:

“And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

Halleluyah! Our Lord triumphantly made an open show of Satan and his cohorts in the spirit realm to show that He reigns supreme in both the natural and spiritual world. To demonstrate the superiority of our God, we also have been mandated to make  a spectacle of the kingdom of darkness and their works, just as our master did.

Elijah was a prophet of God who engaged in a spiritual spectacle that disgraced the kingdom of darkness on Mount Carmel (Kings 18:21-39). Elijah had given the prophets of Baal the chance to showcase the power of Ball, whom they claimed to be supreme. Although they prayed to Baal from morning till evening, nothing happened. 1 Kings 18:27 says:

“And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is
talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.”

It was an interesting display which culminated in all onlookers confessing the lordship of the God of Elijah (1 Kings 18:39). After disgracing the devil and making a spectacle of him, our Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 10:19 fortified us with all that we need to victoriously put up a spiritual spectacle like Elijah did. He said to us:

“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.”

With this mandate, instead of the devil making a mockery of us, the reverse should be the case. In your affairs today, use your God-given authority to put the devil down and exalt our God.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, PROVE Yourself in my life. Let those who the devil is using to look down on me begin to look up to me for help as they acknowledge Your supremacy manifesting through me.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 21-26 Matthew 21:28-46

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 18: CONQUEROR AND OVERCOMERS NOW ARE WE
1. Conquerors and overcomers now are we,
Thro' the precious blood of Christ we've victory
If the Lord be for us we can never fail,
Nothing 'gainst His mighty power can e'er prevail.

Chorus
Conquerors are we, thr'o the blood of Jesus
God will give us victory, thro' the blood of Jesus
Through the Lamb for sinners slain,
Yet who lives and reigns again,
More than conquerors are we,
More than conquerors are we.

2. In the name of Israel's God we'll onward press,
Overcoming sin and all unrighteousness;
Not to us but unto Him the praise shall be,
For salvation and for blood bought victory.

3. Unto Him that overcometh shall be given,
Here to eat of hidden manna sent from Heaven,
Over yonder He the victors palm shall bear,
And a robe of white, and golden crown shall wear.