So Thankful
- Permanently Delivered From Satan’s Power And Authority
Written by Eileen R. Jacobs
"For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1:13-14
At this time of year, most people take some time to reflect on the things that make them thankful. There are so many things we could list, yet this year I have found the truth in this Scripture to be one of the best reasons for being thankful. In some of my struggles this year, this truth about my redemption has become most precious to me. It may not be the typical "be thankful" verse to teach on, but this is what the Lord has been impressing on my heart to believe more firmly. As the age of grace is winding down and the world around us turns darker and darker, we really need this truth to be firmly planted in the soil of our heart. This is a passionate article and jam packed with the Word of God and with truth. I encourage you to take time to savor every detail. Don't rush through it, really take it all in. I believe the Lord wants us to be convinced of this great redemption we possess. So, let's get started!
THE GREAT RESCUE
"For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1:13-14
Through the work that was finished at the cross and through the resurrection from the dead, Jesus, the Beloved Son of God, has "rescued us." This is such great news! But what does it all mean, how does this affect our current life on earth, and how will this news change me into the most thankful of all persons? We're about to find out. In fact, in this article, we're going to get a little "Greeky." So, let's get started.
Why do we bring up the Greek language in studying the Bible, anyway? Well, it is because it was the original language of the New Testament. Anytime you look up a word in the English dictionary and examine the definitions, it gives you a more complete understanding of the word you are reading or attempting to learn. In the same way, the New Testament of the Bible becomes so much more clear when we learn the definitions of the original Greek, as that is the language that was used by the original writers. It also helps us to understand what the original writers were trying to convey. Sometimes in translation, the English words do not always do a good enough job of bringing the real point across, or carrying the magnitude and depth of meaning that the original language had. This is why we study it in conjunction with our study of the Bible. It's so helpful!!!
Now, let's dive right in and look at this word for the phrase, "For He rescued us..." The word for "rescued us" is rhuomai. It means to draw or to pull to oneself; to rescue (snatch up). It carries the idea of deliverance from danger or destruction. I imagine a Coast Guard rescue swimmer drawing a drowning victim to himself and risking everything to save the helpless one, or a fire-fighter who rushes into a burning building and picks up the faintly breathing person to carry them out in their arms. This is so personal and deliberate. Remember the verse begins with "For He..." Yes, "For He rescued us..."
The writer to the Colossian people was the Apostle Paul. He was writing to people who had believed in the Gospel message and who had come to understand "the grace of God in truth." (Colossians 1:6) Paul had been praying for a deeper understanding for these people and this passage of Colossians 1:13-14 was his introduction into a deeper revelation for them to grasp. "For He rescued us..." He snatched us out of danger and destruction and He drew us close to Himself. This is what it means. These are such powerful words. Let that sink in for just a moment.
Before we move on to the next part of the verse, it is interesting to see another verse in Scripture where this word rhuomai is used. We find it in Matthew 6:13. The situation is centered around a conversation that Jesus is having with His disciples about prayer. Jesus teaches them what to pray for and how to speak to His Father and their Father, too. In this particular verse, we find this word rhuomai and it reveals something about our rescue or "deliverance", as it is interpreted here.
"And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us (rhuomai) from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." - Matthew 6:13 AMPC
In this verse, the words "deliver us" is that Greek word rhuomai. This verse defines and makes even more clear what is spoken of in Colossians 1:13-14. " For He rescued us from the domain of darkness..." The disciples were being taught to pray to the Father "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) They were also taught to pray for rescue or deliverance from the evil one. According to the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:13-14, this has now happened. " For He rescued us from the domain of darkness..." This is a past tense reality. It has happened. Yet many might be tempted to ask, "If this has already happened, then why do we still see so much darkness? Who is this true for? Is it only for those who've died and gone to heaven?"
This amazing fact is true for all believers right now! Remember that this letter from the Apostle Paul was addressed to living believers, to those who have already entered the Kingdom of God through the "narrow gate." (Matthew 7:13-14) This "rescue" from the domain of darkness is something that the Father has made real for those who have believed in His Son (the narrow gate that leads to life.) The reason we still see so much darkness is because not everyone has chosen to believe that God, The Father, has made freedom possible through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we still observe darkness because many people are still living in the domain of darkness, that is, the domain of the evil one. If this describes your current experience, I want to impress upon you to not wait another minute. I invite you to pause from this article and go read our article Get Saved Now, Ask Questions Later, then come back and be encouraged by the remainder of this article. This will really help you and you'll be glad you did this! However, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, and you believe the truth about His finished work on the cross and the resurrection, this glorious promise of rescue from the domain of darkness is your present tense reality. What a comfort and a relief!
