[x_custom_headline type=”left” level=”h4″ looks_like=”h4″]In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was literally agonizing over the price He was about to pay for you and me. In fact, it was so stressful that His sweat became great drops of blood. Jesus even prayed that if it is possible to do this some other way, please let that happen.[/x_custom_headline]
[x_blockquote cite=”Luke 22:39-44 KJV” type=”left”]“39 And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”[/x_blockquote]
No matter how difficult things have been in our own lives, we have never faced anything as intense and Jesus was facing on this day. However, His prayer time with the Father God was extremely effective. The reason I say this is because when you look at this same incident from the book of John, we see that something drastic, something very powerful happened to Jesus during this time of prayer.
[x_blockquote cite=”John 18:1-6 KJV” type=”left”]“When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples. 2 And Judas also, which betrayed him, knew the place: for Jesus ofttimes resorted thither with his disciples. 3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? 5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. 6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.”[/x_blockquote]
Clearly something happened to Jesus during His time of prayer. He chose to submit to the plan of God so that you and I would be redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and when He did, the power and anointing of the Holy Ghost came upon Jesus.
When they asked Jesus who He was He answered them with a reference that Almighty God used. Jesus said, “I am.” And now when He spoke, the power of God upon Him caused the soldiers and those who were with them to be slain in the Spirit. How awesome!
[highlight]The power of the Holy Ghost knocked these men flat on their backs.[/highlight] They fell hard to the ground.
Most estimates say there were upwards of 600 men who came to arrest Jesus, yet the power of God upon Him knocked every single one of them to the ground. Even this powerful army was not able to take Jesus. He willingly went with them to complete God’s awesome plan of redemption.
It was this same power of the Holy Ghost that raised Jesus from the dead, too. The power of God exploded inside of Jesus’ tomb, reconnected His spirit with His body, flooded His corpse with life, and He AROSE!
Jesus’ resurrection made it possible that everyone who receives Him can be born again. But not only that, all of the power and authority of the Risen Lord of Glory belongs to each individual member of the Body of Christ. Because Jesus rose from the dead victorious, He has made us victorious too.
The Bible has much to say about spiritual battles, spiritual weapons and spiritual armor. However, because of Jesus death and resurrection we are always victorious against the enemy. And this is why we must approach every battle as the victor and not as the victim.
However, even though the devil and demons have been legally stripped of their power and authority, they still roam around like evil criminals committing criminal acts. This is why every believer must use the authority given to them by the risen Lord Jesus to defeat them.
[highlight]Jesus is ALIVE! He has RISEN![/highlight]
And because He has, everyone can be born again and filled with the spirit of God. And every Spirit-filled believer can now live their life in victory, by operating in the power and authority given to them through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Because of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ we can live all our days upon the earth triumphantly – always victorious.