LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
The Madness of Preaching
"...who has delivered us from the power of darkness..." (Colossians 1:13).
When we are in darkness, separated from the life of God, we are subject to an empire, a dominion of power (Heb. 2:14-15). The ruler of this empire is Satan, and his fuel of bondage is sin.
Satan is the father of sin, because sin proceeds from him (Jn. 8:44). Every sinner is a slave of sin and a slave of this empire: "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the slave of sin" (Jn. 8:34). This empire reigned until Jesus Christ: "For if by one man's trespass death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:17). The Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8). He partook as we do of flesh and blood, and by His sacrifice He delivered us from that empire. He bought us at a high price: "For ye are bought with a price..." (1 Cor. 6:20).
Jesus ransomed us and annulled the record of our debts, then exhibited and defeated the principalities and powers, "annulling the record of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, taking it out of the way and nailing it to the cross; and having spoiled the principalities and powers, he made a public display of them, triumphing over them in the cross" (Col. 2:14-15).
We were snatched out of the hands of the evil one, by the power of God. The Lord snatches out of the hands of the evil one that which belongs to him, which he purchased with his precious blood (Rev. 5:9). God comes to wrest us with a strong hand from that empire of darkness, and transfers us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, "that you may open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me" (Acts 26:18).
The power of deliverance does not belong to man, but to God: "God has spoken once; twice have I heard this, that the power is of God" (Ps. 62:11). Man has no power in himself, not even with the help of others to free himself from the power of darkness. He can only be free if the Mighty One of Israel saves him: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" (Jn. 8:36).
We, who were wrested with a strong hand from that power and transferred to the kingdom of the Son, can now participate in His power for those who are still under that empire. The Word of the cross is the power of God. The means by which God manifests His power is preaching: "For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God ... For since in the wisdom of God the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God to save those who believe through the foolishness of preaching ... But to those who are called, whether Jews or Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Cor. 1:18, 21, 24).