John 2:19: “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up again in three days.”

Jesus, when You made this statement, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up again in three days”, You announced to hell that You were coming to ransack the kingdom, take back the keys, and make an open show of Satan. You announced my freedom and the freedom of every captive who calls on the name of the Lord.

My body, soul and spirit are free now because of Your resurrection and victory.  There is absolutely nothing that Satan can do to me that You don’t have authority and victory over.  There is nothing that can be lost or stolen that You can’t restore.  There is nothing I can mess up so badly that You can’t fix.  There is no danger or peril that I will face that is greater than Your spirit within me for you have promised that “Greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world”. (1 John 4:4)

Today I can remind hell of Christ’s victory on my behalf and speak that victory into every area of my life.  I am not a captive any longer, for whom the Son sets free is free indeed! (John 8:36) I will take every problem and worry to the throne of the Most High and release His victory into those situations.  I will cast every care on the only One who can fix, restore and redeem all that is lost and broken.  I will not hold so tightly to this life that I forget what is of eternal importance.  And I will do all of this only through the Spirit of God who gives my strength. (Phil. 4:13)

Lord, help me to rejoice in and live out Your victory over death, hell and the grave every day, in every circumstance!  Help me to cling to the knowledge of Who You are, Who you have called me to be, and Whom I serve.

Now you:

  • Does the thought of having to face down death or other great loss for the name of Christ make your head swim?  What is the fear behind that thought?  Is it the fear of death? Is it the fear of pain?  Is it the concern for your loved ones?  Is it the fear of doing without people or things we don’t want to live without?
    • Fear is normal and I don’t think we’re never going to get so “grown up” in God that we don’t fear.  But I’m convinced that we can get quicker on our feet about running to the One Who can settle our hearts, put things in perspective and actually change the things we’re panicking over.
    • Jesus is able to keep all that we commit to Him.  Our lives and our families lives are secure beyond our imagination in the hands of the One who created all, sustains all with His Word, and Who triumphs over every scheme and tactic of the enemy.  Only a living, breathing relationship with Jesus can convince our faltering heart of such great power and love.
    • 20,000 years from now, we’re going to see the full picture.  We’re going to see how every loss was redeemed by the Lord, how every failure was covered by His grace and mercy, and how every impossible circumstance was an opportunity for Him to receive the glory of carrying us through.  While it may hurt now, 20,000 years from now, it will all be praise.