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In verse 27 here Jesus makes reference to the "strong man". This is Satan, the enemy of the saints and the great deceiver. If the "strong man is Satan, then, the "house" is the dominion of darkness, and what is taken from the house is those held captive. Christian believers! Satan had us chained and we could not get ourselves out. If we could there would be no need for a Saviour. Self-help is not an option. Why? What is the sinner's problem?
Is it ignorance? No! There are innumerable educational programmes in so many churches and religions around the word but they don't deal with the basic problem of sin. Education would simply make us better educated slaves.
Is it indolence? No! Our world is awash with self-help programmes designed to help us "reach our full potential", but they don't begin to deal with the fundamental problem of fallen human nature. Greater effort simply exhausts us in our chains.
The problem is slavery. The unsaved are slaves to sin (Romans 6:16), dead in sins (Eph.2:1) and darkened in understanding (Eph.4:18). The stark reality is that if Jesus doesn't do something we are lost. Whoever we are, however we live. Have you ever wondered why you can spend two hours watching a film and the time flies by, but when you try and spend a half-hour reading Scripture time can drag? Why are God thoughts so difficult? The truth is trying to be a Christian is useless because our efforts are still the efforts of slaves. Somebody stronger than us, and stronger than Satan must release us.
The Good News is that although Satan's dominion is darkness and we were his prisoners at one time God has "rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14).
Jesus declared:
"I am the resurrection and the life. He who
believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and
believes in me will never die." (John 11:25-26)
He then goes on to ask:
"Do you believe this?"
You see, "if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9). Are you saved? Has Jesus rescued you from the dominion of darkness, from the strong man's house? If so then rejoice this coming week. If not don't start the week before turning to him and asking him to save you.
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