THE DOMAIN OF DARKNESS
Now after examining the verse from Matthew 6:13 together with Colossians 1:13-14, we discover that rescue from "the evil one" and the "domain of darkness" are interconnected. Now, let's take a closer look at this word "domain" in the Greek language, as this is really going to give us some clarity to the great salvation that we possess. The word "domain" is exousia in the Greek. This word would be better translated as authority or power to act. In fact the King James Version of this verse reads this way:
"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:"- Colossians 1:13-14 KJV
According to the definition of exousia, there is an authority or a power that we, who believe, have been delivered from. We have been taken out of someone's power and authority. This dark entity has no more right or authority to exercise power over us.
I'd like to share another passage of Scripture that will put all of this into perspective and set the record straight about God's loving intention behind the cross of Christ. Let me give a little bit of background before I quote this passage, as it makes more sense in context. The Apostle Paul had been arrested and is standing before King Agrippa to give his testimony. The King wants to know why the Jewish people are bent on killing Paul, and so he gives Paul an opportunity to defend himself. First, Paul explains about his zealous Jewish roots and how he was determined to terrorize and persecute those who had believed that Jesus Christ was the long-awaited Messiah. Then he continues to tell how he met Jesus in a vision on his way to Damascus to persecute more Christians. The passage I am going to share is what Jesus actually spoke to Paul as He commissioned him on that Road to Damascus that day. Let's take a look:
"While so engaged, as I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission and full power of the chief priests,
at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven surpassing the brightness of the sun, shining all around me and those who were traveling with me.
And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice in the Hebrew dialect (Jewish Aramaic) saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick [repeatedly] against the goads [offering pointless resistance].’
And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
Get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you [to serve] as a minister and as a witness [to testify, with authority,] not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you,
[choosing you for Myself and] rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,
to open their [spiritual] eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness and release from their sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified (set apart, made holy) by faith in Me." - Acts 26:12-18 AMP
What was the purpose of the cross of Christ? It was so that all people, both Jew and Gentile, would have their spiritual eyes opened and be able to turn from darkness to the light, to turn from the power and authority of Satan to the power and authority of God. Wow!!! This helps us to see clearly that in Colossians 1:13-14, when Paul is revealing to them and to us that God, the Father, has rescued us (drawn us in close to Himself to pull us out) from the domain (the authority and power) of darkness, it was so we would be free from the power and dominion of Satan. The more I meditate on this, the more thankful I become. I lived for many years as a Christian believing that Satan had all this power to affect my life, to make a mess of things and to wreak havok. This simply isn't true anymore. I have been rescued from his power and authority, but that's not all. I have been "transferred."
TRANSFERRED TO A NEW KINGDOM
"For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1:13-14
This word "transferred" is methistémi in Greek. It means to transpose, transfer, remove from one place to another. We have been transferred from one kingdom to another, from a ruthless ruler to a beloved ruler, from the deadly laws of one kingdom to the grace of another. This word methistémi is also used in 1 Corinthians 13:2 in reference to our faith that has the ability and power to remove mountains. This is awesome! We may still live here on earth where Satan rules the unbelieving world, but we are now in Christ. We are completely united with Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:30/2 Corinthians 13:5/Galatians 3:27/Colossians 3:3)
Satan has no more authority over us than he does over Christ. Just before Jesus was about to be crucified on the cross, He told His disciples something very important to understand about Christ:
"I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of the world (Satan) is coming. And he has no claim on Me [no power over Me nor anything that he can use against Me]" - John 14:30 AMP
When we understand our union with Jesus, as we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), created in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10), we can see ourselves free from the power of Satan. If Satan has no authority or power over Jesus, he has no authority or power over me. Wow!!! I'm feeling a little less puny and weak right now. This is "good news!" We are protected from the evil one. Here are a few more incredibly comforting Scriptures:
"We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him].
We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one.
And we [have seen and] know [positively] that the Son of God has [actually] come to this world and has given us understanding and insight [progressively] to perceive (recognize) and come to know better and more clearly Him Who is true; and we are in Him Who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah). This [Man] is the true God and Life eternal.
Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)—[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be). - 1 John 5:18-21 AMPC
"Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,
There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.
For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].
They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone." - Psalm 91:9-12 AMPC
Now we can be absolutely certain that Jesus Himself keeps us from the evil one and His angels are also assigned to keep evil from coming near us. Since I like to be thorough for my own sake, as well as for those who I teach, I want to add just a few more convincing Scriptures so we can function in this dark world without a doubt in our minds or hearts that the darkness cannot overtake us.
