There are two powers or forces in this world, the force of light which is God, and the force of darkness which is Satan. Whilst Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), God does not disguise himself as an angel of darkness for he is the true light (John 1: 9). Satan’s impersonation of God shows that he is inferior to God or that God is superior to him.
In confirmation of God’s superiority, Israel confessed in 2 Chronicles 2: 5, our God is greater than other gods. In trying times, Israel confessed in 2 Chronicles 32: 7, there is one greater with us than with him. These confessions were made to encourage the weak who had fainted in heart because God was not visible to them yet present to those who had faith in him based on his promise to Abraham in Genesis 26: 3, 24 saying, I will be with you, and will bless you…
Consistent with his character of faithful promise, God said in 1 John 4: 4, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. God’s presence was made personal in us through Christ Jesus, hence, the phrase “he that is in you”. When we accept Christ Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, he takes residence in our hearts and perfects our capacities by his grace, 2 Corinthians 12: 9. Paul wrote that he (God) is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful in you, 2Corinthians 13: 3. How should we behave if the God in us is greater than all other gods outside us even if combined?
We must we be bold and confident
God wants us to be bold because he is superior to, and greater than all gods. Joel 1: 3 says tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. In God’s company, we are assured of divine superiority though God manifests in us in humble simplicity by the Holy Spirit. Without reminders of God’s power and authority in us, we may capitulate to darkness in fear. Hosea 4: 6 says my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Biblical testimony is that God is greater than Satan. 1 John 5: 9 says the testimony of God is greater than human testimony. Human testimony may be tainted with human reasoning but God’s is pure. 1 John 5: 4 says for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. God gives us the power to conquer evil when we are born by the Holy Spirit through confession of sin, renunciation, forgiveness and restoration in Christ Jesus as prerequisite for heaven, John 3: 5.
Our God in us is greater for Acts 7: 28 says for in him we live and move and have our being. In effect our totality rests with God who is in us, not Satan who is outside us. Fear makes us dead in Christ Jesus when we should be alive in him. God said in Revelation 3: 1, I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead. God wrote of the spirit in us in Romans 8: 15, for you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. Fear makes us slaves to Satan.
Why we doubt God is with us
We acknowledge Satan’s power rather than God’s power. Our faith is in what we see rather than what God says, hence Satan works against our faith in God with disbelief in God, and fear of Satan. In correction, Romans 16: 17 says keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offenses, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned, avoid them. We are to avoid them together with their doctrines.
We doubt God’s power because we lack God’s power. Romans 8: 9 says anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. Without belonging to God, we cannot know his nature in us and we will continue to doubt even what we have. Paul said in Romans 8: 11, if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. God takes care of our bodies once we accept Jesus hence we must not entertain fear and doubt.
God will not allow his holy temple to be destroyed except if it is the habitat of sin. Our bodies must therefore be kept holy because we are God’s temple, 1Corithians 3: 16. In the absence of holiness, Satan will assume superiority over us because sin separates us from God and his authority. In sin God says in Proverbs 1: 28 says then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but will not find me. God will hide his face from us when we disrespect him by sin, Micah 3: 4. We doubt that God is in us because we are clouded by sin and its darkness.
God’s reassurance of his presence
God’s superior power is made perfect in us when we walk with him in truth. Jesus said in John 15: 7, if you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. We will experience God’s greatness in us only when we allow him to take his residence in our hearts while we obey his instructions. In that regard we can share Paul’s statement in Colossians 1: 27, Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Do we still doubt the presence of God’s power with us? Do we glory God in all things knowing that the Christ Jesus in us is greater than he that is in the world? Jesus said in John 16: 33 take courage; I have conquered the world! He that is in the world is subject to God’s power in us. Without fear let us confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts that the Christ Jesus in us is greater than all powers outside us to the glory of the Father in heaven.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that you are the Lord of Lord, and the King of kings and that all authority wherever is subject to your command and under your feet. All power and authority belong to you. For our needless doubts and fears we are sorry. We ask for boldness and confidence because of your finished work on the cross where you bled and died and rose triumphantly. Lead us to face the world knowing that you are greater. Make us conquerors through your blood in your holy name, Amen!!
