The Trump Card

John 14: 30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going. In the card game called spades, the trump cards can quickly win a hand when the other suits seem to be lined up in power. But a trump card will not only even the power of the hand but win the hand because of the power of the trump card. Jesus is the trump card against satan, and in the above scripture, we can see from Jesus' words the power He has against satan. Because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 

Too many times, we just accept defeat again and again with all of the power of Jesus available to win every time because the ruler of this world doesn't have the upper hand when Jesus, our trump card, is applied in the mix. Praise God for Jesus and the power He has given to those who have received the Spirit and live in that Spirit. I don't know about you, but the ruler of this world is constantly approaching me, and if not for the power of the Holy Spirit, I would lose every hand I have to play against my enemy. Scripture describes the activity of Satan in the following way. 1 Peter 5: 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Satan goes around "like" a roaring lion, but he is not the lion. Jesus is the Lion of Judah, and He trumps Satan at every turn. Satan is called the "accuser of the brethren," and in his accusations, he attempts to lessen the powerful effect of God's grace by reminding us that we are sinners. NO DUH!! Here is God's answer to the "accuser." Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,“It has come at last—salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night.11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.

Paul had to remind the churches He established about the power of God, through the Holy Spirit. He also had to bring them back to the life of grace provided by the blood of Jesus, and the victory that life gives to us. The life referenced by Jesus in John 10: 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have itabundantly. Without God's grace, we have no abundant life because we walk around with our sin debt controlling our thinking, and that weight causes those who should soar on the wings of eagles to live a life groveling with the pigs for scraps.

Allow God's grace to have its "full" effect by living in that grace and in the power of the Holy Spirit walking you through that grace. Then, when the enemy approaches you, the victory of Jesus and the power of His blood will not only protect you but empower you to live this great life of victory. There really is VICTORY IN JESUS, so live in that victory, grow in the faith, and be filled with the Holy Spirit, and with that gas in your tank, you will not only finish the race but WIN the race. Paul writes a very encouraging word in Phlippians 4:13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, all who are mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well; 16 however, let’s keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

Do you feel defeated and lost again? PLAY THE TRUMP CARD, and His name is Jesus!!

Today's Message,

David Warren