DELIVERED FROM SATAN'S POWER AND AUTHORITY
As I mentioned before, the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Colossians is laying down some primary facts for these precious people to sink their faith into. This group of Colossians had heard the message of the Gospel of the grace of God from a fellow minister named Epaphras and they believed it with joy, were born again by the Spirit of God, and were living in the love of Christ. These were new born babes in Christ. But the thing about babies is that they need food to grow if they are going to advance in strength of body and of character. So when Paul begins his letter to them with the important fact about their deliverance from Satan's dominion, he is feeding them some of that essential baby food...like mushed peas! These people may not have even realized that they were in the power and authority of Satan before they came to Christ in faith. This is true for many new believers in Christ, even some who have been Christians their whole lives. As I said earlier, I lived many years as a Christian before ever really learning this fact about my redemption. I assumed I was just food for Satan any time he felt the need to afflict me, or if I felt I deserved it because I had done something wrong. In fact, I unknowingly allowed the devil to continue to afflict me with problems because I was believing something that wasn't true. Satan will usurp authority, if he can get away with it. This is how the fall of man happened in the first place.
So after the Apostle Paul explains our deliverance from the power and authority of Satan, he spends the rest of the letter telling them all about Jesus and all about the finished work that He did on the cross. Paul opens their eyes to see detail by detail this amazing redemption they have, and he helps them gain a deeper understanding of this deliverance from Satan and from sin's power that they now possess. So by chapter 2 of this letter, Paul is explaining how Jesus actually freed them. Have a look:
"When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross." - Colossians 2:15 AMP
This is amazing! Jesus actually disarmed the devil. This word "disarmed" is apekduomai in the Greek and it means to wholly to strip off for oneself (for one's own advantage), despoil, disarm (Thayers Greek Lexicon). Jesus, in his death for us on the cross and through the resurrection from the dead, stripped the devil of every weapon he had been using against us. What weapons did the devil have?
THE DEVIL'S WEAPONS
The devil has nothing that he hasn't usurped. His aim has always been to have the authority of God, or the authority God had originally given to man. The verses prior to Colossians 2:15, and those directly following, The Apostle Paul gives us little clues as to the weapons the devil has used in the past and still tries to use. This is a bit of Scripture to read, but I encourage you to not skip over this. There is a lot here that we need to see. I will be highlighting the weapons I see in this chapter, so keep an eye out as your read:
"For I want you to know how great is my solicitude for you [how severe an inward struggle I am engaged in for you] and for those [believers] at Laodicea, and for all who [like yourselves] have never seen my face and known me personally.
[For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessings of assured conviction of understanding, and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God, [which is] Christ (the Anointed One).
In Him all the treasures of [divine] wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God) and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden.
I say this in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech.
For though I am away from you in body, yet I am with you in spirit, delighted at the sight of your [standing shoulder to shoulder in such] orderly array and the firmness and the solid front and steadfastness of your faith in Christ [that leaning of the entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].
As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him.
Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.
See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).
For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].
And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].
In Him also you were circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, but in a [spiritual] circumcision [performed by] Christ by stripping off the body of the flesh (the whole corrupt, carnal nature with its passions and lusts).
[Thus you were circumcised when] you were buried with Him in [your] baptism, in which you were also raised with Him [to a new life] through [your] faith in the working of God [as displayed] when He raised Him up from the dead.
And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions,
Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.
[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].
Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath.
Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ.
Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit,
And not holding fast to the Head, from Whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by means of its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations?—such as]
Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them],
Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines.
Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.]" - Colossians 2 AMPC
Whew! That was loaded with truth. So let's try to summarize from this passage the weapons that the devil used and still uses.
• plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech
• philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the universe and disregarding [the teachings of] Christ (the Messiah).
• circumcision
• the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands]
• matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath
• Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit
• material ways of looking at things and...the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism
• rules and regulations
• human precepts and doctrines
• self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body
Here we see many things that Satan has used and still tries to use to gain authority and power. He uses the power of deception and influence through man's limited wisdom and philosophy, man's crazy thoughts, and man's rules and regulations. He uses the external world and natural things to gain control and keep people only natural in their thinking and methods of interpreting life, instead of the truth that there is an entire spiritual realm that God and all those who truly believe function in. Satan uses the worship of self and self-made religions. One of his primary weapons he has used and still uses is the Old Covenant Law of God given at Mt. Sinai, which includes all forms of the Law, from the 10 Commandments, the Ceremonial Law, and even the Civil Law. Christ was the fulfillment of God's Law (Matthew 5:17/Romans 10:4) and now that we have died with Christ and were raised to life in Him (Romans 6:4/Colossians 12:2/Colossians 3:1-3), Satan has nothing with which to judge or try to hold us guilty before God. This is how God views the Law and what it was intended for:
"Now before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, [perpetually] imprisoned [in preparation] for the faith that was destined to be revealed,
with the result that the Law has become our tutor and our disciplinarian to guide us to Christ, so that we may be justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God] by faith.
But now that faith has come, we are no longer under [the control and authority of] a tutor and disciplinarian.
For you [who are born-again have been reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified and] are all children of God [set apart for His purpose with full rights and privileges] through faith in Christ Jesus.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union with the Christ, the Anointed] have clothed yourselves with Christ [that is, you have taken on His characteristics and values]. - Galatians 3:23-27 AMP
The Law of God was meant to be a tutor or teacher to draw us to Christ. Our inability to perform to God's perfect standards should have driven us to our knees to ask for mercy and salvation. God intended that we would live by faith in Him, not in ourselves and our performance. Once righteousness was made available by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, and the Spirit was given, we were removed from the authority of the Law (the tutor). Satan can no longer use the Law of God to convict us or hold us guilty anymore, when we have placed our faith in the righteousness that comes by faith in the One Who fulfilled and perfectly performed every law of God. Satan cannot bring guilt or condemnation to us because the Law has been fulfilled in Christ, and we are in Him.
Friends, beware of those who teach or preach in a manner that makes you feel under guilt and condemnation, or unworthy of blessing because you are not perfect or you haven't measured up somehow. Christ cannot be condemned for your sin ever again, because He already died for sin and was raised from the dead for our justification (Romans 4:25). God has declared you "not guilty" in the courts of Heaven for Christ's sake. You are entitled to every blessing of God and every promise to the righteous, if you believe by faith that God has blessed you based on Jesus' performance, not your own (Ephesians 1:3). You see, Satan has no more weapons to use to bring to us guilt, condemnation, sickness, disease, accidents or harm. These things were all the consequences of the broken Law, and now that Christ has fulfilled the Law on our behalf, these consequences cannot be applied. I pray you are getting this. This is so awesome!
POWER AND AUTHORITY IN JESUS' NAME
The most important thing to remember is that "He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]," and that "[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross]." Now until all of God's plan for creation is completed, the devil still has the unbelieving world in his grasp. But for the believer in Christ, he is literally "out of control." The devil may try to usurp authority and power and attempt to come against you, but Jesus has given something to us that is far more powerful and carries all the authority in heaven and on earth. He had given us His name and has granted all believer's the use of it. Jesus Himself stated that those who truly believe in Him would do the following things in His Name:
"And these attesting signs will accompany those who believe: in My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages;
They will pick up serpents; and [even] if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will get well." - Mark 16:17-18 AMPC
Listen friends, we have been removed completely from the domain of darkness and have been transferred permanently in the kingdom of God's beloved Son, Jesus. We are no longer in Satan's power or authority. If the devil tries to come against you in judgment, you remind him that you have redemption in Christ's blood and the forgiveness of sins. If he usurps his authority and launches an attack against your mind or your body or someone close to you, take your authority in The Name of Jesus and cast that devil out. Lay your hands on the sick people around you in The Name of Jesus, and God promises that they will recover. Jesus has won all authority and possesses all power. He has given it to the Church, which is His body on earth (Colossians 1:18). He expects us to go in His power, through the Holy Spirit Who was given to us, and take back what belongs to Christ.
"Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be)." - Matthew 28:18-20 AMPC
"But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." - 1 Peter 2:9 NASB
There truly are so many earthly things that we can thank the Lord for blessing us with, but to us, there is nothing more heart warming and empowering than to know that Jesus has set us free to live free of the authority and power of darkness, where Satan and sin have no ability to change what God has done for us in Christ through the cross. I am most thankful to be in the family of God, in union with Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Father, and all my brothers and sisters in Christ. It is an honor to be given the authority of Jesus through His Name and the Power of the Holy Spirit to go forth into this dark world and set captives free.
FINALLY
"...we have not stopped praying for you, asking [specifically] that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [with insight into His purposes], and in understanding [of spiritual things],
so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord [displaying admirable character, moral courage, and personal integrity], to [fully] please Him in all things, bearing fruit in every good work and steadily growing in the knowledge of God [with deeper faith, clearer insight and fervent love for His precepts];
[we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy;
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God’s people) in the Light." - Colossians 1:9-12 AMP
Now that, dear friends, is GRACE!
written by
Eileen R. Jacobs (November 2019)
Copyright © 2019 Eileen Jacobs Ministries. All rights reserved.
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